A.N. Okay, well sorry this wasn’t up yesterday but due to it being Thanksgiving and all, well I hope you can understand. Well happy holidays everyone and I hope this new chapter has been worth the wait. Thank you to everyone who reviewed it means the world to me really. Also, I feel I must warn you that I am still not happy with this chapter and it will most likely change before the next post. Again, sorry for any OOCness, but this chapter has just been a pain to write.
Kyuubi the Bitch Sasuke Chapter Five: Screaming Darkness, Suppressed Dreams
It was the screaming that kept him up at night.
In the depthless night that crawled through the endless halls, walls that seemed to wind and curl upon themselves, like a labyrinth, the cries of pain, suffering and death which seeped into the crevices where light could not touch, and stained dreams the color of blood. It had taken him nearly a year to suppress his own silent screams at night, longer still to show no discomfort as he slept less and less, but he had managed. He’d perfected the outward appearance of apathy, and he was reassured of that perfection in the cautious way Kabuto moved around him. The lingering gaze that studied his every move as each day proved his ability, each test pushed him higher and in effect made him more of a threat.
Sasuke felt pride fill him; he’d managed the impossible in just a short two years. Orochimaru had no clue of his mission, was unaware that Sasuke was anything but the vengeance obsessed teenager he had propositioned years before. He’d questioned Sasuke of course, and Kabuto had trailed him, picking on him incessantly. It would have annoyed him, probably would have made him mess up if he hadn’t known what he did and Uchiha’s did not let irrationality control them, they didn’t stumble, and they never failed in a mission.
Kabuto couldn’t affect him if he didn’t let him. And Sasuke wouldn’t let anyone in there behind his shield, in his mind. That was reserved for a blonde dobe back home. As was the case, Sasuke’s impending betrayal of Orochimaru wasn’t even a whisper in the thoughts of those concerned, and if it was, those whispers were unfounded from lack of evidence.
Bet you never thought I’d succeed this well. Sasuke thought, his eyes staring at the wall to his room, the utter blackness consuming all light. If he really wanted to see he could simply activate his sharingan, and he usually did, but he was well aware that his curse seal—however damaged and weak it had become after Kyuubi’s searing—kept Orochimaru in constant awareness of his chakra use, and he didn’t want the snake’s attention, especially now.
His regulated breathing should have been disconcerting, too slow, and even for him to be awake, and with his back to the door he doubted anyone could have been able to tell he was still conscious. These days, even Orochimaru was fooled. So, when the soft sound of snake skin on stone echoed in the room, Sasuke didn’t move a bit. Even when the small pale summon curled up to rest beside his head, tiny and completely hidden.
It waited, staring into his eyes as it always did, awaiting the signal to begin relaying the message it had memorized from a useless scarecrow several villages over.
The halls echoed softly with the cries of the damned, cloying the ears and binding the air in lungs. Still he breathed, in and out, softly, slowly, evenly. The time passed in slow jarring moments punctuated by sobs and broken screams. Sasuke couldn’t be certain if there was a presence outside, or even if his summon had returned unnoticed, but on the off chance he waited. Two, three, four hours, simply waiting and “sleeping”. Kabuto had nearly caught him once, in the first year before Orochimaru had taught him the summoning technique. Needless to say, Sasuke had a deep aversion to the small Pug Nin-dog that had nothing to do with his half-assed demeanor.
A shift in the air.
Sasuke almost smirked, at the subtle sign that yes, his summon had indeed been spotted, but his eaves-dropper obviously believed him to be asleep, and the hours would have served to dull the thoughts. If he was lucky, the man will simply think he’d be seeing things. The lack of sleep accompanied by the horrific ambiance of the halls did tend to shred at ones sanity.
Just for precaution’s sake, Sasuke waited another thirty minutes before closing his eyes for a long moment opening them as the hissed breath began to recount its message.
“Hokage is aware of the situation and commends you on your professionalism thus far.”
Sasuke rolled his eyes. The messages always started that way, and he was beginning to think that it was Kakaishi’s way of torturing him via long distance. He knew better than to complain though, the treatment would only worsen, and Sasuke doubted he could handle an increase in this irritation.
“She asks about the movements and the possible border breeches.” Sasuke, still regulating his breaths nodded slightly, mentally running through the missions each sound Nin had been given over the last few weeks. There were at least four groups that strayed just a bit too close to fire country for comfort that could be divulged without arousing suspicions. “You are to be reminded that you have less than half a year to complete this mission before you risk too much.”
Sasuke let out a sharp derisive snort at that last bit. He doubted highly that anyone aside from Kakashi actually cared for his well being. It was the discovery of his set up they worried about. Well, they had nothing to fear on that end, he already had plans in motion, and his getting caught was not an option at this point.
