Kyuubi the Bitch

A.N. So I was informed by a reviewer some time back that the theme song for this fic should be “Shiver” by Shawn Desmond. Well I was listening to this as I was editing this chapter and I nearly fell apart laughing. They were right. Thank you for pointing that out (I forgot who pointed this out *Lowers head in shame*) you are distinctly awesome! ^-^

 

Kyuubi the Bitch

 

Sasuke

 

Chapter 10: Too Little, Too Late

 

            The child felt his tears burning his eyes as he stood in the cold rushing air, alone and frightened. The sky was dark, the clouds a rolling wave of grey with no break to even give the glimmer of hope.  That combined with the cold wind that cut through everything and howled about him, caused shivers of distress to run rampant up and down his spine. The child swallowed and rubbed at his arms sniffling as he stood beneath the twisted tree; his family below his feet.

            His world was empty without the other child, and it was unbearable. Looking up at the gate, he watched the trees beyond. They swayed and danced with the air, and he was unable to look away. The snake had come from beyond his house, beyond the gate and trees. He had never wondered what lay beyond this place. He couldn’t think beyond the house and yard. Before the voice, he hadn’t known there was anything beyond the darkened room with the blood stained floor and walls; had, had no reason or motivation to, until now.

            His heart trembled and he felt his insides quake. The gate was like a foreboding presence, warning him to keep away. The dark man was beyond there, he just knew it. How else had he come in? It was far safer to remain here, where the house provided some defense. Some vague sense of protection and security, even if it rang as hollow as the icy wind that shrieked through barren halls.

An echo.

            Like a distant toll of a summer glass wind chime, the sound road the wind and froze the very breath in his lungs. Holding it in he waited, the pulse of his heart thrumming in his soft tissue of his neck and then it came again, a ghostly cry of pain. He jerked, feet scuffing the dirt. That sound, he knew it was the other child, some how he just knew it was, and his heart leapt with both fear and excitement because it meant he was not yet all alone, but he wasn’t sure if he could answer that cry; if he could save the golden child that had tried to save him.

Because that cry, came from beyond the gate.

 

-2-

 

            The sun was setting when the gates of Konoha finally loomed before them, still more or less a distant goal, but all the same visible. Thank god! Sasuke thought, heart pounding harshly against his ribs. He’d been pushing his team for the better part of four days. He had not stopped for anything more than a quick breath, food, water, and a pee break. Karin and Suigetsu had only managed to make him sleep through the night once and that had been because he’d forgotten them in his rush to reach home, and they had attacked simultaneously.

He’d been wary since then.

            He let out a breath and turned to face the scowling girl. Karin’s hair looked a fright, though for once it looked almost normal, what with the tangles taking over the entirety of her head, though they were less visible on one side, and aside from the flushed face and the bags below her eyes, she seemed fine. She had been muttering under her breath for sometime—her and Suigetsu’s fighting had ceased half way through the third day—and now looked up as he called.

            “Can you smell him?”

            She pushed the glasses up her nose with her middle finger. He guessed he had finally managed to irritate her, but that didn’t stop her from answering, her voice still poised to please. “Yes, he’s nearby, probably right outside Konoha.”

            Sasuke didn’t wait for further details; he simply spun back around and bolted up to the gate. He didn’t have time to wait or stall and that included giving the others orders to hide or follow. They were adults, they could make that decision on their own, besides this was his problem, and they didn’t have to stay with him now.

            “Boss, wait, we can’t… oh fucking hell…” Suigetsu snapped behind him, but it seemed he made his choice as the sound of footsteps followed him to the large gates. Almost instantly, the path was blocked by the two on watch and three Anbu on patrol.

            “Sasuke!” Ino jumped up from the desk and bolted around the side to see him. “My god, you’re back! I’d heard that you’d been on a mission but—“ Ino’s impromptu hug was waylaid by the natural disaster that was Karin. For once he was glad of her obsession with him.

            “Back off, slut!” She snapped a blur or red and suddenly Sasuke was free to advance.

            “What?” Ino asked, obviously offended but keeping her cool for the moment, the calm tone was impressive but he knew better than to know she had changed so much in three short years. That calm wouldn’t last long, but hopefully the brewing catfight would aid him in getting through to check on Naruto. He doubted the Anbu would be so easily distracted but he could hope. Miracles happened all the time, and in this village, their name was Naruto.

            “You deaf as well as ugly?” Karin asked, posing a bit showing off her far more adult figure. Ino was delicate and toned, but as loath as he was to admit it, Karin was far more curvy, and the psycho knew it.

            Ino predictably reacted with a jerk and a glare getting into Karin’s face forgetting both her training and Sasuke in the moment of fan-girling rage. “Excuse me? Who do you think you are?”

            “I’m Sasuke-sama’s teammate!” Karin hissed and Ino looked insulted.

            “What she means is stalker.” Suigetsu supplied adding a new element to the argument. “Been trying to rape him for years—“

            “Shut the fuck up you ass-hole!”

            “Who the hell are you?!” Ino snapped at Suigetsu who obviously didn’t know her well enough to not step between one of her fights with another Sasuke-groupie, until she noticed Karin sliding closer to Sasuke and snarled out—rather impressively, “don’t you touch him you harpy!”

            He attempted to pass by both women, he was certain Suigetsu had stepped in to give him the proper distraction and he would use it. The other chunin on duty, a young man Sasuke didn’t recognize, blocked his path though, making the whole plan moot. Sasuke scowled, his chakra rising with his irritation and Jugo stepped up looking intimidating. It was clear he would gladly flatten the obstacle, and though that would be ideal he couldn’t have his teammate arrested for attacking a Konoha Ninja without provocation.

            As was becoming habit, Suigetsu stepped up easily leaving the quibbling women to face the brave—and foolish—chunin before him. “Yeah, you know the last man who tried to stop Sasuke ended up in several hundred pieces.” The young man turned to look at Suigetsu, his color paling just slightly. It was obvious why he was on gate duty and not on a mission now. “Not too smart, so why don’t you calmly step aside and let him through. We’ll wait here for clearance like good little ninja, how about it?”

            Sasuke never heard the response, and was pretty certain that there would be none, when one of the Anbu stepped up to them, casual as you please and interrupted before anything more could transpire. “Ah, dickless will be pleased to see you back.” The words were smug, calculating and conspicuously toneless. Sasuke turned with a sense of icy dread and met the false smile of Sai. Seemed he found no reason to keep his mask on for this particular problem. It was both reassuring and insulting. “Though he might be upset to find you with missing ninja.” He affected a dramatic sigh, or attempted to, it was hard to achieve such without real feelings. “And Sakura’s been so worried about the stress put on him.”

He knew about the baby.

