My first SasuSaku story, and I have to say I'm very excited to do it. :D It's a sort of "Beauty and the Beast" situation, and was inspired by a beautiful fanart of Sakura kissing Sasuke in his Curse Mark second stage, sword in his hand - a beautiful and sad image, indeed. To keep it brief for now, with a slight twist to the Valley of Death fight between Naruto and Sasuke (the first between them in the original show), Sasuke has exhausted himself in his Cursed Mark second state to the point of no return, if you take my meaning, but still carries out going to Orochimaru. In other words, he's doomed to remain that way permanently, and the Snake Sannin won't change him back. Years later, he manages to break free and roams the nation the way he is, craving vengeance other than the one he harbors for his brother Itachi. Also in the meantime, Naruto and Sakura as well as the others haven't given up on him, but what will happen when word gets out that a strange creature is in the wild - and the vicious stories prove to be more truthful than myth? A certain hyperactive Kyuubi kid and a pink-haired vixen who still loves the missing young ninja with all her heart will do everything they can to bring him back.

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters do NOT belong to me, but to their respectful owners.

Prologue

No Return

"Sasuke...you were the first real friend I ever had. You were alone in the beginning as I was...and now you have turned against all of us. But it doesn't matter, because no matter what it takes, I'm bringing you back to the Hidden Leaf Village - if I have to break EVERY SINGLE BONE IN YOUR BODY!"

He found himself looking over the fallen body of the boy he once called a friend, teammate and comrade. He allowed a small, tired smile to form on his dusky, marked face, his wings flapping tiredly when he loomed over the unconscious blond whose face showed signs of strain and waste of chakra - from childish shadow clones to the Rasengan, and his battle with Kimimaro? Sasuke chuckled and shook his head. Breaking every bone in my body is nowhere near that pitiful duel. And for once, he made a promise he couldn't keep.

I'm sorry, Naruto.

The twisted features of the Nine-Tailed Fox were slowly fading away. The ominous red chakra had done the last shot in eating away the last of Naruto's precious power just to try and match the Curse from Orochimaru - which made Sasuke Uchiha realize it was time for him to return to normal as well. He had an oath to fulfill and revenge to take against dear brother Itachi.

"You're still too weak, little brother. You don't have enough hate, and you know something? You NEVER will."

How dare Itachi say he didn't have enough hate! Oh, he would show him, prove him wrong. When he got to Orochimaru, he would get that power he was promised. This Curse Mark gave him enough - the proof was lying before him - but it wasn't everything.

He could feel it all, his chakra ebbing away. It would be better if he reverted back to normal. He hadn't known the effects of this thing, but when he did, to feel the wings explode from his back and give him more agility and the ability to fly, all the Chidori and fire to lash out at his former friend, and it was amazing!

His lips pulled back, exposing his teeth along with the little fangs that sprouted. All that power...I could kill Itachi with this if I can...but I must change back. He sighed and rolled his shoulders. He was tired now because his chakra was drained.

His veins thrummed, his nerves on fire - but nothing happened. He didn't feel the wings suck back into his body, and upon putting a finger in his mouth, his sharp teeth were lingering as well. Looking down at his reflection in the water, Sasuke suppressed a shocked gasp. Black eyes centered with blood-red Sharingan glared back at him, set in a face of murky tan, and a strange but irritating cross-formed ink lay between his eyes and over his nose. And his dark hair grew out and wild, colored gray-blue. Would he be surprised if the hair down there was the same...?

Where the hell did THAT thought come from? Sasuke shook his head in disgust. And why didn't I change back?

A moan brought his attention back to Naruto. The other boy was coming to; he needed to go. But first - Sasuke felt his Leaf headband slide from his forehead, having come undone at some point. He would no longer need this, but he took one last look at this final tie to break to his former village and the people in it. Clawed hands clutched it briefly before tossing it down to the unconscious Nine-Tails vessel before taking off into flight.

The waterfall roared between the two statues of the founders of the Hidden Leaf Village - Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, the future First Hokage - which was ironic, considering what he and Naruto shared one last time. Now that bond was broken for good...but if he knew Naruto Uzumaki better, the dobe would just wake up and continue to grasp that delusion of his.

You said you understood my pain and loneliness...but you never had family or the bonds I had. You NEVER will, Naruto.

~o~

Naruto bowed his head in grief and guilt. I failed you, Sasuke. I wasn't strong enough... His head then raised and looked ahead at the opened window, where the sun was setting.

But I swear to you I won't give up on you. I told you I never go back on my Ninja Way.

Pervy Sage's words continued to haunt him: what happened was meant to be. If you are to become a great Shinobi one day, the first step is to put Sasuke out of your mind. If you are to be a fool for the rest of your life, then you won't last long enough in this world. He snarled and clenched his fists, gathering some blanket into them.

"Sorry, Pervy Sage," he said quietly, "I won't give up, but I'd rather be a fool and honor my word for my friend than let him go like this..."

"Naruto."

Naruto looked up and saw Sakura standing there. He thought she'd gone home, so he had to admit he was surprised to still see her here. To see her smile - it was the opposite of what he knew was living within her beautiful grassy eyes. She loved Sasuke so much even if it was a stupid fangirl's heart, but because he cared about her, Naruto was willing to make her happy by going after their teammate when the chance would be given by Granny Tsunade.

"I'm not giving up, Sakura," he said softly. "You can say it's fine all you want, but I'll make a promise to you..."

"...and I am with you," she finished quietly, going over to him and sitting back down beside him on the bed, taking in the sight of him all bandaged up. It was then and there that a fresh tear fell down one cheek, and those words were spilling with each increase. The sobs wrenched at him just as horribly as Sasuke's hateful, cruel words of severing the bond they once shared.

"Naruto, this is a...once in a lifetime chance...bring him home."

~o~

"So, when can I get my power?"

When he first arrived, he was greeted with a sickening grin and a lick of the lips from the legendary Snake Sannin whose silky, slithering accent made his skin crawl. But Sasuke tried his hardest to not let it get to him, only remind himself he would get what he wanted and then leave if he wanted. But Orochimaru only looked at him from the corner of his eye and said nothing, only twitched at one corner of his mouth. It was Kabuto, the spiteful right hand who snapped at him.

"I would watch the way I speak to Lord Orochimaru if I were you, Sasuke."

"I'll speak to him however I want," the Uchiha snarled back. "I'll kill you if I must. I don't know why you are so useful to him anyway..." The snake himself interrupted with a click of his vile tongue.

"Dear Sasuke, don't fight on your first day here. We wouldn't want any unpleasantries before we begin the training you so desired, do we?"

Sasuke huffed, his wings flapping once. His flesh crawled, itching to return to human form. "But, my lord," he sneered sarcastically, "what can you do about my state now? You don't want to train me like this, do you?"

The glimmer in those yellow eyes answered the question for him.

I'd been talking to my boyfriend about Sasuke being unable to return to his human stage, and he'd said it was logical enough that the stress of locking him and the massive absorption of chakra would lock him in and definitely take the toll. This changes absolutely so much, doesn't it?

I say this only once at the beginning of each story I do, and only once: read and review, but no flaming please. Flamers are absolutely intolerable. I'm sorry if I sound snobbish, but who doesn't hate nasty talk and foul language?