A Shadow Darkly

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Naruto chewed on his thumbnail, his back to Kyuubi who’d just returned from putting Sasuke to bed. His mind was going a mile a minute, always wondering how he didn’t see it sooner.

Sasuke had been broken.

By Kakashi.

Severe psychological damage, Sakura had said, most likely from physical and verbal abuse. Sexual abuse. Naruto had never known Kakashi had been capable of such things, but then Sasuke was no longer someone Kakashi had to protect. Sasuke had brought it on himself, it could be argued, but the extent to which the nukenin was damaged was extreme. It would take months, years, for him to be cured, and even then, it was a long, long shot. And Kakashi was the one at fault. How could Naruto punish him though? How could Naruto discipline Kakashi when he would be hailed as the hero?

Sasuke should have been the hero.

But not even Itachi could have planned for this. He only wrote the play from the beginning to his own death, sacrificing everything for Sasuke – and now Sasuke was too damaged to be what Itachi had hoped for.

“Oh, the tangled webs we weave,” Naruto whispered. Kyuubi hugged the blonde tight, kissing at Naruto’s ear.

“It’s not your fault. Kakashi knew exactly what he was doing. He’s thirty-seven years old – he’s fully aware of his own actions.”

“I still should have seen-“ Naruto was silenced by a harsh kiss, teeth sinking into flesh as a reprimand.

“All you can do now,” Kyuubi said, interspersed with tiny licks, “is help Sasuke heal. It won’t be easy, but you might just get your friend back.”

“If he ever wants to come back.” Naruto replied glumly. Kyuubi gave his lover a shake as if to toss those thoughts from his head. Naruto simply leaned back into the demon’s warmth and sighed.

“Maybe he’ll do better around Sakura.”

“He would have someone to play with.”

“I’ll ask her in the morning,” Naruto said softly, turning in the kitsune’s embrace and nuzzling close. Kyuubi chuckled and led his tired mate to bed.


Sakura rubbed her cheek as she watched Sasuke sketch. He’d sat where she told him to, and then hadn’t moved except to draw in his book. She’d gotten all of her chores done for the day and the kids would be home from the Academy any minute now. So she sipped her tea and studied her former teammate. The curse seal was gone, as was any lingering feel of Orochimaru. The collar kept his chakra muted, and she wondered how Sasuke would react if she tried to touch his hair. He’d kept a respectable distance and had kept quiet most of the day.

What had Kakashi done to him?

Sakura fiddled with her wedding ring and sighed. Maybe Sasuke would be more at ease with the children. Then the front door crashed open and Sasuke jumped to attention, eyes wide in panic.

Or maybe not. Sakura surmised as Sasuke’s eyes fixed on the staircase leading from the front door to the kitchen, the sound of boyish voices overshadowing a young girl’s. On came the pattering of bare feet, and then three young faces appeared, all staring straight at Sasuke.

Here we go, thought Sakura. “Kids, this is Uchiha Sasuke. He’s one of mommy’s old friends.”

“He’s the one who betrayed Konoha,” one of the boys stated.

“Yeah, he’s no good.” Said the other.

Sakura looked from her sons to her guest and noted no reaction. Was Sasuke that damaged, or had he come to terms with that?

“That aside, he’s still a guest, so I expect you to treat him like a guest. Understand? Tohru, Tenrai.”

Both boys winced at the ‘Mommy means it’ voice. “Yes, mama.”

Sakura sighed. “Go do your homework, then you can go play with Haru and Koichi.”

The boys gave a groan and edged past Sasuke as they ran for their room. The little girl, however, continued to stare at Sasuke, her thumb in her mouth as she toyed with her rose coloured hair.

Sakura opened her mouth to address her daughter when Sasuke moved. It wasn’t a threatening motion, but Sakura reached for a knife anyway, her hold on the handle relaxing only slightly when Sasuke knelt on the floor at her daughter’s eye level and held out the picture he’d been sketching.

“That’s mommy,” the girl whispered, taking the drawing. “See, mommy?”

Sakura smiled as Sasuke got back to his feet and settled back in his chair, already sketching again.

“I see. It’s beautiful, Michi. Go wash up now.”

“Then I can play with Sasu-kun?”

Sasu-kun? “If he wants to play,” Sakura hedged.

“I don’t mind,” Sasuke whispered, watching Michiko as the little girl watched him. The child beamed and ran for the bathroom, leaving the adults alone. Sakura stared at the nukenin for a long moment before his eyes met hers. She fought not to swallow.

“You don’t have to, you know,” she said.

“…I want to,” Sasuke said quietly, looking away. “Naruto said it would be a good idea if I played with someone.”

Sakura turned away before Sasuke could see her begin to cry. He was almost like a child again, Sasuke, but she knew why. Sasuke was broken and it was all Kakashi’s fault.