A/N: I do not own Naruto. Respectively owned by Masashi Kishimoto. The definition of thunder can be found in Collins English dictionary under American English. Lyrics are Lion- Hollywood Undead.
Sorry for the disappearance but it was much needed. I have decided to edit the entire story as my style of writing has (hopefully) improved. Enjoy.
—S—
It began with a light pitter-patter as the trees swayed with the gentle breeze. As night descended, the drizzles morphed into loud roars while the rain poured in chaotic drops - unforgiving and harsh. The heavens unveil its true potential as it descends its fury on the land.
The wind did not howl. It screamed as it bellowed, tearing leaves from branches. Trees bent and bowed underneath the storm, almost moaning in pain.
White light split caliginous skies as if struggling to unbind itself from the storm, temporarily blinding anyone who dared to look above. Each flash of lightning was followed by a thunderous boom, a deafening sound that shook the moist earth. Children feared the thunder because of the sound it produced, the threatening howls and the way it rolled across the skies. Children did not fear lightning. They did not fear rain. They feared the unknown.
He is born from the storm itself.
Thunder: noun. A threatening, menacing, or extremely vehement utterance.
Thunder is good,
Thunder is impressive;
But it is lightening that does all the work. - Mark Twain
—S—
White knuckles and dry fingers wipe a sweaty forehead, shoulders heave for every shallow breath taken. Fugaku watches on as his youngest son fails yet again to perfect the clan's Jutsu. Each repetitive attempt is met with disappointed stares and heavy sighs. This time is no different.
A memory of a young Itachi breathing fire burns in the back of Fugaku's mind which only causes his concealed anger to grow. The gap between Sasuke and Itachi is wide, it has transformed into an invisible hierarchy with Itachi sitting comfortably on the throne. For he is the crown of the Uchiha clan, the hidden ruby jewel in the centre.
Fists clench. Pathetic.
Silence stretches between them until Fugaku turns his back, making his way towards the Uchiha household.
Cold and cracked.
No words are exchanged. Besides, Sasuke has become accustomed to the view of his father's back. Disappointment is no stranger.
Warm tears threaten to spill past thick eyelashes as he bites his bottom lip roughly. Sasuke leaves with clouded eyes and a trail of blood.
Shinobi don't cry.
He finally perfects the Fireball technique after weeks of breathing out ash and smoke. Sasuke recalls the memory as if it's engraved into his temporal lobe. Once the fire begins to die down and the heat no longer burns his face, his father merely nods, a look of approval glistening in his pupils.
Sasuke soars; an eagle has learnt how to fly.
—S—
Itachi becomes a shadow, a mere glimpse of the man he once used to be. The scars underneath his eyes become more prominent, the tremble in his left hand more evident. He becomes a fine shinobi, the pride of the Uchiha clan- the future clan's leader.
His features begin to disappear from Sasuke's mind, corrosion and anger takes its place. Memories blur until he can no longer remember the texture of his brother's hair or the way his eyes crinkled with joy. Sasuke understands there are politics and there are duties. He recognizes that a shinobi; a man willing to sacrifice his life for the greater good of Konoha must place the Hokage's life and duty above all else. Sasuke understands this, yet, he cannot fathom ever living such a life.
Sasuke's arrogance ends when he realises fire and smoke are two different elements. Diseases and secrets exist, but not within his mind. He believes he knows all and sees all, he knows the risks and sacrifices that accompanies the dream of wanting to be a shinobi.
But he does not.
For Itachi is a simple fracture- a minor indication of the corruption that rots Konoha to its core.
—S—
He is still young when he graduates from the academy, cheeks still swollen from his toddler days. His mother holds back tears as she embraces him openly in public, his face burns with embarrassment. She whispers that he is the apple of her eye, the pride of the family. The needle of the compass tilts and Sasuke is not oblivious to lying.
His teammates are peculiar. To say Sasuke wasn't curious was a lie, to say he was irritated was truth. Sakura immediately latches onto him. Pale fingers intertwine with each other as she shyly asks whether he would like to enjoy his home cooked meal underneath the blooming Sakura tree.
For a moment Sasuke is stunned, knuckles whiten as he grips onto his bento meal with more force than necessary. He wonders whether she has seen the fan engraved into his back, wonders if her invitation will remain open once she has.
