Orochimaru P.O.V

With five minutes left to spare before I disappeared, I traveled back in time to where I first began to experiment with time travel. As I stepped out of the portal and into the lab of my past, a feeling of nostalgia overcame me.

Ten years ago, I used to work for Konoha's specialized research team, but my love for the unattainable had me removed from my position as research director. I sighed as I began to walk towards my old office. The time I had traveled back to was the day I had been stripped of my title. 

Out of every moment in my life I could have traveled to, I ended up in this one...

While approaching my office, a loud yell startled me. I quickly hid behind a column, hoping not to be seen.

"Orochimaru!" I heard a familiar voice yell.

I slowly peeked over the side to catch a glimpse of my old co-worker, Sarutobi-sensei, running into my office furiously. I breathed out nervously as I heard him lecturing my past self. Sometimes I wish I would have listened to him...

While lost in the thoughts of my past, the sound of a door slamming shut brought me back to reality. I could hear Sarutobi-sensei leaving my office in a huff as he cursed under his breath. "That idiot!" he yelled angrily.

I closed my eyes softly, remembering my past. I don't have time to waste...The past is the past.  

I sighed again before making my way to my office to merge with my current self. 

***

I looked at my youthful body in the mirror with a smile. It's almost as if I am immortal.

While admiring my returned youth, the watch on my wrist began to vibrate. I quickly looked through my watch to see the reason why the portal had taken me to this time. I shook my head with a sly smile. "Those idiots...Why am I suddenly a hero?"

I activated my time machine and stepped into the portal one last time. If I still get sent to hell after all this, the world is just unfair.

***

I exited the portal to see I had been taken to a cemetery. I looked at my watch, confused with my location. "It seems I'm back ten years into the future," I whispered to myself. 

It was quiet, and no one was in sight. There had to be a reason I was taken to this place, so I began to walk in search of clues; however, after several minutes of searching, there was nothing out of the ordinary. 

Was this a mistake? I thought while looking at my watch. It can't be...My inventions are always accurate-- 

Suddenly, I heard a couple arguing. A woman was complaining as the man sobbed uncontrollably, making it almost impossible to understand his words. I rolled my eyes at their disrespect. To think they could have at least left their fighting at home. These people are dead and want nothing more than to sleep peacefully--

I stopped in my footsteps as I recognized Sasuke's pathetic voice: "Wait! I-I need to f-find Na-Naruko to make things r-right!"  

"Look, Sasuke-kun, I can't let you see Naruko..."

I knew there was a reason for being brought here...

I quickly headed towards the arguing pair and hid behind a nearby tree. I watched as Sasuke cried pathetically, pleading for the help of the pink-haired girl. Tch. this is annoying to watch...

The pink-haired girl finally left, leaving him alone in tears. I sighed, dreading the fact that I had to now deal with an over-emotional Sasuke. Slowly, I made my way towards him.

While watching him hold his face in tears, I rolled my eyes, annoyed and almost disgusted with his emotions. I think I liked you better when you were emo...

I clicked my tongue and crossed my arms. "Stop crying, Sasuke..."

He slowly looked up, shocked by my presence: "O-Orochimaru...?"

"So this is what you did after you left your wife, huh? Who knew your biggest fangirl would become this hateful towards you?" I chuckled, amused by this time's Sakura's change of heart. I think I like this time's Sakura.

"How...?" he muttered, getting my attention. He stared at me, shocked that I knew about his time-traveling expedition. "How did you know...? Did you follow me here?"

"I invented that time machine you're using," I stated, rubbing my temples impatiently.  

I sighed, annoyed that I included myself in this complicated equation. The involvement of human emotions was the one thing I strictly avoided. Looking at Sasuke reminded me why I stayed away from any sort of bond. 

I took a deep breath before making my way to stand before him. "I've already seen how the second timeline plays out, Sasuke." 

"How-?"

"She dies."

I watched him tense up from the shock that my lie had dealt him. His eyes were wide, his breath was staggered, and his skin grew pale. 

Sasuke was a stubborn man; the only way to get him to stop his foolish behavior was to use his weakness.

"How is that possible...? Sakura just said she was with some guy named Gaara," he asked in disbelief.

I closed my eyes, preparing myself to spin a web of lies. " She died in a car accident..."

Curses left his mouth as he continued to blame himself for the death of his wife. "First Naori dies, and now Naruko?! This is all my fault!"

A small seed of guilt formed in the pit of my stomach as I watched him blame himself for the misfortunes of fate. This is too pitiful even for you...That woman made you soft...

