(Pre-Show) The Barracks

[Sasuke Uchiha]

Roughly went over this with Proto, let me know if I messed up anything! xD

Crimson hues of light pierced an ever expanding, abundance of smoke. Its illumination, casting upon a barren and desolate land, revealed a scorched black earth, cracked with subterranean rivers of magma, visible from the fissures within. Volcanic mountains stretched as far as the eye could see and along with them, their terrifying billows of smolder and ash, forming from the sporadic eruptions of hazardous lava.

*VZZTSHTHAWAPP!*

Sasuke stepped through the crack in time and space, thoroughly fascinated with yet, another foreign technology the world of Omni possessed. At this point, he no longer cared if people caught him gawking or thought him a tourist. Everything in the world of Omni was just so different… and amazing! Sure, he was accustom to Jutsu, but interdimensional travel? Holograms? What was next?!

He placed his palm to the reality-hole he’d just come through; solid. Odd… was this a one way thing? No one had said anything about that to him...

Sasuke shrugged it off and took in his surroundings. Suddenly, the moment changed and the Ninja’s expression became serious. He wasn’t exactly sure what he had expected to happen when he had walked through the portal, but it most certainly wasn’t this. He’d assumed, from what Hammond had told him… that on the other side of the portal would have been some sort of main hall and/or lobby area. He had even been told to expect rather lavish and luxurious accommodations and amendments. A ploy implemented by the staff of Dante’s Abyss to cover up the blood and violence the tournament condoned, however, none of that was present when he arrived on the other side of the portal. Instead the young Ninja found himself assailed by an enduring heat source accompanied by a smoke that seriously irritated both his eyes and lungs. Sasuke shielded his face from the harsh environment with an outstretched arm, as he tried to decipher what was going on.

Where were all the reporters Hammond had talked about? None of this made any sense… thought the young Uchiha.

***

“Sir, we have some sort of interference.” a woman informed her supervisor over her desk intercom; she waited patiently for his response. She wore a business casual dress, her hair in a bun, and pinned to her chest was a badge that displayed her credentials:

Dante’s Abyss Staff- Lexi Goldbloom

“Interference, what are you talking about?” the intercom sounded a response from her supervisor.

She hesitated a moment before answering with, “Well, one of the contestants… vanished.” reluctance showing in her voice.

“What?! What do you mean VANISHED?!” his voice resonated through com-link.

She hesitated once more, but finally replied with, “Well, he took one of our portals the Empire gifted us and now… well, he didn’t come through to the lobby, sir.”

Suddenly, a man in his late thirties appeared at her desk. She recognized him immediately, lowering her head, and eyeing her feet as he shouted, “WHAT?! And you are just NOW telling me about this?! Imbeciles! Bring up the portal audio and video feed, NOW!” as he finished his face had turned a rosy shade of red.

“Yes, sir!” she responded as her hands began hitting the keys of her keyboard in rapid succession. She quickly brought up the feed, on their main computer screen. The screen detailed a youth standing in front of a chair and a woman, with cat ears and tail, questioning him.

Her supervisor, now, in person, and standing behind her, sounded ever more intimidating, “Fast forward! Fast forward!”

The screen then depicted an eruption of fire from the youth as the room became engulfed by what could only be described as, ‘A Giant Fireball’.

“Humph, that’s interesting. You know, we’ve really got some great talent this year.” her manager stated as he pondered over all the contestants who had also displayed amazing talents. He then pointed to the screen, “There! Okay, stop!”

The screen depicted Sasuke, flashing his famous Uchiha grin and entering the portal.

“Okay, show me the other side, from this point in time.” the supervisor demanded.

The female attendant made a grunt, indicating that it might be difficult to obtain. Her supervisor shot her an intense look and she almost squeaked in response, “Wait… here… I got it! There.”

The screen now depicted a zone covered in hell-fire, “That’s the Stepps, isn't it? Why would it take him there?” Lexi asked.

On the monitor, Sasuke stepped all the way through the rift, stepping out onto the Ashen Stepps soil.
The manager took a step back, “I better call Karl Jak right away!” and a moment later he had Mr. Jak himself, on the phone, “Sir, there’s been an issue with one of the contestants… one of the portals..”

“I see. So, it’s happened?” Jak questioned.

“Wha..?” the manager started before being interrupted by Jak.

“He’s found the one he was looking for, excellent! That is good news! Now, make sure you get everything on camera, I want this live for all our audience to see!” and like that, Karl Jak ended the call.

“Huh… Well, you heard the man, roll ‘em. I want every inch of this covered, every angle. I want it available on the Dataverse immediately, make it so!” her supervisor barked as Lexi mimicked her own mock expression in response (when no one was watching). Her fingers flew into action with her keyboard. She hated her job, but man did she like those fat paychecks. She sipped on her coffee as he worked, diligently to, ‘make it so’.

