A/N: And we get into the actual plot of Reality in Alteration! Which is good. Promise. Especially since I love me some plotline. Mmm, plot.

 

In regards to confusion between a character and their alter!character, I’ve tried to make it as obvious as possible who is doing what, but I can completely understand being rather befuddled. SO. The general rule is that, if they’re referred to as their first name, it’s the Standard version of the character. Dark!Naruto will usually be called Rokudaime, Dark!Sasuke “Uchiha” (or “pants-Sasuke” if Naruto’s talking about him), and Dark!Sakura as Haruno-san in the narration. Hope this helps!

 

Summary: A jutsu experiment sends Team 7 into a dark world where Naruto’s been hokage of the ruined Konoha since he was 13, Sasuke murdered Itachi at 9, and Sakura’s trying to kill both of them. What’s going on? And how can they get back to their own world, when they barely know how they got there in the first place? SasuNaru, SakuIno

 

 

Reality in Alteration

 

Revelation 3 - Within the Self

 

“Where’s Naruto?”

 

Sakura frowned. “I thought he was with you,” she pointed at her teammate, expression turning dark. “And it’s about time for him to meet us here.”

 

“He’s an idiot, but a reliable one,” Sasuke nodded, holding back a grimace. “With the current…complications with our situation, he probably walked right into the Hokage’s tower and was arrested for impersonation.”

 

“So you know about the doubles, then,” Sakura nodded. “I’ve spoken with other me – Haruno-san – and it looks like we’ll be able to travel freely so long as you’re with me.”

 

“What else did she tell you?” Sasuke asked.

 

“Ah…first, what did your reconnaissance show, Sasuke-kun?” Sakura asked. She was in no hurry to break the news of their alternate backgrounds, especially since Sasuke probably wouldn’t be happy to hear he was a gay psychopath in this world.

 

Sasuke shifted, just enough for Sakura to tell he was discontent with something. “…something big happened here. At least two of the sannin were involved in the destruction of Konoha. Tsunade and Jiraiya for certain, and probably Orochimaru as well.” He paused. “Naruto’s Hokage, and this version of myself is much weaker and stupid.”

 

“You spoke with him?” Kakashi’s voice called out nonchalantly from the base of the tree.

 

Sasuke snorted. “I don’t need to,” he said simply, and then paused. “So you and Iruka-sensei are mediators of a sort.”

 

“Yes, Uchiha-san,” Iruka-sensei said simply, only to amend the name to “Sasuke-kun” at the half-disgusted, half-horrified look from Sasuke.

 

“Do you also advise at times?” Sasuke asked.

 

“When one side wishes to address the other, yes, we occasionally bring them the news,” Kakashi said idly.

 

“Sasuke, what are you planning?” Sakura hissed out, glaring at her teammate. They needed to get back to their own world as soon as possible, not get embroiled in a political hissy fit turned blood feud!

 

“Naruto obviously got captured by himself,” Sasuke said, and paused. “…his other self. Naruto is currently imprisoned by the Rokudaime. And we already have an established form of safe communication through Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei.”

 

Kakashi was politely noisy when he landed on the same branch as them, the fourth of his face they could see relatively passive. “I don’t know what exactly you’re planning, but I’d like to.” His eye smiled viciously. “Especially since I’m part of your plan, Sasuke-kun.”

 

“We call a meeting between the wimp me with our Sakura,” he said simply. “I take his place, rescue the idiot, and we hide out until we can release the genjutsu.”

 

“How much stronger than this Uchiha are you?” Kakashi asked, voice deadly serious.

 

Sasuke snorted. “You said his Sharingan’s only at level two. And if anyone should understand the differences between levels, Kakashi-sensei, you should.”

 

“Haruno-san and I are evenly matched,” Sakura added, matching their tone. “Punch for punch. I have a suspicion she concentrated more on ninjutsu and genjutsu that medical jutsu, though.”

 

“You’re a medic-nin?” Kakashi blinked, and Sakura nodded.

 

“I think you should go back to Haruno-san’s base for more intelligence,” Iruka said simply. “I mean no disrespect, Ha…Sakura-kun, but for the both of you to be believable doubles, you’ll need more than the faces and firepower. If Naruto thinks the Uchiha’s in any trouble, the plan and half the forest will be destroyed before you can even try to help your Naruto escape.”

 

“At least we know the Rokudaime’s still as much an idiot as Naruto,” Sasuke muttered.

 

Kakashi’s eyebrow rose. “…your world really must be much more different than ours.”

 

“What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?” Sakura asked, frowning.

 

“The Hokage took down Tsunade single-handedly, and managed to outsmart Yakushi Kabuto in single combat,” Kakashi said dryly. “He’s hardly an idiot.”

 

“…so Sasuke’s stronger, I’m equal, and Naruto’s weaker in this world,” Sakura muttered.

 

“Or it’s purely personality,” Kakashi mused.

 

But Sakura knew that it was a rare time when their sensei was really musing about anything when speaking aloud.

 

“Let’s head to Haruno-san’s base,” Sasuke stated.

 

“I’ll come too,” Iruka said easily. “It couldn’t hurt to have another voice to vouch for you, Sasuke-kun.”

 

Sakura took a moment to fish the wooden ring from beneath her shirt and put it as prominently as she could on her clothing. And then, she grabbed onto Sasuke’s arm in a way she hadn’t done since she was twelve, face dangerously determined.

 

“You have to stay with me,” Sakura stated firmly.

 

Sasuke looked like he’d rather just run in and break Naruto out if he had to be close like this to anyone for an extended period of time, but another glare at him and he nodded his concession.