The serpent paused for such a long time that it gave Sasuke a moment of confusion. “Is that all?” He dared to breathe out. That pale head shook in the negative slowly, and Sasuke tensed, wondering what it was that made his summon hesitate. In all his time of knowing the small pale python, he had never known the snake to fear, to pause; to hesitate. The fact that it did now was more than slightly concerning.
His glare dissolved the silence as the small creature slowly hissed the last bit of news Kakashi had seen fit to impart on him.
“… Naruto has returned.”
The air left his lungs in such a rush that it made his head light as the tight control he held over face and self fizzled out into thin air. His eyes widened, jaw became slack and heart tightened in his chest.
Naruto… He could clearly picture the small boy he’d left behind, bright, smiling, obnoxious, and loud. His orange jumpsuit blinding in the sun light, as the wearer spouting tall tales and useless claims that belayed the pain and fears he really held all too dear.
“Heh…” Sasuke wheezed out, the corner of his mouth tilting up as his eyes stung in an oddly overjoyed reaction he had previously thought impossible. The dobe was home, safe and sound after two years, and for the first time Sasuke sagged with relief.
Stupid dobe… what were you doing this whole time, huh? Sasuke couldn’t begin to describe the worry that had settled inside him when, months after the fact, Kakashi had found it fit to inform him that the blonde had vanished into the night less than a day after him and no one had seen him since.
Perhaps Sasuke’s panicked reply had said too much, or maybe it was the charred and traumatized look on Pakkun that prompted Kakashi’s admittance that Naruto had left with Jiraya and that Tsunade knew where they were. In any case, his concern had not lessened.
Sasuke had left to protect him, had left under orders for the greater purpose of keeping Naruto free. What good was his choice if the idiot blond left the village to god knows where, with Itachi on the hunt for a little demon fox. His nights had been so restless Sasuke was almost shocked to realize that more than half of it was due to the dobe’s disappearance, and that shockingly, now, in the dark screaming corridors, Sasuke was tired. Enough so, to actually sleep.
“Is there a reply?” The serpentine voice hissed near silently, its words almost lost under the thrum of agonized pain.
A reply. Did he have one? One that wouldn’t endanger too much, wouldn’t say too much? It would already be hard enough to hide his relief at Naruto’s return from the human serpents lurking in the gloom.
Patrols. The Hokage had asked about the patrols. With a small breath that locked the conflicting emotions of anxiousness and relief back up, he nodded slowly relaying the closest patrolling Sound-Nin before shooing the serpent off.
In the retreating glide of scales on stone, Sasuke became aware of a heavy limbed numbness that dragged up and curled tightly around him. The screams were no longer a bother, nearly blocked from his ears as his mind recalled the blonde, and the warm feelings he’d released within him.
It was annoying at times, just how completely the blonde had changed him, but looking back on it, Sasuke was grateful for it. If he’d not had to stay, had not taken the time to know and understand Naruto, if they hadn’t covered so much ground in so little time, what would have happened to him?
Would he have killed Naruto for the Mangekyo? Would he have been the pawn Orochimaru thought he was? Would he even be Sasuke anymore? Or would his desire for revenge have consumed him so completely that there was nothing left of the boy at all?
Lovely thoughts to fall asleep to Uchiha…Sasuke thought dismally to himself, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The action nearly hurt after such disuse, but in the shadows of his room, he was safe risking such a display.
Naruto would defiantly call me something foul for such idiocies… Muscles relaxed slowly, the tension leaving for the first time in two years, and he fell fully into a voiceless slumber. Deep, dark, and healing.
-3-
The floor had dust accumulating, and the hazy light from the cracked shoji doors let in a cool breeze and the scent of rain. The child sat there, watching from the thin opening, eyes dull and sad, but no longer empty. Around him the room was aglow with the candlelight the calming warmth flickering from the table across the room, a bowl filled with water between them, its surface rippling slowly with the soft, distant sound of a voice. It echoed within the small home, through the halls, in the ceiling, but never close enough to be tangible, all the same, it was there, soothing the child as surely as the fading stains and shadows withered away at its presence. A pale hand twitched, fingers tracing the blue stone as something flickered in the murky depth of midnight. A break in the clouds. “Sasuke.” The voice whispered through the halls, and the boy let out a sigh, his posture relaxing against the frame of the door, his shoulders drooping comfortably. The laughter resumed at its usual distance, both everywhere and nowhere.
-3-
There was someone in the room.
Sasuke jerked awake, his body tensing on instinct even as his mind reeled.
How long have I been out? What time is it? Damn it, what a time to slip up… Sasuke forced his body to calm, his heart to beat calmly regardless of his panicked state, his face a mask of deadly calm, his body motionless.
“What is it?” Sasuke’s voice was as blasé as the rest of him, and as it always was lately, he sounded no more shocked, or sleepy than he did at mid day after sparring.
The snort from behind was recognizable, and Sasuke felt his stomach clench further into knots.
