Fading Scars

This is an Alternate Universe fic set perhaps a day or two after Orochimaru’s retreat from Konoha. A lot of liberties were taken from that point on in terms of time-line. This is also a very angsty (especially Naruto) and sexually graphic fic—just the way we like it!

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

// = thoughts
* = emphasis

Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Ten:

Sasuke hadn't actually gone that far--there was nowhere to go, and his strength had quickly run out. He had spent the last few hours seated on a thick branch halfway up a sturdy tree, knees drawn close, head bowed as he...tried to think. It was too much. And whenever he thought he'd decided on something he was beaten down by another memory.

//It's not fair.// He sighed, hooking his arms around his knees. //What am I supposed to do?//

Though still weak, Neji managed to call up his Byakugan to locate his missing companion. There was no way he would make it up into a tree with his questionable balance, so he only leaned against the trunk. "Sasuke?" he called up softly.

Sasuke's arms tightened, though...he was glad that if anyone had come for him, it was Neji. //Though I'm surprised they let us both leave camp like this....// "Yeah...?"

Neji sighed, crossing his arms as he settled himself better. "I just wanted to check on you," he replied. "Make sure you were all right." He stared off into the trees. "You...didn't know about Naruto, did you?" he asked softly. "You don't know what that was?"

"No…." Sasuke frowned against his knees. //I had no idea. All along, he had something like that....// "I think I can guess, though," he replied. "What it is."

He glanced up through the leaves. "Yeah? He...wouldn't say anything to us, though I think he must have told that Shikamaru."

"It's the Nine Tails," Sasuke blurted out. "At least...I think so. Sakura mentioned something about his fight against you...." //Damnit. Why didn't anyone tell us? Does Kakashi even know?//

Neji's eyes widened at that. "The Nine Tails.... Something like that...." His fingers curled anxiously. //Something like that in someone like Naruto? I...was fighting against that?// The last thought made him shiver, remembering that strange, burning chakra. "I don't believe...I mean, why didn't we know? Someone should have said something...."

"I guess they thought if we knew, we'd just be scared of him..." Sasuke closed his eyes. "Whatever. I...don't even know what to think of him. He's still the loud...obnoxious Naruto...." But it still hurt, somehow, den thn the pit of his stomach, to think about it.

Neji lowered his head. "I didn't really know him until the exam," he said quietly, "but I'd heard of him. Hinata-sama got scolded when she mentioned him--everyone said he was no good. Is that really the reason?" His fists trembled faintly. "Because he was born like that?"

"I don't know." //I don't want to think about it. It's not like…well, what would I have done if I'd known, anyway? Maybe…I wouldn't have teased him so much....// Sasuke slumped against the tree. "Fuck Konoha. They've just been using all of us."

His knees shook, and Neji gradually slide down to the ground. Now that he thought about it.... "I'm...a little ashamed now," he murmured, head bowed. "I complained to him at the finals. Told him we can't fight our destiny, but all this time...that's what he was doing."

Sasuke snorted. "I don't believe in destiny," he muttered, curling his fingers stiffly. //I can't. That's just muchmuch.// He glanced down, and when he saw Neji seated against the tree like that, seemingly still weak... it sobered him a little. With a quiet sigh he leapt down from the tree to his side.

Looking up, Neji was relieved to see Sasuke had joined him. "I don't want to believe it," he replied. "That's why...I have to leave. Why I want this mark gone." //I want to be free, just this once.//

Sasuke frowned, staring off into the forest. "Shikamaru was right," he muttered lowly. "Even if Orochimaru could take it off for you, he wouldn't. He'd probably...just try to find a way to take advantage of it himself." He closed his eyes. "You shouldn't go."

"What about you?" he returned, watching Sasuke's profile. "Have you...decided what you want to do?"

"I...don't know," Sasuke confessed. "I can't go back to Konoha. I can't face Itachi as I am now." His shoulders drooped. "And if I go to the one person who could help me beat him...I'll probably just die. There...might not be...anything...."

//Except for....// "There is something else," he said quietly. "Shikamaru suggested it--we go North, to Earth country." Neji shifted a bit closer. "I was even thinking...there are other Hokage's, other powerful ninjas. Other techniques. It…might be worth a shot."