***

“I see, so it’s true. You are here.” sounded a voice just outside of Sasuke’s field of vision. The Uchiha stood, without movement. Silent, his eyes shut. “It’s unfortunate you came alone. You’re not the one I was looking for,” the voice paused to let out a snicker of a laugh, “hmphaha, though, you’ve fallen into my trap, none the less, haven’t you? Little brother.”

Sasuke’s upper lip snarled, his eye’s flared open displaying crimson pupils, and his hands began to speak the language of the shinobi. A bright, hot, white light burst into existence within Sasuke’s right hand, “Itachi Uchiha, I hope you’ve prepared to die. I’ve lived my whole life for this day, this moment. You killed our people, you killed our parents! I’ve grown my hatred for you, all this time. I become the Avenger of our clan and I lived my life for this one single purpose!”

***

Lexi Goldbloom turned in her chair to cast a look at her supervisor, whatever they had caught, it sure looked like it was going to be good for the ratings. Was Karl Jak behind this? Had he orchestrated this whole thing?!

***

“Chidori?” questioned the surprised elder of the two Uchiha as he arched an eyebrow at the thought. “My, I didn’t think you capable. Such a waste.” he mocked his younger sibling.

“ENOUGH OF THIS!!!” Sasuke screamed as the vicious electric current he had created lashed out in all directions, barely containable within his hand. Red eyed and pissed off he rushed Itachi, hell bent on avenging his clan this day, not the next. Unconcerned with the destructive power he possessed, the young shinobi rocketed forward, Chidori in hand. Electric vigor carved hollow the mountain side adjacent to him as he ran, “IT ENDS HERE!!! DIE YOU BASTAAARRRDD!!!”

*KABOOM!!!*

The area surrounding the shinobi shook as a blinding flash of white light consumed them. When it dissipated, a giant crater had been left in its place as the attack had taken a piece of the mountain. Itachi had, in a beautiful display of speed and martial arts, out maneuvered the youth’s attack and diverted it into the base of the mountain; his fingers wrapped tightly around the youth’s wrist. It was astounding, he had brushed off Sasuke’s attack like it was nothing, mere child’s play.

*SNAP*

Itachi’s grip on Sasuke’s wrist, terrifyingly strong, eventually dislocated the youth’s own with a simple flick of movement. An Immense pain, both foreign and familiar to the young shinobi, shot through his nervous system as he felt the dislodging. The youth felt a deafening shriek of pain about to escape his lips when he tasted blood in his mouth. In an effort to stifle his scream he had bit his tongue so hard he bled; he succeeded , Itachi would have no fond memories of his screams to take away from this day.

Itachi gave him a swift kick to the ribs, one that sent him several yards back, scraping across the scorched earth, singing and burning him as he went. “Leave this place. You don’t interest me at the moment.” his older brother mocked him.

Sasuke stood, defiantly and with purpose. “Well, GET INTERESTED!” he roared as he shot forward, a furry of rage clenched in his fist, intended for his opponent. He grimaced however, as he was sent flying backward, taking a well-placed boot to the chest instead. Upon collision with the base of the mountain Sasuke felt his air escape him and his vision become a blur before him. Still, in this condition, he stood.

“Just give in.” the rogue ninja, the monster who murdered his family, mocked Sasuke.
The youth took a combat stance as he spoke, “I already told you. I lived my whole life for this day, this moment. This fight is NOT OVER! NOW DIE!!!” and when he finished shouting he was upon Itachi once more, however, he was met with Itachi’s own assault. One, two, three times he took blows; to the abdomen, nose, and to the side of the head. Sasuke staggered back, caught his footing, and slammed his hands together sounding a loud sound as he did so.

*SNAP*

Sasuke grinned, feeling his wrist sore, but now with ability again, he performed a coordination of hand signs that unleashed a devastating orb of blazing fire, intended to devour Itachi Uchiha. Wasting no time, his hands began in motion again, summoning fourth an abundance of electric destruction into his right hand. He then charged into the hellfire, created from his previous jutsu. As the flames cleared, two Uchiha remained, one rocketing towards the other with the screeching sounds of ten thousands birds aiding him on; they collided and a white light enveloped the scene once more.

*BOOM*

When the light subsided, both Sasuke and Itachi were gone; nowhere to be seen.

***

Lexi, who had been intently watching the fight depicted on their screen, turned to her supervisor, “Where’d they go?”

Her supervisor took a closer look at the screen, “Man, I don’t know… but you better find them, or it’s going be all of our asses!”

Lexi shook her head, muttering something just out of ear shot, sounded like, “What do you even do around here?” Nevertheless she began working away at her computer, ever desperate to locate them.