Sakura pushes upon noticing his hesitation. "I-I'm Sakura H-Haruno"
A blush spreads across her cheekbones as Sasuke arches an eyebrow.
"Sasuke Uchiha"
The second word is heavy on his tongue.
—S—
Naruto exceeds all of Sasuke's expectations with his stupidity. His chakra control is non-existent. His lack of reading and understanding is evident once he attempts to perform a Jutsu written on a scroll. Naruto is much worse than Sasuke had perceived at the beginning. However Sasuke soon realizes that there is more than meets the eye, even for a person who has inherited one of the most powerful Kekkei Genkai to exist.
Bickering forged their path to friendship. Naruto unveiled the competiveness within Sasuke, unbinding the creature that was long buried within Itachi's shadow. Where Sasuke lacked- Naruto perfected. Where Naruto failed, Sasuke passed. D-ranked missions consisted of weed pulling which constantly ended with a bruised Naruto, a frustrated Sakura and a content Sasuke.
He wonders whether this is how a family must be like. A shattered and hideous (a father who had taken his own life, a mother who had sacrificed herself for her only son) piece of art, when united, creates beauty.
Until one day, the mask cracks.
Naruto's innocence is no secret and neither was his stupidity. Sasuke may have easily ignored the question Naruto asks, but he doesn't.
He can't.
He briefly recalls Sakura's eyes widening and Kakashi shifting from the branch bearing his weight before he rages. Before his fists tremble and eyes morph into crimson, two tomoes spinning wildly in each pupil.
It takes days for Naruto's fractured eye socket to heal, even with the aid of the Kyuubi's chakra. It takes even longer to mend the crack within their friendship. It takes Sasuke weeks for his anger to finally settle. Even longer for Naruto's words to stop ringing in his ears.
"Don't Uchiha clan members usually have one child?"
—S—
Naruto's knees land on rough gravel as he struggles to regain his composure. His limbs are on fire, his muscles burning as he forces his body to go further beyond its boundaries. The creature in his belly groans, eager to unleash and consume. The man hovering above him grins, pupils slightly dilating.
Shame. The boy will end here.
Naruto knows their mission failed the moment his team was ambushed on the bridge. He vaguely remembers a pair of crimson eyes visible in the thick of the mist before his attacker rolled both of them off the bridge, into the river below.
Sweaty palms can only hold onto the rail for so long.
His eyes meet his attacker's. He drinks in the fine details of the man, the tattoos littering his forearms followed by the hideous scar covering the left side of his face. Eyes widen slightly once Naruto notices the hitai-ate hanging from his neck, a simple musical note carved in the middle.
"Pretty, ain't I?" he snickers before his foot meets Naruto's cheek. For a brief moment the wind is knocked out of his lungs and he instantly panics, forcing himself to inhale oxygen. Loud gasps escape bloodied lips as his sight completely darkens. It takes him longer than needed to realise he briefly lost consciousness.
"Tell me" hisses the scarred man, taking large steps to where Naruto's crippled body lay.
"Do you know of the mamba?" he halts besides him, fingers curling in anticipation.
Naruto's jaw clenches.
"Hmm, I guessed not. Konoha never really did train her people the true beauty of our world." He pauses before kneeling. "She is the queen of snakes, the most poisonous of them all. A civilian lasts a mere seven seconds against her venom." He walks around Naruto as if calculating the most effective method to consume him.
"I've made a bet with my fellow teammates that you would probably last a mere ten seconds-" a shrug "-maybe twelve?"
Naruto stiffens.
"I must admit" he turns around as he reaches for something in the distance. "The longer you last, the more amusing it becomes. So really-" he carefully unsheathes a pouch with gloved fingers.
"Am I at a loss?"
The fear gnawing against Naruto's flesh must have been evident because the man's face immediately splits into a grin.
"If only I had brought the creature herself! She truly is a piece of art."
The current grows stronger and soon Naruto is drowning in waves of anxiety and fear. His belly gurgles in pain, a rush of adrenaline suddenly seeps in his veins. But it is fear that keeps him paralysed, deems him useless to stand and defend himself. A needle like object materializes out of thin air as gloved fingers caress the weapon gently as if it was a lover, not an instrument forged to kill.
The large scar on the man's cheek stretches as he grins with excitement.
"All Father, allow the dark magic of the Mamba to flow through my veins and gain strength when needed. For each thought and act is completed to satisfy the Queen of all creatures, the most be-"
What the fuck.