Sasuke's eyes slit open. "Earth country?" //The Hidden Village of Stone.// "We'd be considered rogue ninja," he said quietly. "Do you think they'd really...accept us? A traitor from a dead clan and a runaway slave…."

"Some wouldn't," he agreed. "But we're not weak, Sasuke. We're as strong as any chuunin, maybe even almost jounin." //At least, he might be.// "We can take care of ourselves, and…we might just find someone who can help us, better than Orochimaru. That...would be worth it, wouldn't it?"

//Better than…?// Though Sasuke had his doubts that anyone that strong would bother to help them…it was something. It was an idea. It might have even been a way out. "I don't know," he admitted quietly. "Maybe." //It still feels like I'm running away from Him.//

"We can train," Neji went on. "I have all of Hyuuga's knowledge--you'll be able to learn most of it, even without Byakugan. We can study...about curses, maybe figure out how to do it on our own." His lips curled in a faint smile. "We are considered geniuses, after all, right?"

"Yeah...." Sasuke glanced down at him at last, and a thin smirk curled his lips. ", I , I guess we are." //If we're together…we'll be all right. We can learn a lot from each other.//

Relieved, Neji set a hand at the back of Sasuke's neck, pulling him into a light kiss. //I said I'd stay with him, and I meant it.// "They're giving us until tomorrow before Shikamaru sets Naruto on us, so we can think about it a bit more."

Sasuke's grin widened a little, though his cheeks colored. He settled a closer. "I've met ninjas from Earth Country," he said idly. "They...well, they really sucked."

"Then we'll be careful." Neji kissed him again, just because he liked Sasuke's expression when he did. "Are you ready to head back? Maybe we can get Kiba to catch us something for dinner."

"Yeah...in a minute." Sasuke turned so he could grant a kiss of his own, as clumsily as before but with more confidence. //Who would have thought it'd end up like this...?//

Neji relaxed, keeping Sasuke close until he decided he needed to keep breathing. He brushed his thumb over the boy's cheek. //He seems all right, at least. I'm glad.// Daring another kiss, he started to vaguely wonder if they couldn't just stay out in the woods a while longer....

Sasuke chuckled quietly as he turned his face into Neji's neck. "I feel a little guilty," he admitted. "I feel like we should...ask Naruto to come with us or something, but…." //I'd rather it just be us.//

He hadn't been expecting that. //Though it would make sense, all of us....// "I'm not sure he would, though," Neji murmured. "I think you're right, but...I think he loves Konoha too much." //And, if nothing else, they'll be more afraid of him getting away than of us. If another country got a hold of him and turned the Nine Tails against them....// Neji slid an arm around Sasuke's shoulders, relaxing slightly. "Maybe someday."

"Yeah." Relieved that Neji felt the same way, Sasuke leaned against him. "I guess this is it, then, huh? We're going North."

//Then he has decided.// "Yes. We'll go North." Neji reached up, slowly removing his Konoha headband, for a long moment staring at the tiny design. He had the impulse to just throw it away, but...he didn't. Instead he stuffed it into one of his pouches; he'd save it, just in case. //Though now I'll need soing ing else to cover my head with.//

Sasuke watched Neji's deliberate movements with a thoughtful frown, and after a moment did the same. //We're not ninjas of the Fire Country any longer.// He rubbed lightly at his forehead--it felt strange without something. "Think they'll send people after us?"

"If we can get out of the Fire Country, we should be okay. Especially if we go pretty far into Earth. Besides--" He shrugged. "They couldn't spare the men to come after us now, right? By the time they get everything figured out, we'll be gone."

"Yeah. You're right." //I just don't want to end up like Zabusa was, always just a step ahead of the Hunters....// Sasuke shook himself. "Good. It's decided."

He nodded. "Ready to go back?" he asked. "I'm starting to get hungry, and…maybe you should talk to Naruto." //If we're really leaving, then they'll need to settle with each other, I think.//

Though Sasuke wasn't sure what he could possibly say, he nodded, and pushed to his feet. He offered Neji his hand. "Yeah, you're right. I think." //Not that it'll be easy.//

Neji let Sasuke help him upright, and they started back towards the camp together. "He's your friend, isn't he?"

