Primal

Author's Note: This is a female Sasuke x Naruto story. In this story, Sasuke was born female and her name is Suki. Some parts of this story will line up with cannon and other parts will diverge radically. If any of that bothers you, you might want to turn back now. For those of you still here, I hope you enjoy this story and reviews are always appreciated.

Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no profit off of any of my stories.

Chapter 1

"Not again." Suki Uchiha whispers to herself as she watches the Sun rise over the Sound Village.

Three years. That was how long she had been away from the Leaf Village. She refused to call that place her home, but then again neither was the Sound. Home was where the heart was and her heart had been shattered when she was seven years old.

On the day that Itachi butchered every other member of their Clan, Suki Uchiha lost everything. Well she had lost everything except for her life. She had lost her loving family and her home. The Uchiha District and Leaf Village had just been where she happened to live. They hadn't truly been home.

"Not what again?" Kabuto asks her as he approaches the last Uchiha.

Suki felt her eyes narrow as the medic sauntered over to her. He was Orochimaru's lapdog. If Orochimaru wasn't watching her, Kabuto usually was. It was a rare moment that she had any actual privacy in the Sound Village.

Usually, that was fine. She hadn't come to the Sound because she wanted to live there. Suki had come because she needed to. The raven haired woman needed to get stronger. She needed to get stronger so she could defeat Itachi and avenge her Clan.

"It's nothing. I just couldn't sleep. It's probably a mild reaction from whatever poison you injected into me, yesterday." She says, thinking quickly.

At moments like these, she desperately wanted to be alone though. Try as much as she might, she couldn't forget him. Damn that loser. His heartbroken expression shouldn't still haunt her and the memory of his smile shouldn't still comfort her.

"Ah. Well perhaps we'll skip the injections for today. We don't want to push our luck too far. After all, you are going to be Orochimaru's next body. We can't have you dying on us." He says.

The Sun and blue skies reminded her of him most. So almost every day, she thought of him. She hated herself for it just as often, but there was no use denying the fact that she hadn't been able to severe their bond completely.

"Yes, that would be such a shame." Suki replies dryly.

"Indeed, it would. You remember the deal. Lord Orochimaru will make you strong enough to kill Itachi, in exchange for you becoming his next vessel." He states as he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

Suki was tempted to grab those glasses and shatter them. Everything about Kabuto irked her. Everything about Orochimaru made her uneasy. The only thing that she wanted more than getting away from this place was Itachi's death. Unfortunately, that meant that she had to stay for the time being.

"How could I forget? You're constantly reminding me." Suki snaps at him.

"Now, now. Suki, what's wrong? You sound rather distressed this morning." She hears an all too familiar voice say.

Damn it. The snake was up early today. She sighs as she glances at the Sun one last time, before turning around to face her "Sensei."

"I'm upset because Kabuto insists on pointing out the obvious and I didn't sleep well last night. Thanks to his poisons." She mutters in disgust.

"Perhaps you should take a day to rest." Orochimaru suggests as he caresses her cheek.

The action made Suki's skin crawl. The last Uchiha wanted nothing more than to unsheathe her sword and cut his hand off. The very fact that he would dare to touch her, even platonically made her burn with rage.

"Perhaps you should remove your hand. I agreed to be your vessel and nothing else. I'm not going to rest. Itachi is still out there and he's likely getting stronger every day. I don't have time to waste!" Suki snaps at him.

"There's that famous Uchiha fire. Come, Suki. We have a lot of work to do." Orochimaru says as he gestures for her to follow him towards the forest.

Suki knew what that meant. The snake was going to continue her training today. She sighs and mentally braces herself. Hopefully, she would at least learn something useful because it was likely going to be a very long day.

"Damn it." She mutters under her breath as she follows the Legendary Sannin.

Meanwhile Naruto was traveling with Jirayia. It was still early in the morning, but the blonde didn't mind that. They were so close! They were almost back home.

It was going to be great to see Sakura and Kakashi Sensei again! Hell, he was even curious to see what Konohamaru and Granny Tsunade were up to. Not to mention, he was eager see how much stronger the other members of the Rookie Nine had become.

"I'd say another hour or two and we'll be back in the Leaf. I bet that you're happy about that." The Toad Sage says cheerfully.

That last thought causes him to frown. The Rookie Nine wasn't complete anymore. Suki had been missing for years and they were no closer to finding her than on the day she left.

"Yeah! It'll be great to be home again." Naruto says, forcing a smile to his face and some cheer into his voice.

He didn't want Pervy Sage to know how upset he was about that. Whining about it wasn't going to bring her back. They would find a way though. He hadn't given up his former teammate. He never would.

"I don't think you're lying to me, but you don't have to pretend to be happy. I know that you're worried about her. You have a very good reason to be. Orochimaru will be wanting to make the transfer soon." Jirayia says somberly.