            It was clear that not everyone did though, or else he would have stated “the baby’ instead. Unless, of course, he had edited the context in case his team had been unaware of his impending fatherhood. Regardless, Sasuke glared at him, aware of what he was trying to imply, and not liking it at all. Naruto was not weak, but waiting for the politics of this could kill him and the baby.

            “Missing…” The poor Chunin stepped back, shocked and probably frightened—it was a wonder he was a chunin at all—as Suigetsu showed him his sharp grin and chuckled enjoying the momentary power trip. This brought Ino’s attention back up to him and away from the blonde with pointed teeth.

            “Ha! You won’t ever mean anything to Sasuke! You’re a criminal and missing ninja!” Ino cried her finger pointing in Karin’s face, she was lucky the other didn’t bite it off, conveniently ignoring the fact that he had been traveling with them regardless of their status.

            “Shows what you know, Sasuke is a missing ninja too!”

            “No, he was on a mission, he’s nothing like you!”

            “Right, and that’s why he chose me to be on his team and not you.” Karin was smirking smugly at her, as Ino turned a lovely shade of red.

            “You are not his teammate. Sakura and Naruto are and—“ Ino was cut short as Karin’s attitude changed from gloating to a deathly quiet that had earned her Sasuke’s respect, and most of those working under Orochimaru’s fear.

            “Which one?”

            “Huh?” Ino was startled into silence then her complexion returning to normal. “What are you…”

            Karin stepped up and grabbed Ino by the front of her uniform, pulling her close enough to whisper a threat. The Anbu shifted closer even as Ino showed her competence as a Ninja by twisting the wrist that gripped her into a position to snap it if need be.

            “Which one is the slut pregnant with Sasuke’s child?”

Sasuke closed his eyes and sighed.

            He really hoped that they weren’t keeping the pregnancy quiet for any specific reason aside from not wanting outsiders to know, because otherwise, it was guaranteed to be all over Konoha by night fall. Unless Tsunade managed to lock the blonde kunochi up until the baby was actually born. We couldn’t get so lucky… Again, Sasuke felt the need to simply throw out his full-body chidori and storm through Konoha after his dobe, but he couldn’t. Too many times had he allowed his haste, and obsession to run him. If he ran through now, if he disregarded this protocol now and to such a state, he could lose more than he had gained, so he had to simply wait for an opening where he could move about without violence. He kept host of his attention on Sai, though he was aware of the other two Anbu standing behind him, still hidden behind their masks.

            Ino’s mouth dropped open, and she imitated a fish for several minutes, the only audible sound a slight gurgle. Pale eyes blinked slowly as her grip went slack on Karin’s wrist. She looked between Sasuke—and oddly enough to Sai—then back to Karin several times. A still silence settled then, broken harshly by Sai’s tisking sound.

            “Well, she’s not going to be happy with this.” Sai relaxed his stance and imitated Naruto by rubbing his head. It was on purpose, Sasuke just knew it, that didn’t stop him from becoming angry. Sai was baiting him to keep him there. “All of that work to keep it quiet and now…” He let out a sigh.

It was bad when the socially inept one knew you were a gossip hound.

            Perhaps the solitary confinement wasn’t out of the question yet. Sai had obviously been referring to Tsunade and if she was the one keeping things hushed, Ino would be lucky if the Hokage didn’t completely remove her vocal cords over this. She had been known to do crazy shit in defense of Naruto.

            “What? That is true?!” Ino jerked free from Karin and rounded on Sai, apparently she didn’t think it wise to ask him directly, “Sakura’s having Sasuke’s child?!”

God kill me now…

            Sasuke doubted he could handle that thought, much less the fall out that rumor would cause, but before he could say anything to dispute the sickening misunderstanding, Sai jumped in with his own agenda.

            “Yes, let’s go with that.”

            Ino looked even more confused. “But… I thought she was…” She shut up and bit her lip trying to figure out some inconsistencies with that story. Obviously she’d written Naruto’s baby making skills off as not an option.

            “Well, if that’s settled, I believe we have to process three missing ninja and deal with your return. We’ve been expecting you, though I had thought you’d have returned sooner… guess the summon got lost.” Sai had learned the subtle art of sarcasm it would seem, and Sasuke found it even more aggravating then his inept attempts to show emotion. “Though from the ragged appearance of your group, you came running, so I must assume—“

            Having wasted more time than he wanted to admit to, Sasuke ran through the seal’s for Orochimaru’s body freeze jutsu. Technically, it wasn’t violence and for all anyone knew, he always did this to Sai. God knew he would have to if he had to spend more than a few hours with him at a time. He knew Sai had seen it coming, the other had tensed seconds before it hit, and yet he’d held his ground to accept it. Sasuke grit his teeth at the blatant taunt, but his pride had no place here. It was his damnable pride that had led him to chase after Itachi so blindly and now he had to assess and repair the damage before it truly ruined things.

            “Sasuke!” Ino gasped, and he was relieved to see her take up a defensive stance. Fangirl, friend, or not, she would not allow him to commit a crime. She was a Konoha ninja after all, even if she had yet to mature. “You will wait here until the Hokage has been informed. Now, release Sai.”

            Karin snorted. “Like he’ll listen to that.”

            Ino gave her another glare though didn’t rise from her position. Sai just continued to smile, probably well aware that Sasuke had frozen his vocal chords as well. It was best if the other didn’t talk. All-the-same, he seemed far too relaxed with his predicament.

            “I don’t have time to wait. I need to see Tsunade now—“ Sasuke was cut short as he turned to bully past the other two Anbu and came face to face with Sakura. Her appearance startled him and he stopped dead. Her cheeks were flushed as though she had been running, and seeing Iruka in the distance behind her solved the question of how she knew where he was. Iruka and she must have been walking by and spotted him. He glanced to see if by some miracle the dobe was with them, but was doomed to be disappointed.

            “Sasuke.” Sakura was quiet and calm, well aware of the tension between all those present, and by far, more aware of the details of the situation. She stopped before him, her green eyes meeting his own and waiting for his explanation.

            “Naruto.”

            Sakura nodded understanding his reasoning and his question from that one word alone. Sasuke relaxed slightly, feeling better now that someone was comprehending his motions and reasons and would help him cut out the bullshit. Sakura could be trusted to work things out quickly and efficiently as she was bound to know all the particulars. He was not disappointed on this front at least.

            “He’s fine Sasuke.” She began, and lifted her hand when he began to ask how the hell she would know that when he wasn’t with her. “I spoke with him this morning, and Iruka was with him until just a little while ago. Naruto is safe and well. Everything is fine. So, calm down, we’ll get Tsunade and fix this.”

            Sasuke felt his tension relax further at that and nodded. Ino was watching them like a hawk, but with a wave from Sakura she stood up relaxing her guard. “So, when were you going to tell me?” Ino sounded torn between actual hurt and amusement, still under the misconception that Sakura was the one expecting.

