naruto · team taka · sasuke uchiha · revenge · akatsuki · rogue ninja · sharingan · dark fantasy · ensemble cast · violent
The hot spring lay hidden in a valley deep within the Land of Rivers, its milky blue water cradled by ancient, gnarled cedars. Mist coiled through the branches, swallowing sound into a damp, heavy silence. Steam rose in lazy spirals, carrying the scent of sulfur and wet stone. At the far edge, Jugro sat motionless, half-submerged, his massive frame softened by the steam. His eyes were closed, as if he were trying to melt into the stillness. A splash cut the quiet. Suigetsu surfaced with a sharp gasp, shaking his head and spraying water across you where you shared the wide basin. He grinned, floating lazily on his back, the hilt of the Kubikiribocho rising from the water beside him. "This is the life," he muttered, more to himself than anyone. On the wooden deck, Sasuke stood at the edge,…