Damn it, what time is it?! “How long did you plan to keep Orichimaru-sama waiting, Sasuke?” Kabuto’s voice sounded annoyed, clipped and mocking beneath the thin veil of hatred that permeated him. The teen couldn’t stomach the fact that Sasuke was the snake’s current favorite. That meant Sasuke got away with far more than the medic nin thought appropriate. Some days though, Sasuke wondered just what kind of relationship those two had, then he promptly decided not to care.
He had enough nightmares already, thank you.
“Hn.”
“Ungrateful brat, who do you think you are? Orochimaru-sama is far too busy to be waiting for hours on the likes of you.” Kabuto stated, his voice scathing but not even raised. The day he raised his voice was the day Kakashi apologized for all the bullshit he put Sasuke through. Knowing, and having heard this lecture before—though not for this particular reason—Sasuke stood and strode passed the white haired man, with a purposeful stride he knew would grate on the other’s nerves.
His clothes were rumpled, but nothing so bad that he had to change, still it was unusual for him. Orochimaru would catch onto that, Sasuke was certain. That combined with his tardiness would be enough for suspicion.
I shouldn’t have risked sending the summon back. If two teams get ambushed after this… not to mention someone saw it enter… fuck. Boxing up his fear, and his anger at his own carelessness, Sasuke followed the maze-like tunnels to the training room, Kabuto at his heels silently fuming at the brush-off he’d received.
“Sasuke, so glad you could join me.” The voice was as oily sounding as ever, proof of his irritation, but those yellow eyes that regarded him warily widened with amusement the moment he’d entered. “… have a good dream?”
The suggestive lilt to the question was not lost on him, and Sasuke fought the urge to cringe.
“…I see. Well then, sorry to have disturbed you, but we have much to do, and you were the one to request this training, were you not Sasuke?”
Sasuke stepped further into the room, taking up his customary stance in response to the question, and watched as Orochimaru’s smile stretched over his pasty face. He was certain he’d just walked into a trap of some kind, and Orochimaru thought he’d won.
“The guard on duty last night informs me that a small summon was seen entering your room, and this morning’s guard watched it leave the village.”
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Sasuke stood back up, arms crossed casually as he shifted his weight to his left. The posture indicating mild annoyance while appearing non-threatening, and as always it made Kabuto flinch, his chakra use rising slightly.
Sasuke often bemoaned the intuition—or perhaps it was simple paranoia—that kept Kabuto so alert. It would make killing the snake that much more difficult.
“You do not deny it.” Orochimaru now seemed less amused and more careful as he waited, and Sasuke took this moment to look unaffected as he built up a lie that would hold water.
“It completed its job. I sent it on another.”
“So you admit to it!” Kabuto’s voice was that annoying sharp quality that implied a shout even as his voice stayed at an amiable level.
It was irritating.
“Hn.” He took pleasure in the grinding of teeth.
“So, Sasuke, care to explain this… job, of yours?”
For a moment, he had the distinct feeling of freefalling. Controlling it, Sasuke sighed looking straight into snake yellow as he intoned. “I sent it to track Itachi.”
Orochimaru sneered. “Sasuke, no one knows where Itachi is. How could your summon have found him?”
“I did not succeed in killing Naruto. As Itachi is hunting him, I sent a summon to keep an eye on him. He’s no real threat, but still he has a way of interfering. I was informed of his return to Konoha last night. I merely told the summon to continue tailing him for the time being in case Itachi makes his move then.”
His jaw actually hurt. That was the most he’d said in months, and now he was worried that perhaps he’d said too much in his nervousness, but Orochimaru merely nodded, his expression closed off, and oddly understanding, as though he too had once used such a tactic.
Sasuke desperately hoped he had not been the subject of such activities.
“Perhaps a wise decision. His lineage has been known to be… irritatingly observant.” Orochimaru’s lip curled at that, and Sasuke felt his interest perk up.
That had not been the first time that Orochimaru had implied knowing Naruto’s family. And the degree of detest in the implications made him certain it was personal. The Snake knew far more than even the Hokage was aware of. Sasuke wanted to know what it was that both Orochimaru and Kabuto dangled before him, but knew better than to ask. If he played his cards right, he might be able to over hear what he wanted, or get it from Kabuto when the other wasn’t particularly on guard, but both were highly unlikely, and again he was left with nothing but his patience to fall back on.
That he was a master of.
“Are we going to train?” He asked, just this side of whining, and watched as Orochimaru slid back into his mocking comfort zone, affecting his battle stance. Sasuke followed suit.
It was always best to match his skills to those Orochimaru showed, not particularly aiming to defeat his teacher so much as fool him into believing that he still had much to teach him. In reality, with the exception of a few forbidden jutsu and several bits of information he wanted, Ororchimaru was of no more use to him. Sasuke reveled in that thought. It was nice to be the one holding back out of choice, in control for the briefest of moments. It wasn’t nearly enough to take on his brother he knew, but it would have to suffice.