That was the strange thing about Jirayia. One moment, he'd be laughing about "research" and the next minute, he'd transform into a serious ninja. A serious ninja who was worthy of the titles Sage and Sannin. Frankly, his second Sensei's dual nature made him dizzy sometimes.

"We'll find her though. That freak is NOT going to kill her!" Naruto says.

"Kid, I'm not going to lie to you. We'll do our best, but it doesn't look good." Jirayia tells him.

Naruto clenches his fists so hard, that he could feel his fingernails cut into the skin. His teeth soon followed. The blonde grits them so tightly that it was borderline painful, but he had to do it. It was the only way that he wouldn't completely explode at the underlying implication.

Pervy Sage was saying that there was a chance that they wouldn't be able to save her. He was trying to prepare Naruto for the possibility that Suki might not make it out of the Sound Village alive. Naruto wasn't going to let that happen though!

"You don't know her! She's a survivor. First, there was the Massacre. Then there was the fight with Haku. Suki isn't easy to kill!" Naruko protests.

Jirayia sighs and nods. He really wanted to tell the kid that they'd find his friend, but he didn't want to lie to the boy. Unfortunately, Naruto was still a young ninja. The only deaths that he had seen or could remember, hadn't had a direct impact on him.

The Third Hokage had died and that probably hurt Naruto, but he hadn't watched the man die. That and it was somewhat expected. Sarutobi had been an old man. He had lived far longer than most ninjas ever would. His death had been a tragic loss for them all, but not a surprise.

"I know she's tough, Naruto. Orochimaru wouldn't have been interested in her, if she was weak. We'll organize a search party and look for her. For now, we know she's safe. He's not going to allow anything to happen to her, until that transfer can take place." The Toad Sage points out.

Naruto had seen Haku and Zabuza die, but that was different. While the blonde had felt sympathy towards Haku, he wasn't a comrade. He wasn't a friend. Suki's death would be far more painful. Honestly, Jirayia wasn't really sure that Naruto would be able to handle it.

That's why he wanted to save the girl. He supposed in a way, Suki was Naruto's Tsunade. He would have been utterly devastated if something happened to Tsunade. So he could relate.

"How long do we have?" Naruto dares himself to ask.

"At least three months, maybe six." Jirayia informs him.

Three months. They only had three months left. The Leaf had already been looking for Suki for three years.

Naruto felt it again. A primal rage. It was Kurama's chakra, but the anger was his own. He wasn't going to let that damn snake kill his friend!

He had almost lost her once during the fight with Haku. For a few short moments, he had actually thought she was dead. He never wanted to feel that way again!

"I'm going to kill him." He growls.

"Naruto, our first priority is to rescue her. If we can take Orochimaru out, we will. Don't do something reckless though. Don't rush in without at plan and get yourself killed. Orochimaru is a highly dangerous ninja. He killed the Third Hokage. Remember that." The Sage warns him.

"I know. Saving her comes first, but I'm still going to kill him." Naruto replies.

He didn't get to treat her that way. Orochimaru get to talk about Suki like he owned her or she was a thing. He damn sure wasn't going to get away with placing a curse mark on her and then trying to steal her body! Naruto was going to save his friend and then he was going to make sure that that snake couldn't hurt anyone again.

Naruto knew that it was wrong. He shouldn't want to hurt people. It was one thing to kill someone in self-defense. That was just a fact of life when you were a ninja. It was another to kill someone because you HATED them. He definitely hated Orochimaru.

"Well we're home, kid." Jirayia tells him with a smile.

He hoped that this would be good for Naruto. Maybe being back in the Leaf would help him. There was a lot of Minato and Kushina in Naruto, but he couldn't help but worry about the Nine Tails. Jirayia suspected that it was likely starting to influence him, just a little too much.

A few weeks pass and Suki was pleased with her progress. She now had two Summon Contracts and could radiate a Chidori all along her body. She could even channel it through her sword.

"You're doing wonderfully and rather fortunate that Aoda took a liking to you. He's far less demanding than Manda." Orochimaru observes.

"You mean the monster that demands a hundred human sacrifices before he'll even consider following your orders?" Suki asks dryly.

Orochimaru was truly a psychopath. Suki wanted Itachi dead. She wanted him dead more than anything, but her bloodlust wasn't a blind one. She wouldn't kill innocent people to accomplish her goal. Well at least not if the last female Uchiha could help it.

"He's not a monster. He's a snake. There is vast difference between a large snake and a monster. Essentially though, you are correct. Yes, he does require one hundred sacrifices. It's rather annoying, but well you get what you pay for." Orochimaru replies with a smirk.

Suki resists the impulse to punch his teeth out for that comment. How could he speak so casually about a hundred people dying?! It was if there deaths were no more consequential to him than a paper cut. It was disgusting!