Sasuke frowned at that. "I...." He shrugged coolly. "I guess so."

Smiling, Neji gave his hand a brief squeeze. //He cared enough to come out here after us--he'll miss you when you leave.//

They returned to the group--Sasuke shook his hand free of Neji's before anyone could see, still a little embarrassed about the whole thing. The last thing he needed was to get Naruto making fun of him. But when they got back those concerns faded; everyone was watching them. He scratched the back of his neck self-consciously.

"Welcome back," Shikamaru greeted smoothly. He tugged an apple out of his backpack and tossed it to him.

Sasuke caught it easily, and with a thin smirk dropped down next to the remains of the fire. "Thanks."

Neji sat slowly beside him, noticing the strict attention being given to them by both Naruto and Hinata. //I guess...we better just say so.// "We're leaving, in the morning," he said lowly, turning to Shikamaru. "We'll go North."

Naruto's fists clenched, stomach giving a little hop. //They're leaving...Sasuke is.// He looked at former group mate, swallowing a mouthful of bread anxiously.

"I see." Shikamaru shrugged lightly. //I guess that's as much as a victory as I'm getting.// "When you're ready, I'll give you the map, then."

Sasuke glanced up, unintentionally catching Naruto's eyes. //I guess this means…I might never see him again.// The thought made his stomach twist strangely, and he devoted himself to eating his apple. //How…strange.//

Naruto frowned as Sasuke evaded his gaze--that wasn't like him. Sasuke never let him get away with staring without challenging him. "You won't go after that snake bastard?" he said, voice perhaps a bit too loud. //Does he know? Is…that why?// "You're not just lying, are you?"

"We're not lying," Sasuke replied stiffly, already losing his appetite. He kept eating just to keep from having to look at him. "For a while, anyway. We both need to get stronger."

//Stronger....// Naruto's shoulders hunched slightly. //Why won't you look at me?// He turned away, throwing the rest of his bread into the fire. "Fine." //Just fine then. Go away and get stronger.//

Sasuke glanced up at him again, feeling another twinge of uncertainty with the face Naruto was making. "It doesn't have anything to do with you," he muttered as he twisted the apple in his hand.

"Of course not," he muttered in reply. //It never did.//

The others were watching the pair with various degrees of worry, and Neji finally decided to speak up. "Naruto. We have to leave." He tried to meet the boy's eyes, but he wasn't looking. "You know us as well as anyone else--you know that we've reached our limits in Konoha."

"I know that," he snapped. "I'm not stupid."

"Then what's the problem?" Sasuke countered. He wasn't sure why but Naruto's attitude was startingset set off his temper. "With us gone you'll even be top genin, right?" He snorted. "You should be happy to ship us off."

Naruto stood up, though his feet refused to move. His fists trembled at his sides. "I will be. Who needs you anyway? You'll probably be even happier, right? Not having everyone fawning all over you, right?"

"Naruto...." tai tailed off, not sure what to say, sharing a worried glance with Hinata.

"Well maybe I will be." Though he knew he was only asking for more trouble, Sasuke pushed to his feet as well--his apple fell, long forgotten, with a quiet thud. "And then you can finally have Sakura all to yourself, right? And we'll all be just great."

"Fuck you!" he shouted suddenly, spinning to face Sasuke across the fire. "You know she doesn't want anything to do with me! You know she's been in love with you all this time! *Fuck* you!" Naruto stompes fos foot as his throat closed off.

For a moment, Sasuke was startled by the strength in Naruto's reply. But he wasn't about to back down, not now.... He crossed his arms. "Is that my problem?" He looked away disdainfully. "Maybe you should tell her your little secret, then she could at least pity you."

Naruto felt his heart stop, eyes wide and staring into the fire. His stomach boiled until he felt he would be sick. //Sakura-chan.... Does that mean....// Lowering his head, Naruto turned his back on the group. "Save your fucking pity," he hissed, too afraid to speak louder in case his voice broke. "Probably don't have any left after wasting it on yourself." //I can't stay here--I can't.// He started away from the fire, wishing he had better control of his feet that he could just run.