Tanned fingers tremble as he forces his body in a kneeling position. A high pitch ringing suddenly echoes around him, drowning out the insanity and fear. All those endless nights studying and days training in Konoha's sweltering heat, underneath Kakashi's scrutinizing stare, only to allow fear to consume his muscles.
Death.
The man nears closer as Naruto's mind drifts further. He wonders whether the Kyuubi could possibly be poisoned, wonders how long he would survive with the snake's poison lurking in his blood.
Black suddenly fills his vision and Naruto is certain this is the end. This is the inevitable end and soon enough the best of his memories will flash before his eyes. He inhales deeply, holds his breath and waits.
There is no pain.
No begging. No screaming.
"Get up dobe"
Naruto chokes as his lungs beg for oxygen before he allows himself to inhale.
"Am I in hell?" his voice is hoarse but his words are carried with the breeze.
Sasuke's chuckle forces his eyes to snap open. Green fills his vision before he blinks and recognizes the canopy of trees sheltering his body. His vision sharpens and his memories come flooding to life. He twists his body up and allows himself to breathe, to focus.
You're alive.
His gaze flickers towards his teammate and his relief immediately disintegrates.
The magicianis face down in the gravel, both arms bent at angles that should be impossible for the human body. Sasuke is kneeling above him, shoulders heaving violently as he struggles to catch his breath. Even at this angle Naruto can clearly see the needle embedded in the soft flesh of his forearm. Fingers loosen around the kunai as it crumples into the earth with an echoing clang.
"No" his voice is raspy.
7
6
"No" he forces himself to stand.
5
4
"No" his vision is blurring, mind shattering.
3
2
—S—
The chirping sound of birds slowly subsides as the Chidori in Kakashi's palm begins to evaporate. His posture is rigid, knuckles clenched and breathing shallow. Small ripples form in the pool of blood surrounding him, no longer oozing from the bloated bodies lying on the ground. His mind drifts to a time and place where visions like this would result in nightmares and delusions. Nights spent isolated on empty rooftops, underneath the twinkling stars. Konoha is the village hidden in the forest, consisted of large mountains and clear lakes.
Konoha never became home.
With a heavy heart and a splintered mind, he disappears with a poof.
Naruto is the forest that survived the storm; broken trees and shattered bones. He is the ocean that consumes villages; over flooded rivers and blurry eyes.
His grip on Sasuke is harsh, nails dig into his flesh as he babbles incoherent words. Kakashi has no doubt Naruto is begging, sobbing to any deity.
It takes Kakashi a fraction of a second to take over. He kneels near the Uchiha as his fingers automatically feel for the soft flesh at the side of his throat. The low humming of his heartbeat is gentle against his fingertips, a flicker of hope bursting in his chest. Naruto immediately falls silent once he notices the relief on Kakashi's face.
"S-sensei?"
He focuses on performing a series of hand signals as a green glow immediately forms in the centre of his palm, he gently lays both hands on Sasuke's chest. An old and buried memory suddenly forms itself within Kakashi's mind.
A broken Obito laying on the floor.
A blood soaked Rin.
Dry hands and the scent of soap. Nothing conceals the stench of death.
His student's near presence and swift flare of chakra snaps him from the past. Only then does he notice the obvious tremble in his hands.
Naruto hesitantly strokes strands of Sasuke's hair. His face is too pale, too cold. Skin dry to the touch. Naruto is desperate to drown into the Sharingan and feel the warmth under his fingertips.
"Please" he whispers a chant like prayer.
"Please"
Sakura's eyes are wide, jaw visibly bruised and swollen. She lingers near Sasuke's body; eager to comfort her teammate but afraid to go near a hysteric Naruto. She intends to call out Naruto's name, wants to snap him out of his spiralling madness and scream at him to focus. To allow their Sensei time to heal and save Sasuke.
She freezes mid-step, stopping just in time.
Naruto's nails suddenly sharpen, his scar like whiskers deepen as the earth groans underneath his knees. Bones creak and muscles tear in anger. For the first time in over a decade, the beast unveils its true strength. Skin becomes fur and teeth become canines. Man transforms into beast and Naruto retreats. The air around the creature transforms into an orange-like glow, forming a protective shell around his body.
Snap
Canines bare in defence.
