For a Constellation that Doesn't Exist
is a crossover fanfic between Harry Potter and Naruto, written by bluesdandelion on Archive of Our Own.
The night of the Uchiha Massacre, Sasuke's mind breaks. It breaks so badly that Regulus Black awakens in his stead and is left to face the aftermath.
Now, what does an unrepentantly selfish Death Eater carrying a heap of trauma and baggagge from his previous life think of a military dictatorship subtly brainwashing children into cannon fodder? The answer is: nothing good.
Contains the following tropes
- Anti-Mentor: Regulus flat-out loathes Kakashi for not doing his job at all, since the man would rather read his books and send his genins to do the neighbourhood's chores than encouraging them to improve their techniques. And when Kakashi attempts to scold Regulus for not helping Naruto to face the Kiri ninjas, Regulus fires back that protecting a genin should be Kakashi's responsability instead of foisting it upon the shoulders of another kid lacking experience.
- Conditioned to Accept Horror: Regulus comments on Konoha subtly pushing kids to agree to become soldiers for their ideology since they enter primary school, and compares it to his own mother indoctrinating him to follow the pureblood agenda as soon as he could walk.
- Deconstruction Fic: Regulus has no patience whatsoever for the shinobi world, deeming Konoha first and foremost a military dictatorship no matter how much they attempt to sugarcoat it with The Power of Friendship.
- Didn't See That Coming: People have expectations for the Last Loyal Uchiha — obviously this Sasuke must be rightfully wroth about losing everything in one single night and seek to embody Konoha's virtues! Enter Regulus, who couldn't possibly care less about Konoha's ideals and Uchiha pride, and just wants to run away from all this tripe that triggers his past trauma.
- Do Well, But Not Perfect: Regulus immediately pegs Orochimaru shapeshifted as Naruto for an impostor, pointing the Uzumaki is entirely unable to control his chakra. An amused Orochimaru comments he has been betrayed by his competency.
- Dirty Coward: Zabuza accuses Regulus from being that when the twelve-years-old teen is actually desperately trying to avoid a physical confrontation with the Axe-Crazy mercenary since he's very aware he has no chance whatsoever to survive it. Regulus is quite at peace with the insult.
- Enraged by Idiocy: Regulus has to restrain the urge to murder Naruto when the blond cheerfully admits he doesn't even know the basis for being a ninja as he slept in the classroom.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Regulus is blatantly selfish and extremely short on empathy, but he won't bother people if they're not bothering him and is infuriated by Kakashi actively neglecting his students' education when they could perish for lack of instruction.
- Explaining Your Powers to the Enemy: Mercilessly lampooned by Regulus who wonders why everyone is doing that. By contrast, he refuses to tell anything about how he manages to achieve results.
- Father, I Don't Want to Fight: Regulus really wants to be left alone with his trauma after the Massacre and the gruesome drowning in a lake filled with Inferi — only for the Hokage to drag him back to the Academy since Konoha cannot afford the loss of power and influence that would come with the last loyal Uchiha refusing to fight on their side. Regulus is deeply unhappy and starts to seek a way to discreetly sabotage his career as a ninja or flat-out abandon the village.
- Hates Being Touched: Part of why Regulus is so bad at taijutsu, as it involves physical contact. He also almost slaps Ino for startling him with an embrace.
- Mortality Phobia: Regulus isn't eager to repeat the trauma of dying, especially when the first time involved drowning at the hands of hungry Inferi. Haku roughing him with his ice mirrors freak him so badly that he suffers an outburst of accidental magic and briefly faints, causing Naruto to unleash the Kyubi as he believes his teammate died.
- No Social Skills: Played for Drama with Naruto, as his loud and overbearing personality heavily grates on Regulus' nerves. Because of that, the reborn soul doesn't raise a hand to try and protect the blond from Kiri nins bent on slaughtering Tazuna's escort.
- Perpetual Frowner: Since the Massacre, Regulus hasn't smiled once, and his teammates' personalities clashing with his doesn't help with his depression. That's only when Tazuna's daughter Tsunami gently offers to mend his torn coat that he allows himself to be happy.
- Pet the Dog: For all he scoffs at his teammates, Regulus nonetheless throws his part of the money earned with D-rank missions at Naruto since the Uchiha compound already has everything he might need, and shows himself protective of Sakura when Konohamaru insults her forehead and Lee refuses to respect her boundaries.
- Playing with Fire: Both the Black and Uchiha families enjoy setting fire everywhere.
- The Quiet One: Following the Massacre, Regulus cannot bring himself to mutter a word out of paranoia that he will be exposed as a bodysnatcher if he says something weird. Shikamaru also points people are more likely to leave him alone if they think he won't answer back when they're talking at him.
- Reputation Apathy: Regulus doesn't care a whit about the expectations of being the last scion of a decimated bloodline. After all, why would you be proud of belonging to a family slaughtered by a thirteen-year-old?
- Sheltered Aristocrat: At eighteen years old, Regulus was completely dependent on Kreacher for laundry and cooking. Living as Sasuke causes him some hardships as a consequence.
- Sociopathic Hero: Regulus finds his teammates so annoying that he would let them die gruesomely at the hands of enemy ninjas — do remember Naruto and Sakura are twelve years old — and is a smidge too fond of destroying the woods by setting them on fire.
- Squishy Wizard: Regulus would rather focus on illusions and magic than taijutsu.
- Surrounded by Idiots: Regulus just won't stop lamenting every ninja being insane or illogical after meeting them.
- Take That!: Seriously, why is everybody so eager to explain their power to the enemy or monologue about their sad excuse for a past? Zabuza is supposed to be a master at silent killing so stop being a chatterbox already and do your job!
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: Putting two exuberant personalities in the same team as the heavily traumatized, extremely introverted last Uchiha? Regulus outright refuses to engage with Sakura or Naruto, has no qualms letting them die or plans to manipulate them for his own goals.
- There Are No Therapists: So you have a kid refusing to talk and leave his house after seeing his whole family murdered by his big brother? Obviously the answer is to force him to attend the Academy to follow the same career path as said murderous big bro!
- Troubling Unchildlike Behaviour: Kakashi is implied to grow steadily more and more alarmed by Regulus being ready to let his teammates die and showing a destructive streak towards his surroundings.
- Unknown Rival: Regulus refuses to engage with Naruto, dismissing the blond as an overbearing annoyance unable to understand boundaries and the fact he's unwanted.