Sasuke blinked, his arms falling. He...had maybe been expecting Naruto to hit him, at least. But not this.... Around the fire, everyone was exchanging glances indecisively, as if looking for words. They hadn't seen Naruto like this, either, and it...it wasn't right.

//Fuck words.// Before anyone could decide on some response he leapt abruptly across the fire, aiming a punch at the back of Naruto's skull.

Despite being shaken, Naruto still had most of his senses. He threw himself forward into a roll, coming up on kne knees with his kunai drawn. "You wanna fight?" he growled, his sight blurring slightly at the edges. "Am I strong enough to bother with now, Sasuke? Now that I'm a fucking monster?" His fingers curled in the dirt, preparing for another attack.

"Isn't that what you want?" Sasuke hollered back, jerking a kunai into his hand. He grinned bitterly. "If we're both monsters we might as well act like it."

Hinata gasped softly, starting to push herself up. "Naruto-kun--"

"Wait." Shikamaru took her wrist to keep her still. "Not yet."

"You're not a monster!" he shouted. "Everyone loves you! Everyone wants to be like perfect fucking Sasuke! You don't even know it!" Naruto leapt at him, their blades clashing, though the force of his charge made Sasuke's shoes skid in the dirt. "Do you want to see it, is that it?" he hissed, gaze wild and unfocused. "Or are you just gonna be scared of me like everyone else?"

"As if I'd be scared of cry-baby Naruto," Sasuke shot back. He twisted his kunai, shifting his weight so he could attempt a kick--scowled when Naruto lurched back quick enough to keep it from connecting. "As if that makes any differenceme!"me!"

Naruto didn't reply except for a wordless yell, charging again. For a while he managed to drive Sasuke back, but the boy recovered quickly and easily dodged his attacks. //Damnit, can I still do nothing?// He growled angrily when he caught Sasuke smirking at him. //After everything....//

"Damnit!" Naruto leapt away, crouching low on his toes and hands. He was shaking all over and could barely see anymore. "Fine," he hissed, practically to himself, fingers tearinto nto the ground. "Fine--if that's the way--"

//All right you fucking shit-fox, we'll show him. We'll show all of them....// He could feel his hair standing on end, prickling as a dull heat trailed up and down his spine. "Sasuke...."

Sasuke fell back, bracing himself for whatever jutsu Naruto was preparing. //Is…that it?// He grimaced as he dropped into a low, defensive stance. //This chakra I'm sensing…it's enormous.//

Shikamaru pushed slowly to his feet, watching the pair's fight with narrowed eyes. When Hinata looked again like she was going to speak he held up a hand. //If this really is Nine Tails…he may want to show us. He might even need to. Geez, I don't want to get involved in this.//

Neji rose as well, though he took a step closer towards Sasuke. He could vaguely hear Kiba cursing behind him, as well as Akamaru's muffled whimpers. He knew that chakra, could already see the beginnings of a flame red aura forming around the boy. //Someone...has to end this.//

Naruto's voice slowly rose with his power, growling as he continued to dig gouges out of the ground. //I'll show him--I'll beat him this time for sure!// His body felt like he'd walked into a fire, licking along his sides and back--he could almost imagine the flames swiping around behind him like great lashes. The rocks around him began to tremble, a nearby tree groaning. "Go ahead," he hissed--he barely recognized his own voice. "Make fun of me now."

Sasuke gulped despite himself. //I'm not scared of him.// His hand tightened around his kunai. //It's still Naruto. I can't be afraid!// With a wordless yell he charged, swinging his arm around in a focused attack.

Naruto dodged, eyes widening. //Too slow.// He rose up, pulling his fist back--

--and hesitated. It was only for a moment, a second of clarity when he could remember doing this before. He pulled his punch at the last moment, thouhe ihe impact of his fist still sent a jolt all through him as Sasuke was sent flying back the way he'd come.

"Sasuke!" Stumbling with remaining weakness, Neji hurried as best he could after him. //Oh God, Sasuke--!//

//Holy shit--// The world spun crazily--Sasuke felt his body smack hard against the groubut but with his momentum he bounced sickeningly before smacking into another body. But he could feel Naruto's chakra still burning just ahead of him, and he struggled to get back on his feet despite his pounding skull.