"He's not a monster because he's a snake. He's a monster because he requires that many sacrifices. Aoda doesn't ask his Summoner to do such things. It's clearly not necessary." She mutters.

"You're surprisingly tenderhearted for an avenger. Suki, you're a ninja. You're a killing machine. It's what we do. Only the strong survive. Mercy is a childish notion. A childish notion that will get you killed one day." Orochimaru tells her.

"When it comes to Itachi, I'll show no mercy. After that, it doesn't matter. You're taking my body anyway." She mutters.

Orochimaru smirks. He had trained her well. Finally, he would have the perfect vessel.

Truly, it was a pity. She would have been the perfect companion, despite her age. Unfortunately, she was likely going to be the key to him unlocking immortality. That meant that she had to be sacrificed.

"A valid point, my dear." He coos at her.

Suki bites her tongue so hard, that she could taste some of her own blood. She wanted so badly to lash out at him. A Chidori below the belt sounded like a fine idea at the moment, but she knew that it wouldn't end well.

She still needed him. Suki knew that she was a lot stronger than she was three years ago. What she didn't know is how she would stack up against Itachi at this point.

"Whatever. It's been a long training session and I imagine that you need your rest." Suki says.

"Such a vicious little thing you are. Reminding me of my deteriorating condition was not very nice. Regrettably, you are correct. Good night, Suki." He says as he walks off.

Suki was tempted to thrust her sword into his back and end him. As much as she wanted to do that, she knew that now wasn't the time. There was still more that she could learn from him.

"I saw that look. You wanted to kill him." Kabuto says from behind her.

"And you're a stalker. There's a big difference between wanting to do something and actually doing it. I'm certain that Orochimaru knows how I feel about him." She says with a shrug.

"I will never understand you. Orochimaru is offering you the world and you still scorn him." The silver haired medic says.

Suki's eyes narrow. Orochimaru wasn't offering her the world. What he was offering was a temporary power boost and an early death.

"You're right about one thing. You'll never understand me. Unlike you, I don't worship him. I'm using him as a means to an end. The same thing that he is doing to me." She hisses.

"I hope that you don't have some childish notion that you'll be able to kill Itachi and then Orochimaru. Perhaps you even believe that you'll just wander back into the Leaf Village and because you killed Orochimaru, all will be forgiven. Maybe you'll have a few loudmouthed blonde Uchihas down the road. I really hope for your sake, that isn't what you are planning because it will never happen." Kabuto tells her.

That was it. Suki lunges at Kabuto in a blind rage. How dare he talk to her like that?! Who did he think he is?!

When her sword stabbed him through the heart, he turned back into a log. Suki growls and looks around. How had she fallen for the oldest trick in the book?

"I thought that might be the case for awhile. I just wanted to confirm it. Puppy love is adorable, Suki. Though I doubt Lord Orochimaru would be nearly as amused by it as I am." He taunts her.

"If you are harboring some delusion that I'm in love with Naruto, then you're simply wrong. Go tell your crazy theories to Orochimaru. Do you think he'll care? Do you think he'll believe you over me?!" The raven haired woman demands.

Kabuto's eyes narrow at Suki. Suki just smirks in response. She knew that she hit a nerve there.

The silver haired ninja was upset that he was no longer Orochimaru's favorite. That had to burn him. Part of her was pleased at that knowledge.

"He's blinded by his obsession with you. That's all it is. It doesn't matter though. At the end of the day, you're just going to be another body for him. Remember that. You'll get your revenge and then your life will be forfeit." Kabuto says as he walks off.

The next day, Suki was standing on the edge of a cliff with Kabuto and Orochimaru, when the new Team Seven found them. Her heart felt like it was going to stop when she saw them. Naruto and Sakura were there, but so were two people that she didn't recognize.

There was a man about Kakashi's age. She assumed that something must have happened to Kakashi. Why wasn't Kakashi on this mission to retrieve her? Had her former Sensei completely given up on her?

"Well it looks like they found us." Orochimaru observes.

There was a pale boy about her age as well. Suki immediately discerned that he was her replacement. That made her blood boil with rage, until she saw the look in Naruto's eyes. It was all that she could do not to flinch.

"SUKI!" He calls out.

She notices that Kabuto was watching her every move. If she wanted to save Naruto's life, she was going to have to do something cruel. That's when she flitted down to them and was immediately at Naruto's side.

"It's been a long time." She whispers into Naruto's ears.

Idly, she notes that it really HAD been a long time. Naruto was actually taller than her now. His shoulders were also broader and his fashion choices had improved modestly. Mentally she scolds herself for such observations. She had to stay focused.

"Yeah." He murmurs.

"Come to think of it, didn't you want to be Hokage? All that time that you spent chasing after me, would have been better spent on training. Don't you think, Naruto? Then again, you've never been very good at thinking things through. You always rush in without thinking about the consequences." She asks as she slowly unsheathes her sword.