For now.
Orochimaru began, his feint and low level attack beginning the slowly building dance that had often lead Sasuke to wonder if Orochimaru was catching on to his games, but was actually the egotistical way his teacher played.
Hoping to cut to the chase, as well as add to the illusion of irritancy, Sasuke chose a slightly higher attack, feeding the ego and forcing the fight to a higher level, at which point, Sasuke allowed his teacher to see him as keeping up, as slowly Orochimaru ran through several jutsu he’d previously taught him, and Sasuke responded as a dutiful student would, being sure to impress but not overwhelm. That, more than anything else, was what he was really practicing anymore. The art of deception.
The same way that Naruto had fooled the world by affecting an air of idiocy, and by holding back when he needed, not abusing the power of the kyuubi which he held, Sasuke was learning something similar.
And there was that warm flutter in his chest again.
The burn of Orochimaru’s attack hit full on, throwing Sasuke off a moment before he regained his footing and shot back, using his faster, more agile attacks to make up for his blunder.
Now was not the time to notice such things. It was neither safe, nor healthy while so close to the snake to contemplate the feelings he’d been shutting away in regards to thoughts of Naruto. Sadly, that seemed to be easier said than done this day—Sasuke blamed Naruto’s return personally—and he was actually quite winded by the time this spar had concluded.
On the one side it was nice because it made acting easier, on the other side it wasn’t so great to actually be in pain when he usually faked it.
“That is enough for today.” Orochimaru stated smugly, “I have other things to deal with, and we had a late start.”
It was meant as an insult, and had Sasuke actually given a damn it might have stung, as it was the only thing smarting was his skin. Still his pain helped him to effect a perfect glare as he turned as strode from the room without another word.
-3-
The room was warm, dim with the lack of moonlight, but enough light filtered in from the window for him to pick out the outlines of shapes. The gleam of messy golden hair, soft in the clutching pale fingers that lingered, tangled within their depths, nails scraping the warm skin and pulling soft, muted sounds of pleasure from too busy red lips. Shoulders, tanned and smooth, rounded before him, shimmering in the pale, distant glow, dusted with liquid stars that ran down a bared back and over narrow hips. They lingered on muscled thighs, trapped by the crease of skin where legs met hip, and another pale hand gripped there, smearing them back into too warmed flesh. His heart beat was too loud in his ears, its sound in perfect rhythm with the one caged in the heaving chest above him, he could feel its echo each time that bronzed chest pressed against his own, sweat mingling and easing the glide as bodies strained against each other, dancing, fighting, loving. Those full lips pulled away with a wet popping sound, and harsh heated breath scalded his cheek and ear, a thrilling tingle encasing his spine at the high pitched whine that escaped when the warm sturdy body pressed back against him, pushing them closer, so sweetly closer together. “S…Sasuke…” The hitched breath, the stutter of words, it was all felt and he arched up, hands pulling harshly against the blond trapped in his embrace, and the smaller hands pressed to his chest and shoulders for balance curled, scrapping short nails over his skin. He could feel his skin prickle with the telling signs of the marks left by the actions, but it felt good, so good. His head pushed back against his pillow tilting away as he grunt, hips jerking legs flexing and scrambling for purchase on the damp bed sheets—now tangled and half fallen from the mattress—as cooler droplets fell from the tips of blond hair to sprinkle his skin. His breath hissed through his clenched teeth, and he trembled, doubting he could hold on, doubting he could ever get close enough to the other to feel satisfied. It was like a drug, he needed, more always more, and his body ached and trembled from the exertion used to obtain and still he yearned. “Naruto…” He breathed as the blonde slumped against him, curled and panting, his forehead pressed to Sasuke’s collarbone, allowing the pale hand to slip down his sweaty neck, fingertips tracing the small bone at the base where his spine connected to his neck. Naruto’s knees pinched into his sides as the other trembled against him, whole body over heated and exhausted, but still Sasuke urged him on and he complied with the soft lift, pull, drop, and glide. Another strangled sound, accompanied by a sharp tremble, and Sasuke gasped, pulling his prize toward him, pressing that golden head closer to his own, needing desperately to kiss him, to love him, to express the aching tenderness he felt coiled within the burning carnal desire for friction and sensation…
-3-
The simple fact that he was staring up at the darkened ceiling pissed him off. If there was a reason for his waking—Kabuto, the snake summons to name a few—some reason for his sudden exodus from his very pleasant and pleasing dream, he could have focused on that but there was no reason why he was awake with a raging hard on staring up at the shaded ceiling of his room.