I wanted to turn around and leave. His charade annoyed me; I didn't need to be involved, yet I rolled my eyes and kneeled before him. "Sasuke, death is unavoidable. Everyone dies eventually...Her death is no one's fault. Not yours. Not hers, but fate itself. You cannot control the future, but only your present...Stop running away from your fears and go back to her," I blurted.

He looked up at me, surprised by my advice. Feeling embarrassed by my own sudden change of heart, I stood back up and began to walk away. "Trust your wife, Sasuke...She'll make sure you two will have the future you both deserve." I reopened the portal, satisfied with my role.

"Why...? Why are you helping me?" he asked while trying to compose himself.

I stood before the exit of my portal, unable to answer the question. Why was I helping them? Even I couldn't explain that myself. Perhaps it was just a twist of fate that brought me to their equation of a happy ending and nothing more.

"You need her, Sasuke, and she wants you." I sighed to myself before exiting into the portal. "Bring me back my prototype when you're done...Also, make sure to tell her to make up with her idiot grandfather. Heartbroken characters aren't really his style."

***

I slowly stepped out of my portal, allowing it to close behind me. Maybe this time, I can also set things right for my future...

I picked up my gadget and placed it into my pocket. Then, I fixed my lab coat and left my office to find Sarutobi-sensei.

***
First Timeline's Sasuke P.O.V

I believed Orochimaru. He was an immoral, twisted human being, but he wasn't a liar. For him to follow me must mean something terrible must have happened in the future, not just to my wife and me but to him as well. He wasn't the selfless type, but his sudden compassion left me uneasy.

However, he was right. Everyone dies eventually, and our misfortunes weren't my fault, yet I hated how long it took for me to accept this fact. It was easier to blame myself and run away. 

I clenched my fists in frustration as I ran down the bright path of the time machine. I promised to be with her through everything, and I left her alone at her worst. I never want to make that mistake again. I want to be with you, Naruko, and only you.  

Despite pushing to leave my wife all this time, I returned to the past in search of my wife. This time, it was to make sure we could have another chance to meet.

I was back in Naruko's apartment; however, she was nowhere to be found. Where is she? She should be here--did I come to the wrong time?

I quickly ran to her room to find her calendar. I pushed aside the mess of clothes and piles of ramen noodle cups in a hurry. I then picked up the calendar to see that it was outdated.

I growled while trying to think of a way to tell the date. While in the middle of my tantrum, the sound of her alarm clock went off to mark the hour. I then quickly looked at her digital clock to see that I had returned to the week after the basketball game.

How...? Was there a malfunction in the portal? Why did it take me back here on a Monday instead of when I had left--?

Suddenly, I realized why the portal had taken me back to this day. During my encounter with Sakura, she told me Naruko had broken up with her senpai the week after the basketball game. She must be doing it today.

I had to do something, and I had almost no time to think of anything. Basketball practice ends around six...I only have an hour to think of something...

I quickly grabbed a piece of paper from her desk and began to write a note to my past self. My thoughts were flowing through my pen and onto the page, but as I flipped the paper to write more on the back, I realized my past self would have never bothered to read everything I was writing.

I balled up the paper and threw it away in frustration. Why was I such an idiot in high school?!

I quickly grabbed another piece of paper and began to think. What am I supposed to do? During this time of my life, I was an ignorant brat, so what could I write that would get my attention?

Handling myself during this time was much harder than caring for my wife of this time. My wife was always more understanding and accepting than I was; it even showed in this era. I became the way I am now because of her. So if I don't get the Sasuke of this time to read my note, I may never become this way in the future.

Time was ticking; I only had 30 minutes to think of something new to write. I tapped the desk anxiously before writing 2 sentences down in a panic. The two sentences were written in large, bold, uppercase letters, taking up the entirety of the page. I quickly folded the paper and shoved it into my pocket. 

It's all up to fate now...

I ran out of the apartment with ten minutes to spare. While running, I searched through my bag to take out my black cap and shades and put them on. Ever since I came back to this time, I had been avoiding my high school. Knowing that Naori was able to recognize me meant that everyone else would, too. I needed to be strategic in my approach to delivering the letter. 

I had finally reached the school gates, but my lack of a solid plan had me stop in my footsteps. If I run into myself, we'll merge...I can't let that happen...

While lost in thought, a small group of students began to make their way out of the school. I quickly hid my face by looking at the ground, hoping they couldn't recognize me, yet their suspicious whispers made me anxious. This is for Naruko. This is for Naruko. This is--

"So..."

My heart stopped from the voice that spoke to me. Sweat began to form on my forehead from the stress. Did someone recognize me...?