            Sakura shook her head, signaling that now wasn’t the time, and Ino huffed crossing her arms over her chest pouting. Karin then turned to face Sakura, putting two and two together and figuring out who the pinkette was. Not willing to have his aid distracted by Karin’s insane jealousy, Sasuke forged ahead.

            “Yes, well that is liable to change. Itachi knows and he’s coming. Naruto needs to be protected.” His words caused her to pale and she reached out gripping his arm to steady herself. It was a familiar gesture, and for once it was not charged with her underlying affections. That was a relief for many reasons.

            “He knows? About…” She trailed off, but he knew what she meant, as did Suigetsu.

            “Huh. Well, this Naruto is an interesting fellow. Can’t wait to meet him.” The blonde man chuckled, obviously putting the puzzle pieces together from their whole trip as the chuckling grew in strength until his was gripping his sides.

            Sasuke chose to ignore him, answering Sakura’s question instead. “Yes. He knows everything.”

            She gave a quick nod, her lips pursed until they looked white with lack of blood. “I’ll go get him.” She turned and bolted off, stopping briefly to inform Iruka who took off to check Naruto’s usual hang out places. That didn’t bode well if they didn’t know where he was at.

The tension returned.

            “Wait… he?!” Karin screeched suddenly catching up to the conversation.

            Ino looked a little shocked as well as she too suddenly caught up with the rest of them. She at least didn’t simply reiterate facts as questions. “What the hell is going on?” she managed to keep her voice down to amiable levels for which he was grateful. Two screeching women asking the same damned question would get old and painful fast.

            Sai blinked as though to say he’d help if he wasn’t bound up and Sasuke ignored him too. He wasn’t releasing the other until Tsunade forced him too, and no, it wasn’t because he was still distrustful of him from his previous innuendos.

            “Hello? I asked a question, what the hell are you guys talking about? And what does this have to do with Naruto?”

            “Well you see, we were hunting down the Weasel when we were informed by the shadow clone of said weasel that we were on a wild goose chase and that his real goal was killing off Sasuke’s future.” Suigetsu started completely calm with the thought of another man carrying Sasuke’s child. Then again, all of his team had been with Orochimaru and he wouldn’t put it past the Snake to try that kind of shit. At least Naruto’s condition was practically natural. If one can call the fox natural.

            “So… there is a baby…” Ino sounded as though she might pass out.

            “Yes, you stupid bitch, now is this Naruto really the one pregnant?” Karin asked, sounding almost eager. Am I going to have to defend Naruto from her… or will I have to deal with her bitching when she loses? Either perspective seemed unpleasant for him.

            “Huh?” Ino blinked at her, and then opened her mouth to explain only to shut it with a scowl. “A missing nin doesn’t need to know these things.”

            Karin’s killing intent rose. “What was that?”

            “Waoh, down vapid bitch, down!” Suigetsu stepped in between the fighting females, he was either suicidal or a masochist, his hands spread out to either side, not showing his back to either girl. Smart man…Sasuke thought, and looked over at the Anbu that was standing between Jugo and Sai, his mask hid his expression, but it was clear he found no opening in Jugo’s stance, and from his position, he felt it unwise to turn from him. … also the correct move…

            “Shut up you freak! She knows who this little slut is and I need to know if it really is a man or not!”

            “And why does that matter so damned much?” Suigetsu asked, giving Karin a bored look then sending a flirtatious wink Ino’s way. Ino lifted an eyebrow clearly unimpressed, but her glare softened just a fraction. Either she was starved for attention, or she had a thing for messed up head-cases. Well she did like me at one time… Sasuke remained in place watching the battle unfurl. Now that the warning had been given to two people who gave a damn, he felt more secure, and his mind was clear enough to realize just how bad the situation was.

            He’d lead three Bingo book criminals into Konoha, and though Tsunade may be willing to listen to reason, she would not do so if he posed a threat to her people. He’d have to trust Iruka and Sakura to find the dobe and bring him to him safely. We made it in time… we made it…

            “Because!” Karin snarled, throwing her arms around. “If it is a man I can stop worrying!”

            Suigetsu froze, his expression openly confused, and Sasuke felt his attention snared as well by that awkward sentence. “What?”

            “You heard me you failed experiment!”

            “Yeah, I’m just trying to figure out why Sasuke being gay is a lack of concern for you. You do want to fuck him right?”

            Ino flushed a violent red and looked between them with her mouth agape. She didn’t dare meet Sasuke’s eyes and he shuddered wondering just what thoughts kept her from doing so.

            “Because, you retard, if he was with another girl she’s competition!”

            “And a man… isn’t?” Suigetsu was truly looking pained now trying to follow Karin’s reasoning. One would think he’d realized that Karin’s mind was a vast labyrinth of chaos and bullshit. There was no understanding her.

            Karin tilted her head up, looking down her pointed nose at him, her glasses glinting in the fading light. Her arms crossed over her ample chest pulling the shirt tight and showing more of her belly. “No, its fine if Sasuke-sama wants to have a man on the side, it doesn’t count so why should I care?” Karin smiled and Sasuke felt the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose at the on-coming migraine. It was apparent that Karin intended to stalk him for life. Damn it… I’d hoped she’d give up when she found out about Naruto… fuck…

            “… Karin. You’re fucked up.”

            “Shut it! You just don’t understand.”

            “You’re damned right I don’t. They’re having a kid together, how can it not count?!”

            “As long as it’s not some stupid bitch, then its fine!” Karin snarled, her eyes glinting, and Sasuke felt a jolt of insane understanding, and quick on its heels; pity.

She didn’t want to face the truth.

            She knew what this all meant, She knew that she had lost. If it was some girl he’d hooked up with, to her it was temporary and she could take their place, but it wasn’t a girl, it was a boy, and once she met Naruto she’d lose whatever hope she still had of winning him. But even without knowing the dobe, she was starting to realize that she had already lost. So, she denied it all.

            He turned from the scene then, disengaging completely. If there was one thing he’d learned about women, it was that if one acted on the feelings of pity and showed them kindness, the women would mistake it for a chance at winning. It was best to ignore them and let them figure it out for themselves.

            “If that’s what helps you sleep at night…”

            “H—how could a man possibly be pregnant?” Ino asked, her voice less convicted than she was probably aiming for, but her attempt to keep a secret was noted. If a little late.

            Suigetsu gave her another flirtatious grin, “Well, you hang around a mad man like Orochimaru long enough, and you’ll believe it too.”

            Ino paled and looked aside, mumbling.

            “Can we get moving now?” Karin snapped, uncomfortable, and Sasuke wondered what sort of action would be best. Breaking through would cause too many headaches, besides Sakura and Iruka were already looking for the blonde, and Sakura would find some way to alert the Hokage. He was just wondering how to explain things to his team and the anbu, as well as how much to tell them, when the decision was made for him.