Sasuke sighed accepting the fact that he was wholly awake and there was no way he was going back to the pleasant fantasy that was becoming far more common than he should be comfortable with. Sure he’d started dreaming of the blonde shortly after leaving, but the dreams had mostly been memories that slowly altered to his unconscious thoughts. Discussions and comfortable moments. A few had been frightening, dealing with the battle at the Valley of the End focusing on the fact that in his dreams Naruto hadn’t survived. Those had been during the darker moments of his mission, during the time that he’d first learned of Naruto’s flight from Konoha and had aided in his sudden insomnia.
Dreaming of Naruto was one of the few joys he had left, and when he first had the dream of the woods, of that fateful kiss, it was only natural that he would fantasize about what it would have been like if Naruto had accepted the clumsy contact.
Compared to his more recent dreams that first one had been innocent yet it had startled him for a long while, but he decided that as long as it was in his own head it didn’t hurt anyone, and so he was resolute in enjoying the unconscious joys his mind could create. Being denied them was something he despised. Deciding that sleep was beyond his grasp now, he rolled from his bed and scanned the room.
His summon was late in its return. While it was a good thing in concern to Orochimaru and Kabuto’s suspicions as its extended absence helped back up his lie, it also worried him. Naruto’s return was both a relief and a distraction. He needed to know what the Dobe was doing now, what asinine plan he had, because nothing was going to convince him that Naruto had given up on bringing him home. Kakashi’s very first message having detailed Naruto’s reaction to his departure had said enough.
“The fox is pacing the cage and quietly plotting its escape.” The man certainly knew them well, not even twenty-four hours later Naruto had flown the coop and no one had heard from him in two years. Now he was home a mere six months before Sasuke’s time ran out, that was a little too convenient to be coincidence.
Naruto was never one to do things needlessly. It might seem like a string of random acts, but that was hardly the case. The blonde usually had a plan and was already thinking four moves ahead by the time you stumbled upon the first steps. And disregarding his safety along the way. The fox had done more to him then give him extra hormones and body parts.
He needed a distraction, and with that in mind he slunk out into the halls. He was allowed free reign of the training room, and most of Sound was used to his late night practices. Besides, with the death cries no one would notice the little sounds his activities produced. In fact, the only person who would be distracted would be Orochimaru whose curse seal would most likely alert him to Sasuke’s prolonged use of the Sharingan, and he could care less if he disturbed him.
The halls were dark and still echoed with noises that should never become common place and yet, they had. Torches flickered at intermitted intervals, casting dim shadows and stark brightness throwing off the adjustments the eyes tried to make. It was a well thought out defense though it mattered very little to those who walked the distorting halls daily. Sasuke smirked, knowing that his betrayal would be unforeseen, and made all the more easy for it.
“—ow is it this of any importance?” Kabuto’s muted voice carried undertones of aggravation and stilled Sasuke’s feet just outside the doors of Orochimaru’s outer chambers. He blinked a moment, willing his breathing to still further and his chakra to lower in a steady progression to simulate his departure.
Eavesdropping was never a healthy habit, made deadly in this particular instant, and Sasuke had learned early on to master his chakra control.
The soft moans and sobs seemed exponentially louder now that he focused his senses on the conversation just beyond his place. It was irritating but something he had learned to deal with, he just hoped this particular conversation was relevant or helpful to his mission. He learned early on that most of Ororchimaru’s late night discussions were of little to no use, but once in a while they came in handy, both personally and professionally.
“He is more than a simple container, Kabuto.” Orochimaru hissed in return as Sasuke’s control proved perfect. “Have you forgotten his skill back in the battle with Tsunade?”
“… I assumed it was the demon inside of him that allowed him to advance so quickly.” Kabuto spoke in a near whisper, as though running over a memory searching for a flaw he had believed impossible.
“That is part of it, but the truth lies in why he was chosen. Why Kyuubi was placed inside of him.”
Sasuke stopped breathing all together. They were discussing Naruto again. Not all that surprising when just a little over two weeks before he’d been talking about him and the Sannin had showed more than a little bit of interest, but what was surprising was the contempt in Orochimaru’s voice when he spoke of him. Sasuke had been under the impression that Naruto was too far below Orochimaru’s notice to be worth that kind of hate.
“… because of his Father?” It was the first time he’d ever heard Kabuto not fully certain of a fact, and Sasuke filed that knowledge away.
So the Snake didn’t share everything with the white haired ninja. That was very good to know.
“That idiot Namekaze thought that he would be considered a hero. That after his death the village would see his boy as the one to suffer the most from Kyuubi, having lost both parents and most of his humanity.” Orochimaru’s laugh was cruel, “Never would have thought the village would strip him of his lineage as well. Stupid bastard put too much faith in that village he died for. He was a fool, unworthy of the position he was awarded.”
“To lose his parents, his identity, humanity, and be the murderer of his father as well… he truly is a thing to be pitied.” Kabuto sounded not the least bit saddened, in fact, he sounded pleased. Sasuke clenched his fists at his sides and controlled his internal urge to raise his chakra.