I slowly glanced over in the direction of the voice to see Naori. Her long purple hair hid her face as she stared at the ground. "You finally realized you were making the biggest mistake of your life, huh?" She pushed her hair back to reveal a proud smile. "I told you so, didn't I?" she teased.

A weight lifted from my chest as I saw my old friend again. "You're alive..."

She made a face with an awkward smile. "Of course I am. It's only been three days, not 300 years," she joked. 

A sigh of relief left my mouth. "When did you get here?" I asked.

"I was on clean-up duty today, so I left a little while ago. Then, I saw a really shady guy in all black walking to the school, so I had to go back," she joked.

I rolled my eyes as they hid behind my dark-tinted sunglasses. "Hn."

She giggled, moving slightly closer to me. "So what's the plan this time?" she asked.

I passed her the note I had written to myself. "I need to give this note to myself...Do you think you can place this in his bag tomorrow?"

She opened the note and laughed at the message, making me feel even more embarrassed than I already was. She then closed the note and placed it into her pocket. "I'll make sure he gets it... What're you going to do now?"

"I have to find Naruko again."

"You better hurry," she warned, "She told me she was going to break up with her boyfriend today."

I nodded my head. "Thank you, Naori..."

She smiled at me before giving me a thumbs up. "I'll take care of the note. Just make sure you guys get that happy ending."

"I won't make the same mistake again." 

"Good. If you do, I'll make sure to knock some sense into you sooner." 

I shook my head playfully before making my way to Konoha High.

***

I bit my lip nervously as I stood at the gates of Naruko's high school. The school was almost empty, but the seasonal basketball training had Naruko's senpai locked away in the gym. I looked at my watch; I had about five minutes to make it to the gym before this season's sports teams would leave their practice. I took a deep breath to calm my anxious heart; then, I ran into the school to find my wife. 

While turning the corner to the gym, my eyes caught a glimpse of my wife's beautiful blond hair. However, the moment I saw her face, fear suddenly took control of my body. My feet wouldn't move. I was petrified. And the feelings of doubt that I held in the back of my mind were slowly beginning to interfere with my resolve. 

Orochimaru had warned me of the new future and its outcomes. Yet, seeing my wife at this moment reminded me of why I had given up on us in the first place. The color of her skin was dim. The bags under her eyes were heavy and puffy, indicating that she had been crying shortly before meeting her senpai. She looked miserable. She looked like my wife the first time I left her.

What am I doing...? I know I have to trust Naruko, but what if another destructive event happens to us in the future? What if we end up worse than before? Maybe I shouldn't-

"Sasuke...?"

I slowly left my trance to look at my wife in disbelief as she cried. Naruko...

"Is that really you...?" she asked while approaching me slowly. She stood before me, shocked to see me after I had just left her a few days ago.

I couldn't think of anything to say. All the speeches I had prepared beforehand were gone. My mind was blank, yet my mouth still moved on its own. "I'm sorry..." I whispered as a tear left my eye.

Her hands slowly reached towards my face: one hand gently removed my shades as the other caressed my cheek. "I thought you were never coming back..." she whispered sadly.

My eyes closed as I pressed my cheek against the palm of her hand. "I'm sorry," I repeated like a broken record. I couldn't think of anything else to say but apologies. I couldn't bear to look her in the eyes after what I had done to her.

She held my face in her hands as she whispered: "Sasuke, look at me, please."

I slowly opened my eyes only to look away again. "I can't-"

She pulled me down by the collar of my black T-shirt. "You idiot." And like she had done many times before, she kissed me sweetly. 

Tears slipped down my cheeks as the warmth from her lips saved me. Slowly, she pulled away, allowing the touch of our lips to linger. Her arms then wrapped around me, holding me close as she buried her head into my chest. "What made you come back?" she asked sweetly.

Before meeting with Orochimaru, I somehow got lost in one of my memories: the moment I fell in love with Naruko. Remembering how happy Naruko and I were made me regret ever leaving her; however, I continued to torture myself with the painful memories of my wife's sickly days. I couldn't allow my happiness to get in the way of hers.

Yet, the moment Orochimaru told me she had died, I couldn't leave her to die on her own again. I had already let her down in our previous timeline; the least I could do was be with her until the end of this time, even if the outcome was bad. 

I held Naruko closer to me before whispering in her ear: "You...You made me come back." 

***

I walked Naruko home after enjoying our last meal together at Ichiraku's. As we ate, she opened up to me about her situation with her grandfather. She told me things that I hadn't even known about her myself. Slowly, all the broken pieces from our future were beginning to come together.

