Full Summary: Sasuke had never questioned his resolve to gain power and to kill his brother. Yet when he confronts the dent in his pride after the Invasion of Konoha, he learns a few new things. One of them being Common Sense. Armed with some sympathy, he tries to build the team of misfits into a united force against Itachi. Yet what happens when the Akatsuki come and successfully claim their target?
This is an Alternate Universe starting from the end of the Invasion of Konoha arc. There will be OOCness but like I said, it's character development. Unless you want Sasuke to become a crazy-prick then I'll leave you to your flames.
There will be no yaoi in this, in fact, this will be completely Gen unless someone tells me a good reason why I should pair anyone up with anyone.
Oh! yeah, and it will mainly be Sasuke POV or Naruto POV
Warnings: ...T for swearing I think. That's about it. Oh! And an excessive use of the words Dead-last and Bastard by our two protagonists. Also there will be NO Japanese phrases used in this fic unless they are honorifics. (ie: Ero-sennin= Pervy Sage) (ie. Tsunade-shishou=Master Tsunade) (ie. Dobe=Dead-last, Loser, Idiot)
Disclaimer: The shadow of horrified and furious fans keeps me from taking the reins of Naruto from Kishimoto. Only Kishi can stand the shit that comes from you guys when he trolls.
The blinding morning light pierced through sheer curtains and elicited a groan from a sleeping Sasuke Uchiha. Blinking away the fatigue, Sasuke's mind drifted to the reason why his morning wasn't as welcoming as usual. Memories of Blood, Sand, Monsters, Red Chakra, A-cocky-grin-on-one-beat-up-but-moving-blonde, and finally, his complete inability to stand up against someone the Dead-last defeated raced through his mind. His thoughts stopped at the mention of his uselessness.
How? He thought, How was the Dead-last, the Loser, able to defeat someone I wasn't? Why didn't I have enough power to actually take him down? He was a monster; how was the Idiot able to keep up with him? Why is he progressing so far and leaving me behind?
After stopping the invasion of Konoha—Naruto stopped it, you did nothing, his mind said—, he adamantly refused medical help and internally debated the Dead-last's victory over the sand genin. Until the Third's funeral, Sasuke's mind was repeatedly brought back to the fight and his participation in it. It was later in the evening that Sasuke couldn't stall any longer and went to find the object of his anxiety. For someone that had lost a lot of chakra, blood, and had extensive injuries, the Dead-last was hard to find. He wandered and internally brooded well into the night. Kakashi had been no help either; his nose in his perverted book and a quick dismissal before even hearing out his demand left him stuck. The Dead-last was nowhere to be found and he needed his answers—demanded his answers. But even spending another two hours out searching didn't help his situation. So with great irritation, Sasuke made his way into his apartment and decided that tomorrow he would get his answers or someone was going to get battered. Badly.
That is how Sasuke found himself skipping breakfast and out the door five minutes after waking.
Today, he thought, Today, I will get my answers. I'll know what made him so powerful after such a short time. I'll be able to achieve his progress and I won't get left behind. Not again.
Yesterday night he, in all his haste and stubbornness, forgot to check the one place where the Dead-last was most likely to be. Sasuke didn't even remember the place of Naruto's obsession until he coincidentally trudged past it at the same time a loud slurp was heard from inside.
Sasuke steeled his gaze and strode in. He filled the small stand with killing intent that made the old man and young woman at the counter shrink. An idiotic mob of blonde hair was still unaware of his presence.
After all that happened, how can he be so nonchalantly eating? Sasuke thought furiously.
A scowl marred his face as he took in the Dead-last's usual garb. The neon-orange that the Dead-last donned was just as bad as the Irritating Fangirl's bright red dress. Yet that wasn't the most frustrating thing about his outfit. Sasuke remembered seeing far too much of the Dead-last's neon-orange back that day. That colour was simply there again; mocking him. Reiterating what his mind subconsciously berated himself for.
"Hmm?" A mumble came from the Dead-last as Sasuke sub-consciously raised his killing intent to suffocating levels.
Seeing no need to prolong the excruciatingly troublesome situation, Sasuke grabbed the Dead-last's collar and tugged. Hard.
"Argh!" A sound made from the Dead-last choking rung in his ears, "Sasuke, you bastard! What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to kill me?"
He narrowed his eyes and dragged him out of the stand with immense force; he didn't want to deal with this this early. Sasuke ignored the Dead-last's complaints, struggling, and irate glare as he made his way to a random abandoned rooftop.
He harshly dropped the Dead-last on his ass and stood over him in an intimidating pose. Activating Sharingan, he stared menacingly into the grating crystal blue of his adversary's eyes.
"You. Answers. Now." Sasuke stated with a tone that spoke 'no arguing'. He hoped the blonde idiot would understand that if he didn't get what he wanted, there was no way he was going to get away unharmed. At the same time, he scanned the roof's terrain and mentally calculated where to throw his ninja wires should the Dead-last not co-operate.
"Huh?" Came the irksome reply from the confused blonde.
Sasuke wanted to bash his head in. No one but the Dead-last could be that dense. It was simply as if he didn't understand the situation he was in. Sasuke was so tempted so simply take his ninja wires and tie the idiot up with his mouth shut, but that wouldn't answer his questions. Taking a fist-full of the blonde's jacket and pulling him level to his eyes, Sasuke elaborated in an annoyed and clipped tone.
"Let me explain to you what your dim mind can't comprehend, Dead-last," Sasuke scowled deeply, "I want to know where you got your power from that day. I want to know why you were able to stop that monster and I was unable to! I want to know how you, who started out as the weakest of the idiots, managed to—" Sasuke cut himself off. 'Surpass me' was supposed to come out of his mouth but there was no way in hell he was ever going to say it out loud, let alone admit it to himself.
"And why the hell would I tell you, Bastard? You almost choked me, dragged me around Konoha, dumped me on this shitty building, and worst of all, you made me leave my Ramen unfinished!" Naruto retorted, "Are you crazy? Why the hell would I do what you want me to?"
Sasuke scoffed. "Maybe you don't understand, Dead-last, I am not asking you; I am threatening you. If you're continuously that stubborn, I will draw blood," he threatened as he brandished a kunai.
"Bastard! Why the hell do you want to know that badly anyways? What the fuck are you; a power-obsessed social retard? Oh wait, you are!" Naruto grinned, "Besides, that power comes from my hard work and dedication to my Way of the Ninja! Gaara was hurting Sakura-chan and was about to hurt you! Even if you're a prick, you're still me and Sakura-chan's teammate! I'd never let him hurt you!"
Sasuke began to get more irritated as the Dead-last continued his rant. He was almost about to burst a vein at the mention of his 'Way of the Ninja'. Growling with exasperation, Sasuke retorted.
"Don't peg me for an idiot, Dead-last; as if anyone could ever get stronger from protecting others! Only suicidal idiots and martyrs go that route and I need to get power without dying in the process."
Naruto growled back in response.
"Fuck you! Don't insult Old Man Hogake! He protected us with his life! The other Hokages did too! And they were the strongest in the village!"
"Look where that got them! The Third died yesterday. Tell me, where is the strength in dying? Orochimaru, on the other hand, fights for power and his own life. He was able to take down the Hokage and come out alive. Protecting others makes you weak!" Sasuke countered.
Sasuke didn't think that the Hokage was weak, nor did he ever condone disrespecting the Hokages, but he thought that the death of the Third Hokage was rather pathetic for someone claimed as the strongest ninja in Konoha.
Blue eyes widened at the proclamation. The Dead-last fisted Sasuke's shirt furiously and stared back with a feral look.
"What the hell, Bastard! How can you say that about Old Man Hokage! Next thing I know, you're off joining that Snake Bastard!"
Sasuke huffed. "As if I would ever put myself in the service of another. However, Dead-last, unlike what your naïve mind can't comprehend; I am willing to do anything for power. I have something I need to do and nothing will dissuade me."
He could feel his previously retracted Cursed Seal pulse in response to his statement. What the fuck? He thought, Unlike last time, this feels oddly...euphoric. Sasuke turned his attention to the furiously confused blonde; pushing his hands off his shirt and smirked as he angrily stumbled up.
"You're fucking crazy, you know! Who throws away everything for god-damn power? What's got you so damn obsessed anyways?" The blonde questioned.
"Heh, Dead-last, you must have some memory problems if you've forgotten my ambition of killing my brother." Sasuke retorted. How the hell did we get so off-topic? He must be avoiding my questions; not bad for an idiot, he inwardly thought. "Now stop stalling and give me my answers!"
"What the fuck do you have against your brother that makes you this power hungry?" Naruto raged.
Sasuke felt uncontrollable rage coursing underneath his slipping control of his emotions. How dare he ask about that? And why the hell doesn't he know about it already? Does he live under a fucking rock? Sasuke was already losing his composure and his emotions forced him to answer. Unbeknownst to him, his Cursed Seal was pulsing erratically again; secretly adding fuel to the fire.
"Let me tell you a story about an event that shook Konoha for years and changed me for the better," Sasuke started his biography, "Once there were two brothers…"
For the better part of his monologue, Sasuke was engulfed in flashbacks and rusty and forgotten feelings that he thought were locked away in a deep part of his mind. The rest was spent measuring the Idiot's reaction to his childhood—which he found rather annoying. The Loser was horribly confused at the direction of his tale. Nonetheless, that would change later on.
As Sasuke lost himself in rage when he told of the massacre, he didn't notice the Cursed Seal pulsing furiously and expand by a tiny margin. He also didn't notice Naruto's expression change into one of sympathy and understanding.
For a few moments, Sasuke remained silent after finishing his tale; lost in his memories, contemplating, reaffirming.
"Sasuke," an unusally soft voice broke the silence. Sasuke noted the lack of the word 'bastard' used by the Dead-last, "I-I think I understand why you're doing this—but that doesn't mean you have to keep living in the past like that! Sure, your brother did something horrible, but that doesn't mean you can't forgive him! He's your brother! Don't you value him in your memories? Do you really have to kill him?"
Suddenly, something in Sasuke snapped. The thought of forgiving his brother for killing his clan, his family, his hope and naivety, and his own future was outrageous! The Dead-last dare insult him and claim he understood! How pretentious could he get? Sasuke was reminded of all the people that offered fake words and pity to him after the mass burial of his clan. He couldn't stop his anger and felt a familiar burn engulfing his neck.
"You dare!" He shrieked; unexpectingly lauching himself at the blonde and knocking him back with a hard punch, "Don't claim you understand me, Dead-last. You could never understand losing everything in your life by the person you trusted the most! You're an orphan! You could never miss what you never had!" Sasuke gaze turned dark, "He took everything away from me. He told me to live in hatred and independence. He told me only an Uchiha can kill another Uchiha and I will! I will avenge my clan—my fallen parents and relatives-! I will deal out vengeance with my hand to his heart! It is the duty I swore to do years ago and I will never be dissuaded."
He watched the Dead-last growl and launch himself at him. Already irritated at telling the Loser his life story, he swiftly caught the offending fist and knocked the Dead-last on his back, forcing wind out of his lungs. Sasuke quickly straddled the Dead-last, enabling him no movement, and grasped his neck in a choking hold.
"Now that you've wasted enough of my time, I expect you to answer my questions," Sasuke smirked dangerously, "If you don't, I could always implement the method He advised to gain more power; to kill the one closest to you. You are my friend, right Dead-last?" Sasuke raised his left hand. His fingers in a piercing position situated directly above the blonde's heart.
The Loser's eyes widened. Sasuke observed countless emotions flash through them until one settled in the Dead-last's gaze, turning the once pure blue eyes into sinister crimson ones. Rage accumulated onto the Dead-last's face and, with strength that seemed to come from nowhere, kicked Sasuke's form away from him.
Sasuke noted the familiar red chakra now leaking out of the Dead-last's figure. It embodied everything sinister and evil. Suddenly, Sasuke was brought into a flashback of their fight with the Sand Siblings. He remembered the same foreboding feeling coming from Naruto when he was fighting off the Sand freak. Sasuke was satisfied, angry, and apprehensive at the same time.
"That's it!" Sasuke announced, "That is the power you have! That is the power I need! I'll be able to defeat him with it! Dead-last, tell me how you gained that power!" Another string of black flames crawled up to his face. Sasuke, still oblivious, thought nothing of his accentuated lust for power.
The Dead-last's face held a horrified expression. Is he scared of me? Or is it because of something else? There must be more to this power than I thought; how did he acquire it anyways? Sasuke waited impatiently for a reply as he noted the Idiot's fleeting expressions, all apprehensive about giving out his much needed information.
"That's…confidential," The Dead-last stated simply.
Anger coursed through his blood. Feeling impulsively frustrated, Sasuke decided to beat the Idiot to near-death until he answered truthfully. What is there so special about him? He internally seethed as he closed in on the blonde, Why does he hold this power and I don't? I'm the one who needs it! Pushing every ounce of his anger into his punches, he easily dispelled all the Shadow Clones momentarily created by the Dead-last.
Just as he was about to kick the Idiot in the chest, the red chakra was channeled once more and suddenly, his target was a few meters beside him. Surprised and angry at the fact that the Red Chakra had helped Naruto again, he started to become more aggressive and erratic in his attacks. More Shadow Clones were called up and Sasuke found himself irritated to no end; was he too weak to even fight properly? Dispelling the countless number of blondes racing after him only served to frustrate him more. Sparing a glance at the Idiot, he noticed he wasn't a bit tired despite the amount of chakra he consumed.
How is it possible to have that much chakra? I bet that Red Chakra is related to this. I need it too! Sasuke thought greedily.
At the breaking point of his sanity—his breaking point for patience was long overrun-, Sasuke called upon his own chakra to form a concentrated ball of lightening in his left hand. He tore through the Shadow Clones with ease and speed.
Stopping in front of the leader of the dispersed Shadow Clones, Sasuke glared menacingly. Lifting up the Chidori that was still activated in his hand, he threatened the blonde in front of him.
"Listen, Dead-last, I just destroyed all of your Shadow Clones in an instant. Don't bother making new ones unless you want to piss me off. I'd suggest you start to fight seriously or you'll end up with a hole where your heart used to be."
Preparing to strike at the Dead-last, he closed the distance between them and was about to tear off his arm when something clenched around his wrist. He was disabled and his Chidori sputtered out in his hand. There was Red Chakra pooling around his wrist and he could feel it burning off his skin. What the hell is this stuff?
"Bastard," Sasuke whipped his head up to meet the Dead-last's troubled gaze, "do you really mean it? Would you actually kill me to get this power?"
"Yes," Sasuke didn't hesitate in his response, though he noted that his voice sounded rather dark and unfamiliar.
Suddenly, he was knocked on his back in a flash. His body was pinned to the rooftop and, under the amazing strength provided from the Red Chakra to the blonde, was unable to move. Damn it! Why? This fucking power should be mine! He stared defiantly into the eyes of his opponent and was surprised to find them clear of all red; the eyes forming the colour of sky once more.
"Heh, bastard," Naruto started in a surprisingly contemplative voice, "if I could give this power to you, I would. It's not something I'm proud of; it's more of a curse than a gift if you ask me. This 'power' is something I can't share, it's impossible to share. I don't willingly use this 'power'; it works its way into my system forcefully when I'm too emotional. Besides," Naruto grimanced, "you wouldn't want it either. It's too evil."
Sasuke was surprised at the genuine despair in the Dead-last's tone. He thought the Dead-last would brag about his power then purposely keep it from him just to piss him off. There was an odd amount of relief that flooded his mind, yet that couldn't counter-balance the frustration he felt by the Idiot's response. His Cursed Seal was now spreading onto his back sporadically.
"Don't think I can't trump it. Unlike you, Dead-last, I have more than enough will power to take on the dark and bury it with me," Sasuke stated sinisterly, "Didn't I already say that I'd do anything for power? Since your power is unattainable, I'll kill you and acquire my Mangekyou Sharingan. Anything to fulfil my duty."
He raised his killing intent and brought strength into his body. Still unable to fight off the figure holding him down, he drew more power. Desperately trying to prove himself, he didn't realize the source of the ominous power he channeled. With no limiters, the Curse Seal now spread to the better half of his face; enveloping his left eye. There was a power-trance that slowly brought Sasuke under its influence, whispering suggestions of blood and death. Just as he was about to tear off a limb to get out of the Dead-last's hold, a wavering voice broke his trance.
"Sasuke!" the Dead-last shouted in surprise, "What the fuck is happening to your eye? It's freaking black! Bastard, are you okay?"
Sasuke's mind slowly unraveled when he heard that statement. Cursed Seal? He thought in confusion, It was activated all this time?
His previous actions were replayed in his mind. Suddenly, the thought of killing the Dead-last seemed less than intriguing.
What the hell? Was I under its influence this entire time? Sasuke internally raged. He hated being controlled. The moment in the Forest of Death was a prime example. The entire time, he was unable to control himself, fueled the Cursed Seal. The fact that Sakura had gotten to witness his weakness was a prime factor. He hated not bring able to control his intentions and emotions. For all he knew, Itachi had been unable to control himself and snapped. Not to mention, an avenger couldn't forsake his goal for the will of another, after all.
"Hey, bastard!" The Dead-last shouted, "Are you there?"
Sasuke brought himself out of his state of confusion. The very loud proclamation made by the Dead-last sobered him enough to reel in his emotions.
"So Bastard, what the hell is with your eye?"
Sasuke cringed. He remembered telling Sakura to keep knowledge of his Cursed Seal to herself. At the time, he didn't want anymore people to know of the weakness he acquired.
If someone had asked before, Sasuke would've coldly denied all evidence towards even having a Cursed Seal. However, he felt a semblance of sympathy after the Idiot told him of his own rather cursed power. If the Dead-last had admitted something deprivating to him, then he would be willing to do the same-if only out of pride. Steadying himself, he took a deep breath and, for the first time in his life, admitted his weakness to someone else.
"This is a Cursed Seal," he stated, "When that Orochimaru confronted us in the Forest of Death, he bit me and applied this seal to my neck. Apparently, this seal forces foreign emotions into my head and...changes my chakra."
"What?" The blonde shouted, "And no one found out until now?"
Sasuke sighed in exasperation. The Dead-last was probing too much for his own good.
"Actually, Sakura had always known," 'oh, how I hated that', he inwardly brooded, "and Kakashi was the one that sealed it after the preliminaries."
"What?" The blonde screeched, giving Sasuke a headache, "Why am I the last one to know?"
The conversation was getting too tiring and useless for Sasuke to deal with. There were more important matters-such as retaining his own state of mind and, after that, training-to take care of.
"Look, you don't need to know anymore. Now, get off! I need to get this damn seal resealed!" He yelled.
"Hell no!" The Dead-last yelled back, "I don't give a damn about your hickey-"
"Hey!"
"-sending you secret messages from that pedophile! Before you leave and turn back into an ignorant-and-cold-social-retard, I need you to get one thing straight!"
Sasuke, still grumbling about the 'hickey' remark huffed in the Dead-last's face.
"What? Going to keep on lecturing me on the importance of throwing yourself to the enemy for a bunch of civilians?" He mocked, "Or is it more shit about your Way of the Ninja."
"No, Bastard!" The Dead-last grumbled, "I'm here to remind you that we're on a team; we're teammates! I bet you didn't even want to tell Sakura or Kakashi-sensei about your stupid hickey."
Sasuke didn't disagree, though he was more than annoyed at the 'hickey' remark being used again.
"Argh! You're such a social retard, you know? We have teammates for a reason! Remember what Kakashi-sensei said in the beginning?"
Sasuke faintly remembered their teacher lecturing them about comrades—or something.
"Well, I'm happy you don't seem to want to kill me anymore, but that doesn't mean you're much better of a teammate. We're supposed to rely on each other and push through our troubles as a team! We're united! Instead of almost fucking killing me, you could've gone to Kakashi-sensei for more training or asked me to train with you!"
"Dead-last, please. Kakashi is too lazy to teach anyone anything and who said you would help me get stronger?" Sasuke retorted.
"Hey! You're the one that chased me down because I was getting 'too strong' or whatever. Besides, teams have advantages! Three or four people are always more powerful than one! Why don't you just strengthen up with us?"
"Ha!" Sasuke laughed in ridicule, "This team, powerful? Kakashi may be a 'World Famous Ninja' but he's way too lazy. Sakura is a freaking Fangirl for crying out loud. You're the Dead-last that miraculously gained some ounce of power that managed to outdo me. You think our team can 'rise and conquer'?"
"Now hold on a minute. Kakashi-sensei might be lazy but he's a good teacher! He always protects his comrades; remember the Land of Waves? And Sakura is really good at chakra control! Besides, you're the one that turned her into a Fangirl; why don't you find a why to turn her back? And I am your rival!" The Dead-last announced.
"Mmm," Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Look, Bastard, think of it like this. When we do manage to come together and become all powerful, we can take down your brother together! That's four times the success rate! If you do it by yourself, there's no one to support you. Have faith in your teammates, Bastard, we're genin; we aren't supposed to be all powerful, yet.
'The Dead-last is surprisingly intuitive about things like this,' Sasuke thought surprised, 'He actually makes a valid point.' He couldn't doubt the common sense of uniting as a team to take down one person. Yet—as he pictured their current team in his head-, there was a lot to improve on. 'But we are still genin. He still needs to die, but it doesn't have to be right now.'
Sighing, Sasuke decided to consider the Dead-last's suggestions. Hasty decisions meant bad outcomes and he needed good preparation for confronting Him.
"I'll consider it," Sasuke grumbled, "Now get off, Dead-last!"
"Ah!" the Loser announced, "There's one last thing I need to get through your ice fortress of a head."
"Dead-last, you said there was only one thing," Sasuke said irritatedly; through clenched teeth.
"That! That is exactly what I'm talking about!" The Dead-last exclaimed, "Every time you talk to me, you're always like 'Dead-last this, Loser that' and I'm tired of it! I bet you even call me that in your head! If we're actually going to be a team, you gotta stop calling me names! Acknowledge me for god sakes!"
"Hn. How does this improve our so called 'teamwork'," Sasuke questioned.
"Uh, well…look, just stop being a bastard and do it!"
Sasuke almost scoffed.
"How about this, Dead-last," He emphasized that label simply to piss the blonde off, "I'll consider acknowledging you if you start to acknowledge me as well."
The Dead-last was clearly confused at this, "Acknowledge you? What the hell do you mean? I already do! You're always better than me at everything! Everyone else says so too! I mean, I even look up to y-" he cut himself off before Sasuke was able to hear the complete sentence. Despite that, Sasuke could clearly see what the Dead-last was about to unknowingly admit.
'It seems like my previously errant desire to prove myself wasn't really necessary,' he thought in slight embarrassment. Sasuke suddenly smirked.
"Well, Dead-last," emphasis again, "you always call me a bastard and I think that's pretty degrading for someone you have admitted to look up to."
"That's cheap," The Dead-last grumbled in embarrassment, "I-I see your point and I will try to."
"Glad to have worked this out," Sasuke said in annoyance, "Now that this is over, can you finally get off?"
"Ahaha," The Idiot chuckled sheepishly as he stood up and offered Sasuke a hand.
Sasuke was about to refuse the hand when he thought of the fairly long lectures they went through today. Contemplating for a few seconds, Sasuke decided to acknowledge his teammate's arguments—at the very least—and reached for the offered assistance.
A cheerful blonde merrily made his way to his apartment in the late evening. Humming a random tune, he paused and reflected on the past day's events.
Today was a good day, He thought-and in good reason, The morning was a bit harsh. The basta-Sasuke almost choked me and couldn't wait until I finished my ramen to go yell at me. My poor ramen.
He dumped me in the middle of nowhere and decided to be all power-obsessed. Then he demanded to know about the Nine-tails, like some damn princess! Princess Uchiha; good insult, Naruto noted, I was about to have a nervous breakdown until the Nine-tails actually talked to me!
Heh, that human wanted to have my power and I decided to give him a sample. You should be thankful, human, I did you a favour, the Nine-tails added in his mind.
It talked again! Naruto shouted internally in surprise, how did you even get in my mind? The seal's supposed to be fullproof!
Don't DARE talk to me like that; you are a meager HUMAN, the Nine-tails raged, now continue with your monologue; I am in need of some entertainment.
Naruto huffed. The new voice in his head was starting to become annoying. It was also so very much like Princess Uchiha. I should probably tell Kakashi-sensei about this, Naruto stated hesitantly, On second thought, maybe later.
Ha! You humans are funny! Your type don't like to 'practive what you preech', is it not?
Naruto slammed his hand against a hard surface in embarrassment, Arg! Shut up, Stupid Fox! I'll rely on them more...later. I bet the Ba-Sasuke is thinking about what I said-Oh yeah, my monologuing.
So after I smacked some sense into the-Sasuke, we ran into Kakashi-sensei who told us we were going to help restore the village tomorrow. It'll be awesome! Helping everyone out! By then, it was about five in the evening. I went to Ichiraku's and ordered fifteen bowls of ramen as a reward for getting through to th-Sasuke. Old man Teuchi actually gave me half-off because I was dragged out by a 'scary ninja' and left half of my ramen. I can't believe they used 'scary ninja' to describe Sasuke. 'Brooding-social-retard' is more like it. Now, I'm basking in the moonlight and the afterglow of my wonderous ramen! Life's good.
Your pathetic existance is pathetic, the Nine-tails stated boredly, to show such excitement for a human meal is really pathetic.
Shut up, you Stupid Fox! Naruto thought, then slammed into a light post in his lack of attention.
Ha! Human you entertain me. I'll let that comment go. However, in the future you shall address me as Lord Nine-tails, the Magnificent and Terrifying Nine-tails or Your Greatness.
Naruto's internal quarrel with his tenant continued until the blonde made it to his lack-luster apartment. He flopped on his creaky bed in exhaustion and frustration. All the while mumbling curses about 'Stupid Demon Foxes and their demands' until fatigue overtook him.