Twisting Fate

The Offer

Sasuke looks up at the front gates of Konoha. It was so familiar, even though it doesn't have as much wear as Sasuke remembers, and it catches him off guard. He just stares up at the gate with a blank expression. When he left Konoha he went out through a back way, he wasn't dumb enough to go out through the main gate, but he can vividly remember when he last stood before this gate, really looking up at it. At the time he had no idea that he was going to leave, but for some reason, he had committed it to memory. Maybe somewhere deep inside, Sasuke knew this place couldn't be his home. Wouldn't be.

Or perhaps he's just romanticizing his final times within the village that he was born in.

He doesn't miss the distinct three pronged kunai sticking out of the wood of the gate next to where they appeared.

"Have you been to the Leaf before?" Minato asks, bringing Sasuke back to the present. He drops his head to turn a level gaze to the blond haired man a few feet in front in front of him.

"Who knows?" He asks illusively. "Lead the way."

Minato stares at him for a moment with keen blue eyes and a look in them that was never in his son's eyes. Minato was picking him apart with just his eyes and he was probably picking up a lot more than his dumbass son ever could about Sasuke. And that's without the blue haired young man saying much of anything. Minato doesn't even know Sasuke's name yet and it almost feels like the man knows too much already.

Minato tilts his head a bit toward the village and murmurs, "Very well," and then turns and heads past the gates into the village as if it was the most simple thing in the world. Perhaps it was for someone who loved his home village, Sasuke doesn't remember anymore. Had he ever felt that way for his village? Or had Itachi warped his mind so much that he could focus on nothing other than training and seeking his revenge? Sasuke didn't know. That person, that blind fool, felt light years away.

Once again, without a hint of fear that Sasuke could suddenly turn on him, Minato leads the way into the village with Sasuke following two feet behind him. The two gate guards, not Izumo and Kotetsu, which surprises Sasuke, give him suspicious looks as he walks passed. Even though it's years into the past, for some reason, Sasuke expected to see the two bored Jounin that usually babysat the gate there. Perhaps grasping at straws and hoping to pull out one that's familiar. Or maybe he took a bit of relief in knowing that he didn't have the shittiest life out there.

He could be Izumo or Kotetsu. Babysitting a gate all day or doing bitch duty for the new Hokage. Yeah, Sasuke could be one of them. He'll live in his own personal version of hell, thanks very much.

Sasuke closes his Rinnegan eye and follows after Minato with his head tilted downward. It's been a long time since Sasuke stepped foot past the gates of Konohagakure, but as he does so now, he can tell easily how much everything is the same. A few businesses are differently named and the buildings are newer, less worn with different paint colors. Even in a few places, walking through the market, there was buildings missing all together or were under construction.

As he remembered from his childhood, the streets of Konoha were bustling with people going to and from one work place to another, stopping only to talk to other people on the streets or local venders. It seemed like they were going to be able to make it through the market unmolested when someone noticed the vibrant blond of Minato's mane and called out his name. Then everyone was turning toward the blond haired man, whispering and smiling at him. Some would outright bow and ask him how his day was and if he was doing alright.

Sasuke's not sure what he expected from all of this, but when Minato would pause briefly to speak to everyone who called out to him, Sasuke's wasn't really bothered. It didn't surprise Sasuke to see that he stopped to see people, it just seemed like something to naturally expect. Years ago, and probably just with Naruto, Sasuke would have both expected this and been annoyed by it.