As we made our way to her home, I felt her trying to hold my hand. I smiled to myself as I remembered how awkward she and I were at this age when we first met. To tease her, I moved my hand away. "What're you doing?" I asked.

"I-I'm trying to ho-hold your hand..." she replied meekly. 

"What if someone from your school sees you holding an old man's hand?"

"Huh?! You're not that old! We're technically the same age-!"

"But I'm ten years older right now."

She pouted, crossing her arms in embarrassment. "Tch..."

I chuckled at her childish behavior before showing her my pinkie. She stared at me in confusion before shaking her head. "I want your hand."

I shrugged my shoulders and placed my hands into my pockets.  

"W-wait!" she exclaimed while reaching to take my right hand out of my pocket. "I'll hold your stupid pinkie," she pouted.

We walked side by side as we held onto each other with our pinkies. "This is stupid," she complained.

I chuckled to myself as I thought about how I felt when I held Naruko's pinkie ten years ago. I've really come a long way.

Slowly, I let go of her pinkie and began to intertwine my fingers with hers. "Naruko," I started, "The Sasuke of this time isn't like me now...Please, have patience with me...I didn't know any better." 

She squeezed my hand in reassurance. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you love me so much you'll never think of time-traveling again."

The sky turned dark, and slowly the street lamps began to turn on. I stopped in front of a light pole to face her. 

"What's wrong? Was the time-traveling joke too early to be used?"

I snickered at her concerned expression as I used my free hand to caress her face. "Promise me you'll do that...Make sure I'll never want to leave you again."

She smiled sweetly at me before tiptoeing to kiss me. "I promise."

***

The time machine was ready, and this time, Naruko and I would hopefully be seeing each other again. She tucked my long hair behind my ear, revealing my eyes. "Maybe I can get you to tie your hair back from time to time in the future," she joked.

I took her hand in mine, feeling more confident with my decision to try again. "I love you," I said effortlessly. Despite my resolve, guilt still held a piece of my heart. "Am I selfish for trying to stay with you despite pushing you away not too long ago...?"

She sighed loudly before tapping my forehead with her fingers. "You're a stupid Uchiha, idiot...Uchiha's are meant to be selfish." She then smiled at me: "Go, Sasuke...Go back home. I have a lot to do starting tomorrow."  

I closed my eyes, feeling content. I turned to enter the portal, but before I left, I mouthed a thank you to my future wife and left to go back to where I belonged. 

***

Third Timeline's Sasuke P.O.V

There was a note on my desk. The paper was crumpled, yet the many folds it was in helped the paper hold a shape. I looked around the room, but no one was around. Who would be when it was a quarter to six on a school day?

I picked up the paper and slowly began to open it out of curiosity. Who even leaves notes anymore, tch...

My eyes scanned the paper. "Look for a dumb blond...She will bring you happiness...? Is this a joke?" I whispered to myself in annoyance. I crumpled up the paper and threw it away. What idiot would leave this on my desk...Hn, and a blond? There's no such thing as a blond Uchiha...I'm already engaged to a sorry excuse of a Uchiha anyway--

As I picked up my bag from my desk, my eyes glanced out the window. At that moment, a colorful yellow caught my attention. Confused by what I saw, I quickly looked back out the window and saw a blond-haired girl waiting at the front of the school. What-?

Startled by the coincidence, I dropped my bag and ran out of the classroom to meet the girl. Who left that letter, and why is there a blond girl outside the school?! 

I pushed the front doors open and stood outside, watching the girl who stood at the front gate as I tried to catch my breath. She looked different from anyone I had ever met in the estate. Her light-tanned skin made her yellow hair glow, and the whisker-like marks on her cheeks were unusual. She was strange.

She was focused on the floor as her hands squeezed her school bag. She seemed almost nervous. While watching her from a distance, she suddenly looked up, and our eyes met. They're blue...

A smile crossed her face at the sight of me. "Sasuke!" she yelled happily while running to meet me.

My heart fluttered from the genuine expression she held, but the fact that she knew my name sent chills down my spine. "Who are you?!" I yelled angrily. 

She was almost in front of me, so out of fear, I began to move back until my back hit the door of the school. Her arms swung open to embrace me. She held me tight as if never wanting to let me go. What's going on?! I need to call the police-!

"Let go of me!" I yelled in fear.

"Sorry!" she apologized while letting go, "I was just so happy to finally meet you." Her smile was genuine, but the fact that she had hugged me, a stranger, was a red flag. 

"How do you know me?!" I questioned angrily.

"Do you believe in fate?" she asked, completely avoiding my question.

"Are you an idiot-?!"

She quickly took my hand in hers with a bright smile. "You won't believe me, but you're my husband in the future."