            “Well that depends on what your purpose for being here is.” Tsunade’s booming voice was unmistakable, and Sasuke turned to her, effecting a swift bow, hoping it could somehow make up for the damage of his previous haste.

            “Trying to be polite now, Uchiha?” Tsunade huffed and Sasuke looked up and saw the third Anbu that had stopped them at her side. When did he move? Sasuke resisted the urge to look behind him where the third member had been. It was clear he had run to get the Hokage during the confusion, and he felt safe enough to leave Sai and the other member alone with team Hebi. Must have been while I was preoccupied with Sakura… Sasuke let the thought go. It wasn’t important when the other had moved, or that he had missed it.

            “Hokage, the rush was necessary. I have found—“

            “I’m sure it was considering I told you to return weeks ago. I’m sure you have been racing to abide by my command.” Her tone suggested she knew he’d ignored her but Sasuke held his ground, meeting her gaze unrepentant. Yes, he should have returned but he hadn’t and that was in the past and he could not change it.

            “Ah. So this is the scary leader… damn.” Suigetsu muttered unhelpfully, proving her point and making Sasuke look like an ass.

He added his name to the mental hit list.

            “I see you brought your amusing comrades as well.”

            “Itachi knows about Naruto.” Sasuke blurted out, then, with a quick look at those present added, “And the baby.”

            Tsunade’s reaction was a mere thinning of her lips and a curt nod. “All of you follow me. Ino, that means you too.”

            The blonde gaped at the summoning but followed obediently behind. “Uh, what about Sai?”

            Sasuke had hoped that she would have forgotten him, but was left to face Tsunade’s firm look until he released the Jutsu.

            “Ah, much better.” Sai smiled and stretched. “Shall I also assist in the finding of Dickless?” Sai’s comment made Tsunade sigh and shake her head. Sasuke was glad he wasn’t the only one irritated at his off handed comments. He shot her a subtle look, wondering if she would let him get away with another silencing technique when she responded. Both to Sai and to him at once.

            “Just keep them in line.” Her focus shifted from Sai to himself, “Uchiha, refrain from hurting him or so help me god, I’ll have you doing “D” rank missions until your child leaves the academy.”

She would too.

            When everyone was following she turned to the third anbu and addressed him quickly. “Bring Ino up to date on the events and the seriousness of her keeping her mouth shut, then find Sakura and Naruto and bring them both to my office.”

            The Anbu nodded and left, leaving them to follow the Hokage into the middle of the village.

            “Well, that was unexpected. Hey boss, think she’ll have something to drink up there?”

            “Nothing actually hydrating.” That statement caused the other to grin.

            “You know, I’m starting to like your Kage more and more.”

Of course he was.

 

-2-

 

            The room was filled with his team, Sai, the second Anbu, Tsunade, her damned pig, and Shizune when the door finally closed behind them. He was aware that after his initial statement Suigetsu and Karin had been suspiciously silent the whole way. Of course they would be. As per regulations, Tsunade has to turn them over to their villages for punishment… why the hell did they follow me here when they knew this was coming… Their actions made no sense.

            “Report.” Tsunade snapped out when she was seated, her hands laced together before her, elbows propped up on her desk.

            “Itachi was baiting me and sending me on a wild goose chase.”

            “You don’t say.”

            “Hn.” Sasuke glared at her clamming up at her insult.

            “I didn’t say to stop, Uchiha.”

            “He implied that he was after Naruto and the baby during our last confrontation. He’s already in the area—“

            “What?!” Tsunade bellowed, slamming up from her desk and knocking over several items in her haste. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Sai, go out and get a team together, scour the surrounding area… take Inuzaka along as well.” Her command was met with a swift and serious nod as the other departed and Karin made not a sound.

            Unless asked by him, she had no reason to help anyone here, Sasuke was aware of that and added, “Karin is capable of smelling and tracking chakra types. She might be more helpful—“

            “She is a missing ninja and unpredictable. I will not put my ninja out with her until I have proof that I can trust her.”

            “Wait, there’s an ‘until’ in that sentence.” Suigetsu pointed out, and slowly, gold eyes turned to assess him. “That implies that you might not send us out to be killed. That’s against regulations, how are you planning to get away with that Hokage-sama?” Suigetsu was mocking her with the use of the honorific and he was certain Tsunade was well aware of it. Shizune had straightened at it and was glaring at the pale Ninja with distaste, so he knew Tsunade couldn’t have missed it.

            Tension filled the room a moment as all eyes shifted back to Tsunade. She narrowed her own on Suigetsu and waited several minutes before replying. “Since you were acting in aid of our village in terminating our own ‘S’ rank criminal, and due to the circumstances surrounding your involvement with Orochimaru’s downfall, Konoha might be willing to extend you welcome with in its walls.”

            Suigetsu’s eyebrows rose and he rested back a bit from her as though she might attack him herself. Her offer was extreme and very unusual, but it was a rather advantageous move. These three all had abilities that were unique and useful not attempting to obtain them would be foolish, though with their track record, it might just be more foolish to trust them. Karin seemed to think Tsunade was unaware of that fact.

            “Are you stupid? We abandoned our villages, how the hell can you trust us not to do the same to you?”

            Suigetsu straightened up, raising his hand, “This bitch does not speak for me.” Karin hit him.

            “The fuck I don’t, you know as well as I do that this is bullshit! There’s no one in their right mind that would—“

            “I would not trust you with pertinent information, nor would I place you on a team that could not work without your accompaniment, nor with anyone that would feel the need to depend on you. Until proven that you will not act out on your own, you will not even be allowed missions and will be honorary citizens within our walls. Of course this is all hypothetical, seeing as how I must first request censure from your villages and see exactly how high your crimes are against them. A bargain will have to be made and if their asking price isn’t worth it, I’m afraid I will not be able to offer this protection.”

            She paused for a breath and had everyone in the god damned room waiting with baited breath for her to continue. The other three leaned in closer, just slightly, proof that they did indeed desire what was being offered, but like wounded animals, they were hesitant to trust blindly. Their reactions were clear to the blonde woman as well as she let her hands fall to the desk top as well, adopting a more open stance.

            “But, if I am to even attempt this venue and face the council and other Kage’s on your behalf, I must know your reasons for returning here with Sasuke.” Her eyes pierced each one of his team members, pinning them to their spots. “I will ask but once, so there is no room for your pride. Why did you follow Sasuke here knowing that by law I would be forced to turn you over to your villages?”

            The woman cut straight to the point, that was for certain, and she was no less powerful and intimidating than she had been three years before. She was a fighter, and a fiercely protective ruler. Konoha was lucky to have her. Hell, right now, they were lucky to have her on their side. Suigetsu looked at Karin and Jugo, and Karin did the same, both hesitant to speak up; to speak honestly and clearly in front of strangers and each other.

Jugo had no such qualms.

            “There was a person I once admired, he’s dead now, but he said that I should not fear my curse and that I was in control of my life. I respected that. When I met Sasuke, he had said something similar.” Jugo’s plain speech and blunt words were shocking in the silence and Sasuke stood in awe of this man baring his soul to everyone listening. “He said, ‘Be your own master, and you will be free of your curse.’ I am yet unable to do so, but I know that as long as I follow Sasuke, I can try.”

            Karin and Suigetsu were staring at him as though he had lost his mind, Sasuke felt much the same. He’d known the other had looked up to him and had reminded him of the original leader of the Sound Four but he hadn’t realized his off-hand comment had so perfectly mimicked the other’s. He remembered a conversation he’d once had with the man when trying to convince him to leave Orochimaru, he had assumed that had been the turning point in the other’s decision.

 

            The man was trapped in a room that resembled a cell. It was hard to tell him apart from any other experiment Orochimaru tended to favor at any given time. If it hadn’t been for Karin Sasuke would have never thought to look into the back room where the guards bribed each other to get away from. He was in a corner of the room muttering to himself as he had that first time he seen him. Muttering about death, killing, and of curses. Not much had changed since he’d last spoken to the man, and he was starting to wonder how much use this person could actually be.

            There was the good chance Jugo was already beyond anyone’s help, and Orochimaru was certainly not assisting in his recovery. Perhaps, that incentive had lost its appeal. If that was the case, Sasuke would have to look else where, which was disheartening what with the time he’d taken to find a good excuse to come out here with Orochimaru and Kabuto. It would be a pity if it was all for nothing.

            “You.” The voice startled him and he glanced up through the bars on the door to see that Jugo was now staring directly at him, his fingers shredding something in his hands.

Sasuke didn’t try to figure out what it was.

            “Hn.”

            Jugo shifted clumsily to his feet and came toward the door. Self preservation made him rethink his intelligence in sending the guard away. He could always brush his actions off as curiosity to Orochimaru if he was caught here, but if he was injured he doubted he’d be forgiven, nor would the incident be ignored as his simple selfish curiosity would be. “You came back.” Jugo stated the obvious like a child.

 Maybe this isn’t such a good idea…

            All the same, Sasuke nodded and Jugo continued. “Most don’t.”

            “Hn. Well, not many intend to help you.”

            “No one can help me.”

            “Not true.”

            “If Orochimaru cannot find a cure… what makes you a better candidate?” Jugo sounded sad as opposed to confrontational, as though he was waiting for Sasuke to prove him wrong. It was pitiable, that anyone would feel so trapped in their own body. Just like Naruto…

His decision was made.

            He would bring this man along with him, even if he had to break the other down first, Jugo would follow him in his pursuit of Itachi.

            “Orochimaru isn’t trying.”

            Jugo shook his head in denial but no words escaped him. He had already thought that but did not want to admit to it. That was a good sign it showed intelligence and perseverance. Jugo’s eyes remained locked with his as the reality sunk in. “How can you help me?”

            The man wanted to believe him, it was clear on his face, but it was also apparent that he didn’t trust him. Well, that was fine. Trust had to be earned and as long as Sasuke returned to free him from this prison, that trust would be garnered. Keeping his eyes locked on Jugo’s—seeing the barely contained insanity of a fractured mind—Sasuke replied, “The most talented medic Nin in the world is currently the Hokage of Konoha. I’m certain that if there is a way to free you from this, she can find it.” Sasuke smiled, the gentle one he had relearned from Naruto.

            Those eyes widened slightly, and a larger hand pressed against the bars as if to touch him. The emotion behind those eyes, and in the movement of the hand made Sasuke feel uncomfortable. Tsunade wasn’t infallible, she had told Lee to give up after all, it had been his own perseverance that had, in the end, cured him. This hope might be far more cruel that the lies Orochimaru kept feeding this man, but it had already been done. He only hoped he could keep his word. Please Naruto, give me some of that idiotic luck you carry around…

            Sasuke averted his gaze back to the hall, and when he looked back, Jugo was back to shredding the thing in his hands in the corner. The only change was that he was no longer muttering about blood and death.

 

            It looked like he had been wrong in his assumptions.

            Tsunade studied Jugo critically, looked at Sasuke and then returned to Jugo. “And what was it that you left your village to find Orochimaru for?”

            Jugo blinked as though startled that she didn’t already know. “I am cursed.” That had not been expected as Tsunade’s brow shot up to her hairline. “Orochimaru said that he could cure the blood lust in my veins… that he could help me to stop killing. He lied.”

            Gold eyes snapped to Sasuke in accusation. “And you brought him here?”

            “His blood is what Orochimaru used to create the Curse seal. He has become better at controlling himself now that he is away from Orochimaru’s influence.”

            “Oh, that is so reassuring.” Tsunade sounded unimpressed.

            “Excuse me, Hokage.” Jugo spoke up once more, moving to actually stand between them, blocking Tsunade’s gaze, the protective stance did not go unnoticed by her. “Sasuke said he would try to help, he also said that you were the best medic ninja in the world… I’m not asking for your help, but if you could allow me to try and live, to try and control this…” He trailed off, apparently not knowing how to complete the statement.

            Sasuke felt obligated to speak for him. “Hokage, please. He suffers from a biological inconsistency, not from ill intentions. Can’t you try to find a cure?” His pleading seemed to shock all those present and Tsunade sighed.

            “You start acting like that brat and I know the world is ending.” Her head shook some more and her lips curled up in a small smile, “either that or its time to stop drinking…”

            “Hn.”

            “Fine. I’ll see what I can do for him.” Tsunade turned serious eyes on Jugo. “But if you harm a single person in this village, accidental or otherwise, I will end you. Do you understand?”

            Jugo nodded solemnly.

            “Right. I’ll need a list of your abilities and symptoms, but that can wait for the moment.” Gold turned hard. “Did you kill anyone in your village?”

            Jugo lowered his head. “My past is a blur of blood and screams. If I did, I don’t recall. You would have to ask my village yourself.”

            She seemed to accept this answer as she asked no more, instead turning her golden gaze upon the other two. Suigetsu glanced at Karin, and Sasuke knew he wouldn’t speak so long as she was in the room, and that meant that he was likely to be thrown to the wolves.

            “Well? Or shall I prepare a missive for your turn over?”

            “God fine.” Karin huffed, her arms crossed over her chest. “I came here with Sasuke-sama to badger the bitch having his kid.”

Well that was sure to endear her to Tsunade.

            Sasuke had a feeling this wouldn’t end well and he would lose the best tracker he had ever met because she was a psychotic, and jealous freak, and his Hokage was an overprotective mothering figure also psychotic to an extent. This would not end well.

            “Oh? And why would that be?”

            “Because Sasuke is mine.” Karin stated that like every other fangirl Sasuke had ever met and he felt slightly ill.

            “And how is that?” Bored, that was the tone and Karin reacted predictably.

            Her poised stance fell, her hands fisted like an enraged child and her face flushed a blotchy red. “He saved my life, mine! I followed him to Ororchimaru’s and then I betrayed him for Sasuke. I have done more than anyone to please him and I will continue to do what he asks of me until this whole fucking world falls into ruin and burns the fuck up, because Sasuke deserves everything!”

            He was nauseous.

            He had known Karin was obsessive, true, and he’d used her because of that, and now he felt sick for that deception. It was not his fault that she felt this way, he had not encouraged her, and had not tried to hide Naruto from her, all the same the pity was overwhelming. She saw him as an angel of mercy when he was anything but. He swallowed down the bile and the feeling of fear. I didn’t encourage this, I am not to blame for her delusions… it was her choice, I never deceived her… The thoughts felt hollow, but they helped to steady him when he met Tsunade’s shocked gaze.

            “How the hell you engendered such devotion, I will never know Uchiha.”

            “Heh, it isn’t devotion, its obsession, with a heavy does of lust.” Suigetsu snorted.

            “Shut it! I had my reasons and they are better than yours!!!”

            “Enough!” Tsunade snapped, once more gaining their attention. “Now, you said you followed Sasuke, did you do anything beyond leaving your village?”

            Karin tossed her head even as Suigetsu turned silent and still; expression dark and foreboding. “Nothing to my village. I did what I had to, to survive outside of it though.”

            Suigetsu’s laugh was bitter and harsh, and Sasuke saw Karin shift immediately to face him. She knew what his shifting emotions meant and how dangerous he could be, it was how she had survived with him on their team. She wasn’t stupid, and her self preservation instincts were honed well. “Is that what it was? Survival?” His sharp teeth flashed in the light, his eyes bright with a barely restrained insanity and Sasuke stepped up and between them quickly, blocking the path and staring Suigetsu down.

            “Its over. It won’t happen again.”

            “How can you know? She’s still breathing.” Suigetsu pointed beyond him to where Karin still stood his arm shaking. “As long as she breathes the memory exists. It still lives!” Suigetsu’s voice had risen but the intensity of his eyes was waning the longer Sasuke held his gaze, the longer he treated him as a human being.

            “Because I don’t want her too, and she won’t go against me.”

            They stood paired off for several minutes, then Suigetsu relented closing his eyes and grinning harshly. “Nice bluff, boss. Better watch it though, she might take it as a compliment.”

            Karin did not rise to the bait this time, and the joke became awkward.

            “Alright, what the hell was that? You seem unable to function as a group at all. Perhaps this is why you could not track Itachi.” Tsunade chipped in, obviously disturbed and irritated with this display. She had far better things to contend with and none of them involved quibbles between missing nija not under her protection.

            “Well, you try following the fucker when it seems he has close battles with everyone he meets and mingles his chakra with theirs so badly they may have well have fucked.” Karin stated glibly making Tsunade curl her lip in distaste. She decided not to pick up that train of thought as she turned to the last member of team Hebi.

            “I’m still waiting for your explanation.”

            Suigetsu looked up at her and then around the room warily. “Can you have them leave please?” He gestured to Karin and Jugo and the Anbu in the room. Sasuke had a feeling he was included in the request. It was a bit insulting, though after the shocks from the other members he wasn’t certain how he might take Suigetsu’s honesty.

            “The Anbu and Sasuke will stay, but I see no reason to hold the other two here.” Tsunade conceded nodding for the two Anbu to remove Jugo and Karin from the room. Jugo looked worriedly at Sasuke but left quietly enough. Karin, of course, had to object.

            “What?! We said all that shit in front of him!!!”

            “You could have requested him to leave as well.” Tsunade obviously didn’t care much for her.

            Karin huffed and complained the whole way out of the room and even after the doors had shut he could hear her voice rising in complaint.

            “Does she ever shut up?” Tsunade asked, and it caused Suigetsu to grin, his shoulders less hunched.

            “Never. Annoying really.”

            Tsunade nodded and then turned her gaze back to him waiting.

            “I left my village, to become stronger. Orochimaru promised me that.”

            “Yes, he does make a lot of those.”

            “Yeah, and I was stupid enough… desperate enough, to follow him.” Suigetsu paused, his tongue running over his teeth and lips in the nervous habit he’d developed in Sound. He was very proud, and that pride must be hard to overcome in this instance. Sasuke could well understand. He averted his eyes and stared out the window, giving Suigetsu as much space as he could. “Let’s just say Jugo wasn’t the only one experimented on.”

            Tsunade must have nodded because Suigetsu continued. “Sasuke… he was the first to treat me as a human… in a long time. You know what that’s like? Its fucking pathetic how damned happy that made me. Then he helped me break out, and didn’t question why I wanted the Samehada. To be honest… I still want power, but I can’t get it.

            “I followed Sasuke because he’s safe, he makes me feel human, and strong. I—its…it’s a sickening dependency but I can’t let it go.”

            Sasuke wasn’t sure how to feel about any of that. Without looking he knew Suigetsu would be red with humiliation, his eyes would be averted and he’d be stiff and unapproachable. He understood his request to have the other’s leave the room now. Karin would be a real bitch about that little truth, and neither would feel comfortable with this being brought up again.

            He felt slightly dizzy with this abrupt turn of events and revelations. Somehow, and he really wasn’t certain how, he had become a role model, a leader, a savior. Fuck… I’ve become fucking Naruto…Sasuke wasn’t sure if that was such a good thing or not. He wasn’t even sure how he’d managed it, and worse, how was he supposed to be a good leader and role model when he’d never really had one himself? And if he’d done this much damage unknowingly how was he supposed to fix it, or keep it up? He could barely hold himself together, let alone drag these three along with him, and heal them.

            Naruto really is amazing… how he manages to do this and still handle all of my shit… Sasuke closed his eyes and focused on memories of the dobe. He’d just have to trust himself, as Naruto trusted him, and just keep going. It wasn’t his responsibility to save them, he just had to keep doing what he was doing, whatever the hell that was.

            “As touching as that is, that doesn’t explain why you followed him here knowing you could be killed.” Tsunade began, and Sasuke was certain she was just testing Suigetsu for any inconsistencies in that very emotional spiel. She might be a doctor but she has a sick fascination with picking at emotional wounds.