 

“Good!” she nodded, and took a deep, calming breath as the trio started back the way she had come, skimming across the tree limbs as they went deeper and deeper into the forest.

 

For a good twenty minutes they were running until Iruka dropped back onto the other side of Sasuke from where he’d taken point.

 

Ten minutes later, a patrol of Haruno-ringed sentries dropped in front of them, staring warily at Sasuke.

 

“Haruno-san…” one of the guards began, clearly unsteady. “I’m not sure we should let you through.”

 

Sakura knew her teammate was doing his best to look harmless, but…well. That was rather difficult for him to do.

 

“This isn’t Uchiha Sasuke,” Iruka said simply. “And this project is classified, not to mention in a bit of a hurry, so we’ll be going now.”

 

The sentry frowned. “But Iru-”

 

“We are going past you,” Sakura snapped, glaring. “And this borders on insubordination. You’re lucky I was in a good mood, Kiruma, or I would-”

 

“Of course, Haruno-san,” the guard- Kiruma, apparently – said hurriedly, almost frantically, and his team, with a deep bow, flitted back to their posts.

 

When they moved forward again, Sasuke was half holding her up. Everything was becoming a bit fuzzy, really.

 

“Sakura, you alright?” Sasuke muttered, barely audible.

 

“I…I have no idea,” she whispered back. “I just…suddenly I knew that man’s name…”

 

“And you don’t know him from our world,” Sasuke said, and Sakura just nodded. “Hmmph. Another thing to bring up with yourself.”

 

And then they were in view of the Haruno Resistance’s encampment – a mass of camouflaged huts and tree houses that could have passed for growths or moss in any grove of any Konoha-area forest. The only thing to really give it away was the massive amount of people.

 

Children played across the moss. What they could see of the huts and houses’ interiors was brilliantly colorful. Women and men were standing around smokeless fires chatting amiably, and ninja flitted about as if moths around a nest.

 

Said nest was the only more-than-two-story building in the whole (rather sizeable) clearing. It was a building that looked more like it was carved out of the tree’s knot than attached to it, with four stories of dimly lit windows in the side. The only other conspicuous thing about the building was the inlaid Haruno ring above the door.

 

“…I know you probably want to just jump up and get to Haruno-san’s office, but I’d suggest you take the normal route up the wooden bridges,” Iruka said easily. “Give her time to stop everyone from killing Sasuke-kun on sight and to adapt to there being two Haruno Sakuras.”

 

“Thank you, Iruka-sensei,” Sakura said, and meant it, from the bottom of her heart.

 

The man smiled back at her. “Kakashi and I will help you in almost any way we can,” he said, just as sincerely, regret softening his eyes. “You two- no, you three, are proof we didn’t fail you.” He paused. “You’re proof that there’s still hope.”

 

Before Sakura could get another word in, Iruka had already bounded back the way they’d come and Sasuke was pulling her towards the ramp as politely as possible, which was more or less not so subtle nudging her elbow. The inhabitants of the camp gasped and stared as they headed for the swinging mess of wood and rope. Some children even went running, screaming, to their parents.

 

Strangely enough, Sasuke didn’t seem terribly surprised by it. He just frowned and continued on, Sakura taking the lead again as they ascended the rickety, well-camouflaged ramp to her double’s dwelling.

 

As soon as the two were close enough to see the entrance, Sakura spotted said double, standing impassively in front of the door, face more tense than Sakura had ever thought her own possible. Ino stood on her right, Shikamaru on her left, obviously ready to stop any attack either intended.

 

“Haruno-san!” Sakura called out quickly, strangling her teammate’s arm. “This is Sasuke- the, ah, the-”

 

“The one not trying to kill you,” Sasuke filled in dryly as he stopped their approach, close enough for easy conversation but still far enough away to not make Haruno-san and company uneasy.

 

Sakura smacked the back of his head lightly, smiling as politically as she could at the three leaf-nin in front of them. “What he means to say is that he means no threat to you or your people, and we’re just trying to sort ourselves out and not hurt anyone!”

 

“Except for the other me,” Sasuke added. “Which I can help you with.”

 

Haruno-san eyed them levelly, judging the danger against the possible benefits. “And what do you want from us?”

 

“Information,” Sasuke stated.

 

Sakura moved forward, dropping her grip on Sasuke’s arm just enough that she could move separately. “We think Naruto’s been captured, and have a plan to get him out. We’re not asking for manpower, just some standard protocols, information…appearances…”

 

Sakura always knew she was smart, and Haruno-san proved her right, nodding and getting the hint. “Then come in. It’ll be getting cold soon, as you know.”

 

Ino and Shikamaru were first through the entrance, and then Haruno-san stood, waiting for them to get inside and follow them through.

 

“…and you’re sure your Naruto’s worth saving?” Haruno-san asked icily as the two stepped through the door.

 

“He’s an idiot, but he’s our idiot,” Sasuke said simply, subtly holding Sakura back from attacking her double. “Whatever your Naruto did, ours didn’t. Don’t hold him accountable for choices he never made.”

 

“Predictable words, coming from you,” Haruno-san growled, but made no move to attack, instead ushering them into a room with a table and chairs, clearly intended as a conference room. “Sakura. He’s telling the truth?”

 

Sakura just nodded, trying to wrap her mind around what could have turned her into this woman. She was strong, yes, but vicious in a way Sakura herself could never hope to be. With just her words, Haruno-san had a cruelty that Sakura was horrified to think existed somewhere inside her.

 

“Fine,” Haruno-san stated, taking the chair at the head of the table in a move that was pure habit, Ino and Shikamaru flanking her. Sakura and Sasuke took seats a couple down on the right side, next to each other. “So. How can we help you.”