Chapitre 3: 3 - Invade of Rosemary
A few days has passed.
The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows through the trees as Sasuke stood alone in a small clearing within the forest that bordered the village. He had chosen this spot for its seclusion, far enough from the village to avoid any unwanted attention but close enough to return quickly if needed. Here, he could focus, could let his mind drift into the calm void that came with intense physical exertion.
He had been training, pushing his body to its limits as he had done countless times before. Yet, despite the familiar motions, the punches and kicks, the rapid movements and the focus of his chakra, something felt... off. He could feel a bit power coursing through him, the muscle memory from years of combat experience, but it was as if his body wasn't responding the way it used to. This younger form, still developing, was weaker than what he had been accustomed to.
His Sharingan hadn't activated yet either, and that frustrated him. Sasuke knew the trigger for unlocking the Sharingan was an intense emotional event, usually something traumatic. He wondered if the emotional detachment he now felt, the numbness born from years of grief and vengeance, was preventing it from manifesting. The Sage told him that with time, his Sharingan would manifest but he doesn't see how.
The solitude of the forest was a strange kind of comfort. The quiet rustle of leaves in the breeze, the distant calls of birds, and the rhythmic sound of his own breath as he moved through his training routine. He was more at ease here, away from the curious eyes of the villagers, away from their stares. It allowed him to think, to try to piece together the fragments of his old life with the reality of this new world.
'What am I supposed to do here?' he thought, his fist slamming into the trunk of a nearby tree, the impact sending a shockwave through his arm. He watched as the bark cracked under the force, a small flurry of dust falling to the ground. 'What is my purpose now?'
He had always been driven by something—first revenge, then destruction. But now, in this world that seemed untouched by the same kind of conflict that had shaped him, he was adrift. The usual anger that fueled him was subdued, not extinguished, but smoldering like embers waiting to be fanned into flames.
As he continued his exercises, his thoughts drifted back to his encounters with Erza. The girl was a curious presence in this village. She was different from the kids he had known at this age, her kindness so foreign to the environment he had grown up in. Despite her timid nature, there was a quiet strength in her, a determination that he found somewhat familiar. Perhaps that was why he hadn't pushed her away, why he hadn't dismissed her attempts at friendship.
'Friendship,' he thought with a bitter twist of his lips. It was a concept he had once understood, before it had been tainted by betrayal and loss. Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi... they had been his comrades. Yet, he had walked away from them, chosen a path of darkness that had left him more alone than ever.
Now, in this strange world, he found himself once again at a crossroads. He could isolate himself, continue to focus solely on his training and figuring out how to return to his old world, or he could allow himself to engage with this place, with these people. The idea was unsettling, yet there was a part of him that was tired, weary of the endless cycle of anger and violence.
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled him from his thoughts. He straightened, turning toward the noise, his expression guarded. The figure that emerged from the trees was familiar.... Erza, her red hair catching the last light of the setting sun.
She hesitated at the edge of the clearing, her usual shyness evident in the way she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. But there was something different about her today, a slight determination in her eyes as she finally stepped forward.
"S-Sasuke," she called out, her voice still carrying that nervous tremor. "I... I was looking for you."
He raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised that she had sought him out. "What do you want?" His tone was flat, not unkind, but distant.
Erza bit her lip, gathering her courage. "I wanted to see how you were doing... You haven't been to the village much, and I... I was worried."
"Worried?" Sasuke repeated, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. It had been a long time since anyone had worried about him, let alone voiced it. "I'm fine, you can go now."
She nodded, but her eyes didn't leave his. "You're always alone, training... I thought maybe... you might want some company. Or... maybe I could train with you?" The last part of her sentence was rushed, almost as if she feared he would dismiss her outright.
Sasuke stared at her for a long moment, weighing his options. Training with someone else was not something he was accustomed to, not unless it was a sparring session, a test of strength and skill. And even then, he preferred to be alone. But the look in Erza's eyes reminded him of the way Sakura used to look at him, with that quiet determination, that desire to be helpful even if she didn't fully understand him.