***

Sasuke suddenly fell through yet, another portal, nimbly catching himself in a crouched position as he surveyed his new surroundings. He appeared to of landed in some sort of administrative office that resembled a museum of sorts, or at least he suspected. In fact, the room almost reminded him of the Third Hokage’s office.

“Sasuke Uchiha, I’ve been waiting for you.” A voice sounded from, again, just out of his vision. Sasuke, now irritated, turned to face the voice. Before him stood an elderly man with long white hair accompanied with an even longer, white beard. The beard stretched down the front of his well-made, but ancient looking robes. Sasuke gave him a blank expression, encouraging the elderly stranger to elaborate not offering any conversation of his own. “My name is Dumblerdore, Albus Dumbledore. I am Chief Warlock of the Kingdom and the Head of the Mages Guild.”

“The Kingdom?” Sasuke questioned.

“Why yes, the Kingdom. It’s quiet lovely this time of year. A splendid abode for any who have had their… fair share of miss-tidings with the Empire, but that’s not why I have summoned you.” The warlock answered displaying a smile ear to ear before continuing, “Itachi Uchiha is a growing threat. He arrived sometime after the scramble incident and has been steadily increasing his prowess as well as his influence amongst the more hardened citizens of the Omniverse. He is attempting to raise an organization to do his bidding. I know their whereabouts and I have insight on the goals he hopes to accomplish. I fear he may one day mount a formidable assault on the Kingdom and its people. It is because of this I have summoned you here.”

“That’s all good and well,” Sasuke cut the elderly man off, “but if you will just send me back, I’ll finish this myself! You’re the reason I’m not killing Itachi Uchiha right now!”

The elderly wizard kept a cool demeanor and simply asked, “And, how was that going for you, before I summoned you here?”

Sasuke stopped dead in his tracks; he was right. He had been taking a pretty bad beating back there. After all this time, all this training, and he was still no better equipped to slay Itachi than when he were a child. He cursed under his breath.

If only he was stronger… he thought.

Albus, who had, at some point, changed positions, was now sitting in a rocking chair. He leaned forward, “And, what if you were? What if you were… stronger?”

Sasuke’s eyes widened, had he heard his thoughts?

Dumbledore smiled, “I am commissioning you, one, Sasuke Uchiha to the task of eliminating this threat, however, in order to do so, you are going to need a lot of power; a lot more than you possess now.”

Sasuke kept quiet, as if to say, ‘Go on.’

“In this world there are legendary items known as artifacts. Any one of them could instill the power necessary to defeat Itachi and more so. The ability to make a real difference, for the good of the realm.” finished the Albus Dumbledore`.

He sounds like Hammond now… thought the youth.

“Search these artifacts out, obtain them, and use their power to reach your goals, but be careful, you’ll find you’re not the only one searching for these items of legend.” the ancient warlock finished.

“So, you’re saying these… artifacts… will give me the strength I need? Where will I find them?” questioned the Uchiha youth.

Albus, now sitting atop the desk placed in the office, began speaking once more, “Dante’s abyss is as good a place to start as any. Several of the contestants possess artifacts themselves and the grand prize for first place is an artifact as well.”

I don't remember seeing him move... thought Sasuke, but replied with, “Okay.”

“Okay?” questioned the ancient wizard, now standing directly behind the raven haired ninja.

Sasuke turned about to face Dumbledore, eyeing him suspiciously,“How did yo-” he stopped.

Is everything thing in this place like this? This is f*cking crazy… he thought.

“Okay. I’ll do it. Send me back, I’ll get take the mission.” The youth stated, looking Dumbledore in the eye.

“You will? How do I know I can trust you?” questioned the wizard.

“Trust this. I won’t let anything get in the way of my vengeance. I will restore my clan.” Sasuke stated with conviction.

With that Dumbledore flicked his wand and 'poof', a portal shifted into existence. Sasuke leaped through and was gone, leaving Dumbledore with a smile on his face, “That’s what I’m counting on, my boy. That’s what I’m counting on.”

***

Sasuke landed on the other end of the rift in space, quickly surveying his surroundings once more. You never know where one of these damned portals was going to take you. This time he had been transported to a small room containing a bunk, desk, and place to prepare simple meals. On top of the desk sat a bag labeled, “Contestant #43”

“Looks like I missed the preshow. Hammond said they wouldn’t move us into the barracks for days…” Sasuke stated as he placed a hand over his forehead. His sense of time was all distorted and his body ached from the battle with his brother. He removed his shirt as he wanted nothing more than to plop down on that bunk and just sleep forever, however, just as he was about to do so, he remembered something.

“Dante’s abyss is as good a place to start as any. Several of the contestants possess artifacts themselves…”

The youth put his shirt back on and exited the room. No time for rest, he needed to do some investigating!