“This is nothing to pity, that brat is more of a threat than we give him credit for. Namekaze was powerful, if not for the Kyuubi Konoha would not have suffered such a blow from us. There is a reason the Fourth’s death left such an impact and why it was a necessity. As his son, he has inherited most of those things that made his father great. While that makes him a fool, it also makes him more than an annoyance.” It was a sentiment close to a snarl, and Sasuke could well believe that it had hurt to voice. It also drove home the fact that Orochimaru trusted Kabuto implicitly, that made Sasuke wary. Perhaps the white-haired nin could still cause more of a problem than Sasuke had originally anticipated.
“Orochimaru-sama…”
“I must complete my next transfer before the brat finds us. His little tussle over the Shukaku brat proves that we cannot afford to ignore him. Before we meet with Sasori we must…” Orochimaru trailed off. Whether he was done talking or had somehow sensed him, was uncertain and Sasuke felt no urge to find out. Using the speed he’d perfected throughout his life to work, Sasuke silently made his escape.
-2-
The training room was quiet, still, and empty, just as he expected and he allowed his chakra to flare as he ran through a few warm ups, stretching in preparation for an exhausting work out. With all he’d overheard, he wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon.
Was it really all that shocking? He knew the Dobe had to have had parents. Parents killed in the battle against Kyuubi, that was a given, and in the long run it made no real difference who the man the dobe would have called father had been as regardless of everything, he was still dead and Naruto was still an orphan. If one really thought about it, it made sense. With all that they were told of the Fourth Hokage, his noble sacrifice and his selfless actions made it impossible not to know. He had willingly given his life for the village, what else could he have done? If he needed a child to carry on the horrors, to hold the demon at bay, he would not have randomly chosen a child. Far from it, he would take the weight of the problem fully onto himself, and he would use his own child, sacrifice his own son, as he would sacrifice himself.
And he had.
No, the information wasn’t in any way shocking to him, it was the options that now lay before him that bothered him. How could that help him? What would he do with such knowledge? It was useless to him, aside from the fact that now he knew that Orochimaru felt more than a little wary of the blonde. The Snake knew far more than he was letting on. Then again, he’d been in the Akatsuki at one point—another useless bit of information he’d gleaned from a sleepless night—so anything he knew about Naruto it was a good bet his brother knew as well, and more.
Should I tell the dobe? Sasuke slipped, and stumbled awkwardly in his taijutsu warm up. He was grateful for the lack of audience to witness his mistake, and stood swiftly repeating the movements after a moment.
Once the set was completed, perfect, flawless, and smooth, Sasuke continued on, allowing his mind to wander as the first dampening of sweat began over his skin.
Telling Naruto. That was the last thing he could see himself doing. First of all, there was no opportunity as of yet, and secondly—and perhaps the most important reason he could see—what possible good could it do for the blonde? It wouldn’t change a damn thing. The man would still be dead, Naruto would still be hated by the village, he’d still carry the weight of a father’s decision and though that had the potential of lifting some of that burden, giving a purpose, a reason, for his torment, it also stood the chance of creating more problems for him. No, telling Naruto would solve nothing, it would do no good, and Naruto may or may not already know. Sasuke highly doubted he did, but, being told would do good. Naruto was Naruto. An orphan who grew up without parents, with the emotional baggage of an entire village on his shoulders, and his parentage played little into that.
No, he wouldn’t say a thing.
Sweat slipped over his neck and shoulders, making his shirt cling to his skin and every breath of air he disturbed cool and pleasant. The movements—repetitive and familiar—eased his thoughts, filing away the currently important information where it would help, and discarding the bits that couldn’t aid him for the time being.
Once his physical workout and the basic forms of most of his techniques had been run through, Sasuke turned, his hands flying through the seals of his most favored techniques with a casual grace that came from familiarity.
Chakra burned in his chest as he drew in breath for the basic form of his fire Jutsu. The flames heated the room and lit it up almost painfully. His eyes shifted instinctively to the sharingan to keep his equilibrium as the light died and the dimness returned.
Flying through a few more forms, he slid into the other variations of his family’s signature attack, throwing in the few moderations he’d made while under a madman’s tutelage before falling gracefully into a standstill. Focusing on his breathing, he willed his heart to calm and his presence to diminish quickly.
Control. Focus. Perfection. Sasuke’s eyes glowed in the darkness as he attempted to use his bloodline limit with as little chakra signature as possible, and then he was flying again, throwing shiruken and kunai against the softer wall on the north side of the room, ignoring the swirling pattern he’d unconsciously made as he just as swiftly moved into the several different variations of the Chidori.
He knew better than to actually call for the chakra for most of them. Though he had learned to control and use the technique multiple times, it was still a powerful attack, and though the whole purpose for this impromptu practice was to wear himself out, it was foolish to do so without consideration to environment, self, and those around. Sasuke was well aware he was in a den of serpents and would never leave himself in a position where he would be anything but ready for battle. As such, most of the variants were a mock run through of the hand motions, and a mental run through on each step needed to complete the attack and approximately how much time it would take to complete each evolution.