"Training isn't a game," he finally said, with a cold cold. "It's not something you do for fun."
"I know that," Erza replied, her voice firmer than before. "But I still want to learn. Even if it's hard."
He studied her for a moment, then turned back to the tree he had been using as a target. He had to respect her desire to become stronger at this age, he will accept this time. "If you want to train, fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you."
Erza's eyes brightened at his response, and she quickly nodded, stepping closer to where he stood. "I won't. I'll do my best."
"Fine," Sasuke replied, his voice still detached, but there was a hint of respect in his tone. He wasn't one to coddle or offer encouragement, but he could recognize determination when he saw it.
He began to demonstrate some basic forms, movements that were simple yet required precision. Erza watched closely, mimicking his movements as best as she could. At first, she was clumsy, her inexperience showing in every step and strike. But Sasuke noticed that she was a quick learner, her movements becoming more fluid as time passed.
The sun had nearly disappeared by the time they stopped, the clearing now bathed in the soft glow of twilight. Erza was panting, her face flushed from the effort, but there was a small, satisfied smile on her lips.
"You're not bad," Sasuke said grudgingly as he leaned against the tree, watching her catch her breath. "For a beginner."
She looked up at him, surprised by the compliment, and smiled. "Thank you... I have a good teacher."
Sasuke shrugged off the praise, his mind already drifting back to his own thoughts. But as he watched her, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of contentment. It was strange, this feeling. He had never been one for company, especially after everything he had gone through, but Erza's presence was kind off... tolerable.
As they walked back toward the village, Erza kept pace with him, her shyness still there but not as pronounced. "Sasuke... do you think you'll ever go back? To your home, I mean."
He glanced at her, caught off guard by the question. "I don't know," he admitted after a moment. "I'm not even sure if I can."
"Would you want to?" she asked, her voice soft.
Sasuke thought about it, his eyes drifting up to the darkening sky. "I'm not sure," he said honestly. "There's nothing left for me there." His eyes darkened as he thought of the elders of Konoha, if Naruto hadn't been there to stop him, the village wouldn't exist anymore right now.
Erza was quiet for a moment, then she looked up at him with a determined expression. "Well, if you ever do go back... I hope you find what you're looking for."
He gave her a brief nod without saying anything. As they reached the edge of the village, he stopped and looked down at her.
He watched her walk back into the village, her small figure disappearing into the shadows. Sasuke lingered for a moment, his mind turning over the events of the day. He still had many questions, about this world, about his place in it. But for now, at least, he had a small sense of purpose, even if it was just helping a young girl learn how to defend herself.
It subconsciously reminded him of his brother, is that how he saw him? This feeling is not so bad.
As Sasuke lingered at the edge of the village, lost in his thoughts, the sudden explosions shattered the tranquil silence, tearing through the air with a deafening roar. His head snapped up, eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon. In the distance, flames began to lick the sky, the smell of smoke rapidly filling the air. Screams followed, high-pitched and desperate, echoing through the once peaceful streets.
'An attack,' he realized, his body tensing as his mind raced to process the unfolding chaos. 'But who? And why?'
He could make out figures moving in the distance, shadows illuminated by the burning buildings. They weren't villagers—these were armed invaders, their movements swift and purposeful as they tore through the village with ruthless efficiency. The air buzzed with the sound of magic, the unmistakable hum of spells being cast.
'Chakra? No, I don't feel any Chakra, what is it? Another form of Jutsu?' Sasuke was rather puzzled, being surprised at the display of this power. Fire coming out of the circles, what kind of bullshit is this?
Sasuke's instincts screamed at him to move, to act, but he forced himself to stay hidden, crouching behind a nearby house. He needed information, a better understanding of what he was up against before he could do anything. He moved quickly, sticking to the shadows, his eyes narrowing as he observed the attackers. They wore dark robes, their faces obscured by hoods, but the symbols on their garments were unmistakable. Maybe some kind of cultists? Bandits? He doesn't know exactly.