Thump
Thump
Naruto's world goes dark.
—S—
I am a lion born from things you cannot be.
Sasuke knows days has passed since their last mission in the Land of Waves has gone wrong. The ache in his muscles and the fire in his chest indicates so. Although he knows this, his mind remains in a state of panic when he first awakens. The chemicals in his brain burst to life as his flight or fight mode activates, and just like any Uchiha, he chooses to fight.
Calloused hands grip his wrists onto his chest as he thrashes about. He immediately attempts to activate his Sharingan. Instead he is rewarded with dark rotating specks, and for a split second he believes he has gone blind. His throat is thick as he wheezes for each attempt to breathe.
Inhale
"Sasuke, calm down"
He immediately goes rigid once his senses come rushing to him. Pastel walls and pristine curtains. The recognizable smell of disinfectant and the beeping of a heartbeat monitor.
"Breathe"
Inhale.
Exhale.
In the depth of his belly is an uncontrollable fire, igniting his throat and forcing him into a series of violent coughs. Sasuke struggles to catch his breath as his vision momentarily blurs. He finds himself panting, gripping onto the sheets cocooning his body. Hours seems to pass before his throat goes lax, the burning desire settled.
"Feeling better, Otouto?"
Something in his chest shifts.
Itachi breathes out a chuckle, shaking his head slightly.
A glimmer of something flickers within Itachi's gaze but it immediately vanishes. His armour is solid and cold as it briskly slips back into place and Sasuke is back to staring into his brother's perpetual abyss. The scars beneath his eyes seem to have deepened since the last time he has seen him. How long has it been?
Sasuke roughly clears his throat as the burning sensation returns again, secretly glad as it shatters the uncomfortable tension in the room.
Itachi silently stands. "How are you feeling?"
Pupils widen slightly, the shock appears momentarily before Sasuke shrugs. His jaw unclenches but no sound produces, instead he is rewarded with another coughing fit.
"It will take you a few hours to speak. The poison seemed to have impaired your senses." Itachi's voice is soft and only then does Sasuke notice why the lights in the room are dim. He appears by the bed and extends his arm, offering him a foam cup of water.
Sasuke breathes out a sigh of thanks before sipping the liquid. Itachi's ghost of a smile is barely visible, he has always understood.
"You've been out for four days. Kakashi barely got you here in time." There is an edge to his tone but Sasuke is too drained to solve the puzzle his brother has created.
His grip on the plastic cup briefly loosens.
"A team from Sound attacked your team, Tsunade-Sama said you've been poisoned with an extreme rare substance."
Itachi eyes the closed window intently before continuing.
"She could not believe you had survived such a large dose of the poison. If she had not witnessed another person survive a similar attack, she would have assumed your body entered cardiac arrest."
Itachi speaks proudly, as if conquering death is such an achievement. (How many times has Itachi come back from the dead?)
Sasuke says nothing. Lips pressed against the rim of the cup.
A moment passes.
"Naruto?" his voice is hoarse and the word alone causes him to dry heave. Itachi waits until Sasuke catches his breath, his hand forming smooth circular motions onto his back.
"He's fine"
Sasuke does not miss the crimson glint in his brother's eyes.
A small crow claws at the glass window.
Do you see a lion when you look inside of me?
A/N:I enjoy writing this fic but felt like some parts needed to be rewritten.
This is a slash fic. This will become angst in its most pure form. This fic will dwell into mental illness and ultimately, the effects it has on certain characters. Sasuke may be a little OOC solely based on the fact that his family are alive. I truly believe he would have been much different. (I refuse to accept Tsunade's dream sequence that depicts Sasuke as an arrogant, power hungry boy even though his family is alive).
Neither Naruto nor Sasuke will become these undefeated gods. Sasuke's strength is discovered within lightning so he may sound overpowered during specific scenes but really, every act has its consequences.
I'm not a fan of Sakura but I will try to do her character some justice. In the beginning she is purposely depicted as the 'clingy fangirl'. However she will eventually become an independent strong character. I want to give room for growth and character development.
I vaguely remember an episode where team 7 first leave the gates of Konoha and the first enemy they encounter with, Naruto completely freezes. The part where he is faced with imminent danger is meant to 'pay tribute' to that scene. Naruto is stubborn and capable of fighting enemies stronger than him, however this is his very first time coming face to face with real danger and he ultimately shuts down.