He had to forgo his favored Chidori Nagashi as he had left his sword in the room. A foolish mistake that he worried might return to haunt him, but he was already in the groove and didn’t feel much like traipsing back to his room just for the piece of steel. It was shocking how much he noticed its missing weight both upon his belted tie as well as in his hand. He made a mental note to run through his sword stances and attacks at a later date, as he slipped from the Chidori and into the variant other Jutsu—most forbidden—he had learned from the Sannin of Sound.
He had a feeling most of these little techniques would make the Hokage frown, and more than a few would earn him another close encounter with her fist, and Sasuke wondered just how much he should tell her when he returned. The logical answer was everything that would not land him in the medical ward, but the expected answer was, and would be, everything.
Perhaps if I brought sake along… Sasuke smirked at the image that produced in his mind. He’d stumbled upon the woman’s love for booze during a—quite honestly horrifying—dinner with Orochimaru and important member of Rice country. They had discussed business which mostly concerned more test subjects for Orochimaru’s numerous experiments, but as they partook in more and more alcohol, conversation had slipped and discussion of Konoha, and the new Hokage had come up. Again, a useless fact he’d filed away for later. Hopefully it will serve him well in this aspect. He doubted it would but it was better than nothing, and knowing Naruto he’d most likely meet him in the hospital room to kick his ass for leaving in the first place.
The smirk morphed into a mocking half smile as he thought of Naruto’s response to his newer attacks.
The idiot will probably flip and beg to learn them, and then try and find loopholes to defeat them. Sasuke chuckled, feeling excited at just the prospect of the multiple ‘challenges’ he’d receive from his idiot friend. He dearly missed the spars he’d had with the blonde. Sure most of their spats had come from real anger and hurt but there was a gentle understanding even then between them, a line that neither crossed even when enraged.
Here it was merely a tool for learning a better way to kill, to win, to defeat.
With Naruto, it was a way of communication.
“Something good happen?” The sudden voice was startling, and like a switch the smile was gone and the feelings were closed off, sealed behind the veneer of calm he had perfected, so when he faced Kabuto—who leaned on one arm braced against the doorframe—his expression was blank, unreadable as was his aura.
Kabuto’s snide smirk slipped into a glare.
For several long moments they stood facing each other, neither giving an inch as Kabuto tried to read him, and Sasuke filed away each telling detail his stance and posture gave him, adding it to the collage he’d built up on the man. Every bit could make the difference when he placed his plan into motion, and he’d need them all to outsmart the medic ninja. Finally, either tired or frustrated, Kabuto blinked and straightened up arms crossed over his chest, yet another sign that the other didn’t trust him.
“Orochimaru and I will be out for a few days.” He stated, as though that was the beginning and ending of the conversation, and because it was expected of him Sasuke turned and effected an irritated posture, clearly feeling slighted.
“And me?” He asked, his voice carefully neutral though tense with mimicked anger. Kabuto was fooled completely as his sneer returned.
“What about you?”
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and was rewarded with Kabuto’s mirth as he straightened further.
“Orochimaru has far more pressing concerns than you and you’re training. You of all people should know that.”
So… this is about Naruto… Sasuke thought, thinking back over the conversation he’d overheard.
… and Sasori… the name didn’t sound familiar but he still committed it to memory for when his Summon did return, perhaps Kakashi or the Hokage knew the name, perhaps not, either way it was information they could use.
Seeming to feel that he had won the argument, Kabuto made as if to leave, and just because he could, Sasuke let his chakra flare just to watch the other swing around and assume a battle stance, Kunai in one hand, chakra encasing the other. He suppressed a sadistic smirk and remained in his neutral stance.
“Why?” it was a simple question, with more than one topic attached but Kabuto would know which he meant, and if he didn’t it would still serve its purpose of annoying him, and perhaps give Sasuke more information on who Sasori might be.
Kabuto’s face tinged red. “That is none of your concern.”
Mission accomplished.
“Hn.” Sasuke returned, turning from him as if in dismissal and he knew without looking that the other’s features had contorted in anger.
“Watch yourself, Uchiha, your usefulness is limited.” Kabuto threw as a parting shot as he left, not waiting for Sasuke’s response which was fine since he had no intention of giving one.
The smirk returned.
As is yours…
-2-
The screams were quieter now, less panicked and more like the bleeding of wounds and the suffering and those who knew there would be no release. It was chilling and Sasuke tuned it out through sheer will alone, aware that at least Kakashi and the Hokage were well aware of those trapped in the bowels of this hell hole. They wouldn’t let this sit long, and once the snake is gone…
The soft sound of scales on the stone halted Sasuke’s thoughts and he smirked in the dim halls, slowing his steps until the cool glide of the serpent met his skin and coiled up embracing him in a cool casualness settling around his shoulders and staying there silently, again awaiting his signal.