As he observed them, Sasuke spotted a glint of metal and quickly snatched a knife from the ground, testing its weight in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. His chakra control was still limited, and he didn't have access to his more powerful techniques—he would need to rely on his physical skills and whatever tools he could find.
He can still cast some Jutsu, he wasn't completely powerless either.
His mind worked quickly, analyzing the situation. The guys were organized, methodical in their movements. They were rounding up the villagers, dragging them from their homes and gathering them in the center of the village. It was clear they had done this before—this was no random raid. These people were being taken for a reason, likely to be enslaved or sold.
His grip on the knife tightened as he scanned the chaos, searching for one face in particular—Erza. She was the only person in this village he had any connection to, and despite his usual indifference toward others, the thought of her being captured or hurt stirred something within him.
That's annoying.
Moving silently, he weaved through the alleys, keeping low to avoid detection. He avoided the main streets, knowing they would be heavily guarded. Instead, he moved through the narrow spaces between houses, slipping into the shadows whenever one of theses people came too close.
Finally, he reached the small house where he knew Erza lived. The door was ajar, hanging loosely on its hinges, and the inside was a mess, furniture overturned and belongings scattered across the floor. Sasuke's heart skipped a beat—had they already taken her?
"Erza!" he called out in a harsh whisper, stepping cautiously into the house. There was no response, but he could hear soft, panicked breathing coming from a corner of the room.
He followed the sound, finding Erza crouched behind an overturned table, her eyes wide with fear. Relief washed over him when he saw she was unharmed, but it was quickly replaced by the urgency of the situation.
"Sasuke!" she gasped, her voice trembling. "They... they're taking everyone!"
"I know," he said curtly, grabbing her arm and pulling her to her feet. "We have to move. Now."
Erza hesitated, her gaze darting around the room as if looking for something—or someone. "But... Kagura... I can't leave her behind!"
Sasuke's mind raced. Kagura. He remembered the small girl from the village, younger than Erza, with dark hair and a serious expression. He had seen her around, usually trailing after Erza like a little shadow.
He didn't know her personally, Erza would talk to him about her from time to time. He wasn't a charitable soul who could save everyone.
"We don't have time to think about her, we have to go." Sasuke's expression was unfazed, showing no pity for Erza's knowledge.
"NO !! We have to save her ! If you don't do it, I'll do it myself." She had a determined expression despite her fear. She wasn't going to let this child get captured by these people.
"Tch" Sasuke is unhappy with the situation, she is too stubborn, like that damn Naruto, if he wanted to leave with her, they had to take care of this kid first.
"Where is she?" he asked, his voice clipped.
"In the back room," Erza replied, her voice thick with worry. "We were hiding, but then they started breaking down the door..."
"Alright," he said, making a quick decision. "We'll get her and then get out of here."
He led the way to the back of the house, where they found Kagura curled up in a corner, her small body trembling with fear. She looked up as they entered, her eyes wide and tear-filled.
"Erza," she whimpered, reaching out for her. "I'm scared."
Erza immediately rushed to her side, pulling her into a protective hug. "It's okay, Kagura. We're going to get you out of here, I promise."
Sasuke glanced around the room, assessing their options. There was no way he could fight his way through the village with two young girls in tow. They needed to find a place to hide, somewhere theses guys wouldn't think to look.
His eyes landed on a large wooden storage bin in outside—big enough to fit a small child. It wasn't ideal, but it might be their best shot.
"Erza, help me with this," he said, moving toward the bin.
She followed his lead without question, helping him open the lid. The inside was empty, save for a few old blankets.
"Kagura, get inside," Sasuke instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Stay quiet, no matter what happens. Understand?"
The little girl nodded, her eyes wide with fear, and climbed inside. Erza draped one of the blankets over her, tucking it around her small form to keep her hidden.
"I'll come back for you," Erza whispered to Kagura, her voice thick with emotion. "Just stay hidden until then."
Sasuke closed the lid, his heart pounding in his chest as he heard footsteps approaching the house. They had to move, now.
