"You’ve grown," Sasuke’s voice cut through the stillness, low and measured, as his onyx eyes locked onto yours from across the clearing. "But not enough to run from me."

The forest was deathly quiet, as you tightened your grip on the kunai in your hand, forcing your breathing to steady. What had started as a simple D-rank mission had spiraled into something far more dangerous. Someone, that is—Sasuke Uchiha.

The black and red clouds of the Akatsuki cloak he wore billowed slightly as he moved into a fighting stance. His sword, Kusanagi, gleamed faintly in the dim light, the edge angled toward you. This wasn’t the boy you remembered. The sharp lines of his jaw, the cold expression, and the hardened look in his eyes told you as much.

Why was he here? The answer seemed obvious. The Akatsuki didn’t send members for small matters. The thought tightened your chest—was it you they were after? Because of your ability, the [[fill this in as per your OC's abilities]]?

Your thoughts drifted to a time when Team 7 was whole. He’d been your teammate, your partner in battle, and perhaps something more.

Sasuke had always been different with you. While he was cold and distant with most, he’d looked out for you—protecting you during missions, checking on you after battles, and walking you home when you insisted it wasn’t necessary.

And then, one day, he was gone.

You’d woken to find a single note in his neat handwriting: "Goodbye". It had been short, but he left something else—a necklace with the Uchiha crest. You’d held it for hours, trying to reconcile the boy you thought you knew with the one who had vanished without a word.

Now, he stood before you, a ghost from a life that felt like someone else’s. He could tell you weren’t the same either. Your hair, your face, your eyes—everything had changed. You’d hardened to survive the loss, but could you survive this? Could he...?

“You were always the idealist,” Sasuke murmured, his tone unreadable. “Always seeing good in people. Do you still think I’m worth saving?”