For a moment, Sasuke was thankful for the late arrival as it guaranteed his privacy, what with both irritants gone from his immediate sight. It also made speaking to those who will later help him in the pursuit of his brother easier. Sasuke relaxed, his strides lengthening back out to his usual stride and finished making his way back to his room. He casually went about setting his blade beside his bed as he sat back once more out of precaution and settled into a meditative position to wait.
When three hours had passed with no shift in air current or change in presence Sasuke eased his eyes back open and the snake began.
“There was an attack against Suna.” The lack of the repetitious intro made Sasuke glance down at the snake and tense slightly. Something was wrong if Kakashi found no need to continue his torture as he had the last two and a half years. Paying closer attention Sasuke didn’t interrupt the flow of casual information that hissed from the small summon, most of which he had overheard before, such as Garra making Kazekage—and that must have rubbed Naruto the wrong way when he found out, either that or made him stupidly happy—and the Akatsuki making a move against Suna, their goal being Shukaku, but the more personal information he had not been aware of.
“The Raccoon has died and been resurrected and the Fox has shown his more volatile self.”
Sasuke shifted not liking the sound of that. It could mean numerous things and yet the only thing he pictured at those words was the horrid imagery from the Valley of the End. Something he never wanted to think of again, but Kakashi couldn’t have meant that. Naruto had been stripped of his flesh in seconds, if that had happened again Kakashi would have said something more than what he had.
At least, Sasuke hoped he would.
“He is staring only at you, Uchiha, and it has made him reckless and blind.” The snake paused and Sasuke stared into a corner glowering and attempting to curb the burn of anger that curled low in his gut.
The hell is he thinking?! What good is power if you die?! When this was all over, Sasuke was going to beat Naruto into the ground for being such a fool. “Hn.”
The sound of his voice made the snake jolt slightly, its pale head tilting a bit to view his face, a tongue darting out to tease the air, before it slowly proceeded wary of Sasuke’s change in demeanor.
Yet another side effect of Dobe. “Currently vacationing in the sterile halls of medical while Team Seven takes on the mission of catching a serpent at a meeting with the ‘Dawn’. Is the snake away for the fox to play?”
No one, least of all a grown man should say such idiocies seriously, and Sasuke knew Kakashi had, just as he knew the python’s inflection to the words were mimicked perfectly from the masked man. He wasn’t certain if that knowledge pissed him off or reassured him, it was rather confusing at times.
“As I am unavailable a replacement has been found, and I must say I do not envy him as your replacement and Naruto seem to get along about as well as you two did before. Sai seems to bring out so much… life in Naruto, its really quiet sweet a perfect match.“ At this Sasuke tensed, a low burn scalded his insides.
Replacement? I am still a member of Team Seven damn it, he better not get comfortable… Sasuke glared holes into the far wall, his hands fisted tightly on his knees.
And what the hell does he mean ‘as well as we did?!’ Panic was swift to follow the anger turning the churning burn into a nauseous feeling of anxiety.
He loved Naruto, plain and simple. That hadn’t changed one bit since his mission had begun, though his outlook on decisions had shifted marginally with the time, and as far as he was concerned Naruto was
his. His friend.
His teammate.
His family.
His Dobe.
And no one, especially some second rate fill-in was moving in on his territory! He had plans damn it, and those needed the Dobe to be single and still slightly obsessed with him.
The silence stretched on for an eternity it seemed as Sasuke continued to melt holes into the wall while trying to mentally kill a person he had no face to match to the name, and then the snake shifted from his shoulders to curl before him its head tilted to the side.
“Will there be a response?”
A blink.
“Yes.” Sasuke replied, eyes burning as his blood limit activated spinning freely from his emotions. The serpent perked up its eyes gleaming in preparation and Sasuke just barely stopped himself from growling, “Who the fuck is Sai?”
He immediately turned and flopped over ignoring the fact that Kakashi had asked for Orochimaru’s movements as well as the fact that he had planned to inform them of Sasori, hopeful that his lack of response would freeze the mission and Naruto would be out of danger and—hopefully—away from Sai.
Yes it was a childish move, yes it was a stupid move, but Sasuke simply didn’t care at this point, and with the two people he had to be wary of away, he saw no real harm in acting thus.
Recognizing a dismissal, the summon slithered off the way it had come leaving Sasuke to brood alone in his room, his mood shot and corroding in the burning emotions that threatened to smother him.
Was he jealous?
Sasuke thought that was pretty obvious.
“Stupid Dobe…”
A.N. Okay as I said before, I am really not happy with this chapter. Sorry if it sucked as badly as I fear it did. I’m going back through it now. If it wasn’t too horrid please review. Thank you.