Of course, he wasn't going to come back for her. He's not a hero, cruel or not, he doesn't care. He does what he thinks is right. Either way, he thinks she'll survive, those guys probably won't look at that trash among all of them.
"Let's go," he said to Erza, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the side of the village.
They slipped out of the house just as the invaders burst through the front of it, their voices loud and menacing as they searched the now-empty room. Sasuke led Erza through the narrow alleys, moving quickly and silently, his mind racing as he tried to figure out their next move.
But before they could get far, they were spotted. A group of men rounded the corner, their eyes locking onto Sasuke and Erza.
"There!" one of them shouted, raising his staff. "Get them!"
Sasuke pushed Erza behind him, raising the knife in a defensive stance. "Run," he ordered, his voice cold.
"B-But." She is very reluctant to listen to Sasuke, if she didn't want to give up Kagura, why would she do it for him?
"Shut up and run, I'll get through this." He didn't leave room for discussion, he pushed Erza forcefully so that she would leave. She will only bother him.
Without saying another word, she finally decided to run with all her strength, trusting Sasuke.
The cultists advanced, their expressions twisted with cruelty. Sasuke knew he was outnumbered and outmatched, but he wasn't going to let them take Erza without a fight. He lunged forward, the knife flashing in the dim light as he aimed for the nearest cultist.
The man dodged, but not quickly enough—Sasuke's blade sliced across his arm before cuting his throat, drawing blood. The cultist hissed in pain, but the others quickly closed in, their staffs crackling with magical energy.
Sasuke fought with everything he had, his movements quick and precise, but his younger body was slower, weaker than he was used to. He managed to take down two of the cultists, but there were too many.
Sasuke fought with everything he had, his movements quick and precise, but his younger body was slower, weaker than he was used to. As the cultists advanced, he knew he couldn't rely solely on his physical skills. He had to use his Jutsu, even if his chakra reserves were low.
He quickly formed hand seals, gathering the chakra he has. "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" he muttered, exhaling a large fireball towards the group of cultists. The blazing orb of flame surged forward, engulfing several of the attackers in its fiery embrace. Their screams echoed through the night as they were consumed by the intense heat.
"The brat is a mage, capture him quickly!!" one of them shouted angrily.
But he couldn't stop there. Sasuke quickly transitioned into another set of hand seals, this time for a different Jutsu. "Doton: Doryū Taiga!" he called out, slamming his hands onto the ground. The earth beneath the cultists' feet suddenly shifted, turning into a fast-flowing river of mud. The ground beneath them gave way, causing them to lose their footing and fall, struggling to free themselves from the muddy trap.
Panting heavily, Sasuke's chakra reserves were nearly depleted, but he managed to take down several more cultists with these techniques. His breath was ragged, and his vision began to blur from the exertion. He tried to maintain his stance, but his body was reaching its limit.
Just as he prepared to use another Jutsu, he was caught off guard. One of the cultists, having avoided the mud, charged at him from the side, slamming a staff into his ribs. The impact sent Sasuke crashing to the ground, the pain radiating through his entire body.
'Damn, they got me'
He struggled to get up, but his chakra was spent, and his limbs refused to obey him. As he lay there, unable to move, the remaining cultists closed in, their cruel smiles gleaming in the dim light. Sasuke managed to take down many of them, but now, as his strength faded, he realized he had been defeated.
"Tie the fucking kid up with anti-magic handcuffs and lock him up. DAMN !!! he made us lose a lot of men!" He shouted in anger, clenching his fists violently, he seemed to be the leader of this group.
One of them rushed to give him a violent kick on his back, making him cough up blood, then handcuffs were inserted on his wrists.
The last thing he saw before darkness claimed him was Erza's terrified face as she was also dragged away, her cries echoing in his ears.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Bananuts
Bananuts Well, that's a long chapter (3,4k words) I hope this book will keep going, I have a lot of ideas for future. If I have 10 powerstones, I will make a bonus chapter for today. Thanks for your reading !
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone