Swallowed alive
warnings for mentions of non-con (kinda), angst, blood, yaoi.
Disclaimer: disclaimed.
When Sasuke leaves Konoha, many think he went willingly. But Sasuke is an Uchiha and as dark as the souls of their family be, he values family. Team 7 is family and family does not betray family. It's a mission, assigned by ANBU and Orochimaru must never know.
He will betray his family, in all but blood. He will betray them and, as Itachi did many years ago, he will sacrifice his heart.
It hurts as Sasuke must pretend to hate him, the annoying and loving and downright stupid boy he loved- the one who loved another, he is sure. It hurts to see the girl he loves as a sister - the one who can never know- in tears as he leaves.
Orochimaru gives him only power and nightmares, nothing else. Kakashi was like a father or perhaps like Itachi, broken and shattered and self sacrificing. Orochimaru is a snake, in every aspect. He loves pain and for the sake of the mission, Sasuke gives it up.
When the snake Sannin takes him, there are no soothing words or gentle caresses. It is fast, it is bloody and painful beyond anything he has ever known.
He doesn't care about Itachi, because he has become Itachi. He has killed and lied and sacrificed to keep them safe.
He knows the truth now, about Danzo and Itachi and his father. He knows and he remembers Shisui saying to him once that to Itachi, he was everything.
He kills Orochimaru as he least expects it. He is still half buried in him as he dies, eyes wide with shock and hatred and as they fade, Sasuke promises himself he will go home. His mission is over and he can't do this anymore.
He goes to Akatsuki first. He finds Itachi as he coughs up blood and his mangekyou spins in his eyes, identical to the one in Sasuke's eyes.
Itachi asks the question and he answers it after a while.
'Myself. I killed my heart, so no one could touch it ever again.'
Itachi smiles and his teeth glisten with blood. He nods slowly and uses Sasuke's shoulder to push himself up.
'Otouto. It is time to go home.'
They walk for six days to reach Konoha. They don't even get past the very first chuunin team. The team doesn't even consider fighting and flees to protect Konoha.
They arrive six hours later and the walls of Konoha are armed. Naruto stands as the head of ANBU, Sakura as the Chief Medic and Kakashi as good old Kakashi. They stop out the front of the gates and when Sasuke thinks all is lost, Itachi raises a hand and says one sentence.
'Ravens fly where doves die.'
Sasuke catches in and raises his hand next to Itachis'.
'The dove sheds its wings like a snake.'
Tsunade relaxes. Sakura, Kakashi and Naruto relax minutely.
Tsunade makes the announcement. It is greeted by shock and disbelief. A few shinobi get rowdy but are silenced with a look from the Hokage. Her voice is powerful and it seems to tremble every building.
'The last Uchiha are welcome in Konoha. Welcome them not with hatred but the doves cry.'
Itachi detaches his hand from Sasuke as Naruto approaches and Sasuke is confused. Then their bodies collide and mouths entangle and he understands.
Naruto was never his.
He never will be.
Uchiha Sasuke had been swallowed alive, many times. First by life, by pain and by fear. By a snake and a hug and loneliness.
Sasuke never wanted to live.
Because the darkness of the inside is much easier.
AN:ummm, dont kill me? Hope you like it!