Reparations

1: return

It was just a passing thought on one of the afternoons that Sasuke's mind traveled back to wonder how things were going in the village. Sometimes the melancholic feelings he had whenever he considered Konoha prompted him to write to either Naruto or Sakura, but the thought stuck and no matter how many days and weeks passed, it wouldn't leave. Sasuke had seen enough and been through enough to know that it had to be possible. Nothing in their shinobi world was impossible - it just took figuring out the right formula, the right jutsu, the right power source. So he contemplated the idea more seriously, casting off theories that he knew wouldn't work, and playing with ones that might.

It wasn't until his travels brought him to the ruins of Uzushiogakure that his idea sudden became a very possible reality. He found himself shaking his head at the thought that Naruto still had so much untapped potential in his Uzumaki genes. The Uzushiogakure ruins were a minefield of seals and traps, but Sasuke had studied under Orochimaru who had been obsessed with all jutsu, including the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki. He couldn't believe that the snake hadn't managed to find his way deeper inside, but at the same time, he was indescribably relieved and happy that it wasn't Orochimaru that discovered the chamber hidden deep on the island.

Sasuke weighed the scrolls in his hand. After reading through the extensive research the Uzumaki had done, he knew he could do it. It wouldn't take as much effort as he thought, actually, it was surprisingly simple since he had the aide of the Rinnegan. His hesitation was whether or not it was right to do. He deliberated for six days before he made his decision. In the end, he decided that he would go ahead and make his passing idea a reality. Sasuke had made many, many mistakes in his life and those choices he'd made had shaped who he was. Part of him whispered that he was selfish, a cheater. The path to redemption was supposed to be long and hard and unending, not something to be jumped out of just because he could. Another part of himself argued that what he was doing was redemption, the chance to wipe the slate clean - not just for himself, but for those he loved.

So, on the sixth night, Sasuke slept well, resolved and determined. He waited until is chakra was completely replenished, and then prepared the seals. If his calculations were correct, he'd arrive there before things spiralled out of control in his life. Opening a portal, he applied the seals to it and felt the shift in its shape and form. The space dimension transformed into a time portal. His chakra was draining quickly and grimaced as he completed the seals with his own blood. Sensing it was complete, Sasuke took a deep breath and walked into the swirling darkness.

Sasuke Uchiha was going back in time, and he was going to fix everything.

•••

After stepping through the portal, Sasuke walked the time-road. He saw his life go passed him in reverse, faster than he could blink but so slow he could relive almost every moment. The road pushed and pulled against him, fighting against the unnatural reversal of time. He remained steadfastly on course, walking forwards ever deeper as he saw flashes of the most important moments and people in his life, all the way until his academy days when he felt the change around him. Things slowed and stretched, and he reached out, looking for something solid, something in the seemingly unending void. He found nothing but blinked in shock as he saw his hand was much smaller than it should be. He looked down at his body and saw that he was regressing. He was growing younger. His arm tingled as it regrew from his stump, and he stared at it with unease. He flexed his new, small fingers and then Sasuke was suddenly falling. He cast his arms out for something to grab onto, but there was nothing but infinite darkness. Panic raced through his heart, and he thought he had failed until he was suddenly jerked upwards and -

Sasuke's eyes shot open and he sat up quickly, clutching at his chest. He groaned in pain, his body hurt. All his bones and muscles felt like they were on fire. His heart pumped hard and fast, and he scrunched his eyes shut, gasping for air from his burning lungs.