            “I just said, I followed him because I can’t do anything on my own. I’m a pathetic dependant freak thanks to Orochimaru’s experiments! I’ve got nothing! Nothing, but this meager existence and dream of power and this fucking fragile, imagined belonging to a temporary team! I know that once Itachi’s dead we all have to wake up, but its all I have!” Suigetsu was getting loud and angry again. Sasuke trusted him not to attack Tsunade, and he was certain the other didn’t want him to acknowledge his weakness. Part of his ‘dream’ was his own so called imagined strength, his equality to Sasuke. It was infact the truth, but Suigetsu didn’t see it that way. To him it was all part of his imagination, and Sasuke turning to see his raw emotions now would shatter that fragile balance.

            His new found responsibility to his team held him from moving. He would simply have to trust them not to do anything stupid.

            “Besides, this is a child we’re talking about. I don’t want to watch anymore infants die. I don’t care who they are.” The horror in his tone, the cold clarity said far more for the experiments Suigetsu had been privy too than Sasuke or Tsunade had dared even think of. He felt sick and turned to look at Tsunade, questioning wordlessly if she had known and met the same inquisition from golden pools.

No. she hadn’t known either.

            “Look, I’ll admit I’m a little more adamant because this is the Boss’s kid and all, and if that makes me a weak pansy then so fucking be it, but I am not leaving without him, and until that kid and its mother are safe.” The challenge in that last sentence left the room singing and the silence that fell was deafening. Sasuke really couldn’t handle this. It was too much.

            I completely miss read them… all of them… Sasuke felt his lips quirk up. Somehow, he was the only one who had foolishly thought that the surface of their agreement had been all there was between them. He felt rather humbled now, and wondered if that had been Tsunade’s intentions. But, no, she had truly just wanted to know if this had been practiced, or a lie, Sasuke’s reactions would tell her that, and if they were willing to say such things in his presence it would prove their conviction if nothing else could.

            “Hmm, well then, I only have one more question for you.”

            “Yeah?”

            “Under what circumstances did you leave your village?”

            “I wanted power. I left in the middle of some stupid D rank mission. No one even noticed.” Suigetsu stated bitterly, a humorless laugh on his lips. Sasuke and Tsunade refrained from pointing out that someone must have noticed to place him as a missing ninja. Then again, perhaps he wasn’t officially listed as a missing ninja at all, Sasuke never did check the bingo book. He’d just assumed they all were in it, but if their only offense was running away—still a high crime as they knew secrets and particulars about their village—there was a good chance they had been written off as dead.

            “I see.” Tsunade leaned back in her chair, he could see it out of the corner of his eye and heard the chair squeak under the shift of weight. “Uchiha.” Her command had him turning to face her. He kept his eyes straight ahead still giving Suigetsu his dignity.

            “Hn.”

            “Is this the truth?”

            “What?” Suigetsu sounded somewhere between amused and pissed, luckily that was all he chose to say on the matter. His future hung on her decision, they all did, and now he felt responsible for them. That really fucking sucked.

            “I was unaware of any of these reasons. I had chosen them because they each had a strength I required and they all had a grievance with Orochimaru. I assumed Karin’s attachment to me would keep her loyal, that Jugo’s need for medical aid would do the same, and Suigetsu’s desire for the Samehada would keep him to the cause until then. I had not been aware of the faith and trust they had placed in me. The fact that they did speaks more for their character than anything I could say.” Sasuke paused feeling rather exposed himself, but at the same time, Suigetsu, more than the other two, deserved and needed to hear this. “It would be a mistake to abandon them.”

            Suiguetsu was quiet, and facing forward also giving Sasuke his pride by not saying any smart ass retort to the admission. From the corner of his eye he could tell that the other was standing rather awkwardly, as though uncertain where he stood in all the chaos of emotions, but he was less of a mess than before.

            Tsunade was quiet once more before she gave a decisive nod and the two anbu escorted Karin and Jugo back into the room.

            “Well it’s about damned time! What’d you do, tell them your whole life story?” Karin screeched at Suigetsu the minute she’d entered the room and like putting on a mask, all vulnerability fled Suigetsu’s stance and expression. Shark teeth grinned as a lazy swagger returned to his casual movements.

            “You wish. Naw, we had a detailed conversation about Sasuke’s past and his little habits and quirks. It was a real touching moment. We all bonded and all that shit.”

            “What?!” Karin was once more panting for information and gripping Suigetsu by this collar of his shirt, “Tell me now you sonovabitch! Tell me everything! When did he hit puberty? His first wet dream? His first—“

            “And it is beyond time for a topic change.” Tsunade cut in looking green. It was almost the same expression she’d worn when trying to explain Naruto’s reproductive anomaly to him, and it helped Sasuke to distance himself from that disturbing argument. Suigetsu was grinning like a well fed house-cat.

            “So, Kage-sama, what’s the verdict? We off to our deaths, or are you going to pardon us?”

            “I’ll see what can be done. No promises mind you, and your actions will be closely monitored until it can be proven that you are indeed no threat to Konoha, but as of right now, I am inclined to attempt to help you.”

            “Suigetsu’s expression flickered. Sasuke would have never noticed it before, but now it was clear like the liquid he could turn into, the other was rather vulnerable, he just hid it under layers of defensive sarcasm. He had a feeling Naruto and he would get along well.

            “Right, so, now that that’s been established, what are we going to do about Itachi?” Karin asked, rather focused considering the distraction Suigetsu had placed. “He’s a slippery bastard and if we don’t hurry—“

            “Itachi won’t leave the area without Naruto. Our first priority is his safety we will leave this up to the Anbu forces until we can confirm Naruto’s position.” Tsunade said, obviously thinking about the chaos that could ensue otherwise. One step at a time, Sasuke understood that, and he was more concerned with finding the Dobe then his brother at the moment anyway.

            “Naruto… huh. Well that explains the smile at least.” Suigetsu muttered, his grin evil, and Sasuke shot him a narrow glare. He understood the need to regain his bearing, but Sasuke would not idly sit by while Suigetsu riled up Karin again. He didn’t need her to attack Naruto when he came in.

            “What smile?”

            “Oh, before we got you there was this bridge named after him, and—“ Suigetsu broke off when the door flew open unexpectedly. Sasuke turned already expecting the rage that the blonde would be in, Naruto never did take reunions well, he wouldn’t be surprised if he hit him again as a welcome, and heard Tsunade’s bored response.

            “Brat, ever heard of knock…”

It wasn’t Naruto.

            Sakura was at the door, looking flushed and breathing hard, green eyes wide with shocked fear and adrenalin. Sai was at her side expression closed off and blank a sign Sasuke was certain didn’t bode well.

            “Sakura, what’s wrong?” Tsunade was already on her feet, “Is it the baby?”

            Every nerve fired then and Sasuke sat up straighter. Baby? What’s wrong with the baby? It was like ice water down his back and he found himself moving in as well as the pinkette tried to breathe. “What about the baby?”

            Tsunade waved him off, and Sasuke fisted his hands at his sides wanting to argue. It was his damned dobe and child, but he also realized that he was unaware of the details of the past few months, and the urgency obviously held not room for his questions. “Sakura? Has the… is Naruto aware--”

            Sakura shook her head violently in the negative and then finally seemed to regain her voice. “Naruto’s gone!”

The world stopped.

            “We can’t find him anywhere! Kiba and Akamaru can’t even smell him! He’s… he’s not anywhere!”

            Tsunade’s eyes turned cold, a deep icy chill that was unrecognizable to most, but Sasuke remembered it from the evening he’d returned with Naruto unconscious in his arms. It buoyed him, if only slightly as the numb fear and guilt crawled up his throat, tearing at his mind and calm.

Naruto… no… no…no… not Naruto… god no…

            It was Jugo that laid the hand on his shoulder to steady him, and surprisingly it was Karin who spoke up with the most sanity, Suigetsu backing her up silently. “Do you have anything of his he used recently?” Her words brought a moment of confusion as Tsunade seemed to measure each of them up with her eyes.

            “How much can I trust your abilities?”

            “She’s better than any Nin-dog, I’ll tell you that. A true and powerful bitch.”

            “Shove it you H2O freak.” Karin snapped, but her eyes remained focused on Tsunade’s as the golden orbs settled on Sasuke’s own. He nodded briefly her way.

            “Sai, go get Yamato, he should be out looking for Sakura and Naruto as well. We need to move fast.” Her order was followed by a quick nod and again the other was gone. His return meant only one thing. Itachi was already gone. If that was the case they had not time to lose, they had to start tracking him or they’d never find the destination. Where would Itachi take Naruto if…

            Sasuke’s heart froze as his utter and complete stupidity settled over him.

            “Damn it!” He snapped, un caring if the others were around. “I shouldn’t have… fuck, if we’d just stayed at the cave!”

            “What? Boss what are you talking about?” Suigetsu sounded confused, and now that he knew what to listen for, concerned. “We made it in time to be of help, he hasn’t killed him yet, he has to take him back there first—oh! Oh damn… your right.” Suigetsu broke off, also catching on to Sasuke’s thoughts.

            “What the hell are you two talking about?” Tsunade demanded, looking ready to start knocking people into walls.

            “Well, it’s like this,” Suigetsu began as Sasuke allowed himself to wallow in his own utter stupidity. “After we faced this really annoying clay bomber guy—“

            “Deidara?!” Sakura cried out, obviously shocked by their obvious victory as well as providing the information that she had met him, or at least heard of him.

            “Yeah, that was his name. Real weirdo, blew himself up thinking he’d make his point—“

            “Is there one of those to this story?” Tsunade again dragged them back to the present.

            “Oh, right. So, before he blew himself up, he told us where we could find Itachi. It was this weird cave on the coast nearest the Mist Village—that would be my place by the way—“He paused to look at Tsunade before continuing. “He wasn’t there but his Bushin was, and it told us that we had been misled, so we came back here.”

            “… what does any of that have to do with this?” The Hokage looked like she had a large headache.

            “The place was filled with chakra. It was old, musky, but powerful.” Karin piped up. “It made Jugo go into a rage. I don’t know what that place was used for, but it was worse than any lab of Orochimaru’s.”

            That made everyone tremble.

            “… I should have sent a summon here to inform you. We should have stayed there to intercept him in case—“Sasuke realized he was starting to sound bitter and a little hysterical, but he didn’t realize it until Tsunade stepped up and smacked him.

            It wasn’t as hard as the time she’d broken his jaw and fractured his skull, but it was enough to knock him to the floor. “Get ahold of yourself Uchiha.” She towered above him like a mountain, her eyes hard as stone. “I had ordered you home, you were following my order.”

            “But—“ And this time she dragged him up by his shirt front.

            “Sasuke.” Her tone was harsh but compassionate. He got the feeling this was a tone she’d used numerous times on his Dobe. “Itachi would not be foolish enough to return there with Naruto, especially if you knew where to find it. He would not want you to interfere.”

            “But that’s just it, he wants me to see him die!” Sasuke hissed, his eyes burning with the unintended activation of the sharingan. “He wants me to watch him kill everything I have left! He wants me to remember how weak I was! How I was unable to stop him! How—“

            She shook him once with enough force to give him whiplash and it cut off his panicked words. He wasn’t aware of the startled looks of fear, comprehension, and anger on his team’s faces, couldn’t even begin to comprehend how they must be feeling watching their leader fall to pieces and didn’t have the strength to try.

            “Sasuke, I will only say this once, so listen up. Although your impulsiveness is a cause for most of these problems, it has served you well in this instance.” She paused to be certain he was listening before continuing in a steady, stable tone, “A cold weapon, a ninja like your brother, who was nothing but a tool of destruction could have remained and sent a summon, but he would have missed out in the long run. A summon can only move so fast, Naruto would still have been gone and we would have been without Karin's abilities. Naruto, would have been lost and if you are wrong, and Itachi does not return to that place, Naruto would have stood no chance of being saved. You did the right thing. The human thing. Which is more than can be said for Itachi."

            Silence hung in the room for long heavy moments until Sai returned with the Anbu Tsunade had previously sent away—Yamato it would seem and as he had removed his mask Sasuke could now see that it was the man who had replaced Kakashi previously—and they stood at attention facing her. Yamato spoke up first, his eyes taking in everything in a moment.

            “How many teams?” His eyes looked around the room at all those present. He was wise enough to realize that the teams would include those currently occupying the small office. “Sall I get Kakashi?”

            After a moment Tsunade nodded. “Summon Neji, Hinata, Kiba, and Shikamaru as well. We will need their expertise.”

            Yamato nodded and once more departed swiftly.

            “Where do you need us?” Jugo asked, standing tall as he faced Tsunade, and the blonde addressed him directly, finally releasing Sasuke. Jugo immediately stepped up to steady him. He wasn’t sure what to expect or feel, when the rest of team Hebi came up to him acting like a buffer.

They were protecting him.

            It was an odd feeling.

            “I need you all on a team. You will save Naruto by any means necessary, is that understood?”

            Not a single person flinched, though Suigetsu did grin rather viciously. “Understood.”

            “Sasuke.”

Black met gold.

            “Are you prepared to confront your brother? Even if it means allowing someone else to assist you in killing him?’”

Fists clenched tight as memories poured in uninvited.

 

            Blood.

            Screams.

            Betrayal.

            Orange.

            Naruto.

Never again…

 

            Sharingan spun to life.

            “Yes.”

 

A.N. Sorry this is out so late, my exam was on Thursday and I was so tense and nervous I made myself sick, but I PASSED!!!! I now have my wings! *Dances in place* well, Friday I was pinned and I was celebrating with friends so, it is out now! ^-^ Hope you enjoy this chapter and I am diligently working on chapter 21. ^-^ Please review!