"I'm not going to let him take your body! What kind of Hokage would I be, if I can't save my friend?" He asks her.

It was such a Naruto response. Brave, honest, and so painfully naïve that it both made her want to smile and roll her eyes. He really just didn't get it.

Suki knew that she had to do it. She had to at least make it look like she was trying to slit his throat or attacking him in some way. It was the best way to make Kabutot believe that he was wrong about her feelings for the blonde. That was why she raises her sword at him, but the hit never landed. It was blocked by her replacement.

Suki couldn't help but feel enraged. This was none of his concern. He had no right to interfere with her and Naruto. That was why she radiated Chidori and dealt with him quickly.

"I'm not coming back. Not until he's dead. Stop following me." She says, before teleporting back up to Orochimaru and Kabuto.

She didn't know if what she had just done would succeed in throwing Kabuto off her trail, but Suki couldn't take it anymore. The last female Uchiha couldn't take looking into those big blue, hurt eyes. She had to get out of there.

"Let's go." She says and they teleport off into a swirl of flames.

"NOT AGAIN!" Naruto growls as he slams his fist into the ground in frustration.

He couldn't believe it! They had almost had her and she just slipped off like it was nothing. He had just froze like an idiot.

Naruto should have knocked her out. He should have strained her. Suki would have hated him when she woke up. She would have kicked, screamed, and maybe even bitten him. That wouldn't matter though. At least she would be SAFE.

"We'll get her back, Naruto." Sakura assures him.

Naruto sighs and nods. He wanted to believe that. He had to believe that. He had made a promise to Sakura and himself. The blonde was going to keep it. One way or another, he was going to keep it.

"Can we track them?" Naruto asks Yamato.

"It'd be difficult with a teleportation like that." His temporary Captain replies and Naruto sighs.

He couldn't believe it. What had gone so wrong that Suki had thought it was necessary to go with Orochimaru of all people. He knew that she wanted to kill Itachi, but she could have gotten stronger in the Leaf Village.

She didn't have to leave them. She didn't have to leave him. He could scarcely reconcile the beautiful woman who had nearly slit his throat with the girl that had broken the rules to feed him when they became Genin.

He had broken the rules and that was why he was tied to a stupid post. Naruto was starving. His belly growled like a lion and he knew that his two female teammates heard it.

That was just his luck. He was assigned to the only squad with two girls. Neither of them particularly cared for him, either. Sakura was the girl he had a crush on, but all she cared about was being like Suki. Suki seemed to hate him. At least that was what he thought.

"Here." She said simply as she thrust her lunchbox by his face.

"Wh-at?! Really?!" Naruto asked in disbelief.

"Suki! What are you doing?! If you get caught, we'll all get sent back to the Academy! Are you crazy?! You heard what Kakashi Sensei said!" Sakura shrieked at her.

The last female Uchiha rolled her eyes in response. It was as though she was disappointed that Sakura would even ask that question. Maybe she was. Naruto could never tell what was going on in that girl's mind.

"Kakashi isn't here, right now. Use your head. If he's weak from hunger, we aren't going to get any of those damn bells. We'll be sent back anyway. At least this way, we'll have a better chance of getting those bells." She muttered.

"Fine!" Sakura said as she held up her half eaten lunchbox as well.

"I can't eat. Remember? No hands. You're going to have to feed me." Naruto said cheekily.

Naruto saw Sakura twitch. Clearly, she wasn't too happy about that observation. Suki didn't seem to care though.

"Just do it. Do it fast. We don't want to get caught. Come on. Sakura, you're wasting time." She ordered the other girl.

While Sakura was in the middle of feeding Naruto, Kakashi showed up. Immediately, Naruto's female teammates got in front of him. He was touched that they were defending him. It was the first time that anyone other than Iruka had gone to bat for him.

"I told you not to feed him?! Why did you feed him?! What kind of ninjas can't follow such a simple instruction?!" Kakashi demanded.

"Because the three of us are one. That's why you did it. That's why you only had two bells, but three Genin. You were playing us against each other from the start! You wanted us to fight. You wanted to send us back to the Academy. This wasn't a fair test." Suki accused him.

"The three of you are one?! That's your excuse?!" The Jonin growled angrily.

Naruto felt himself shiver. Damn. Kakashi Sensei sounded really angry. This might not end well.

"Yeah!" Sakura agreed and Suki nodded her head in agreement.

Naruto couldn't precisely remember what he said or did, but he also confirmed the statement. That's when something strange happened. Kakashi's entire demeanor just suddenly transformed from furious to serene.

"You pass. I'm proud of the three of you. It's true that those who break the rules are scum, but those who would leave behind a friend are even worse than scum." He said cheerfully.

That was when he first knew that Suki wasn't just like him because she was lonely like he was. She was also a good person. It was just hidden. Really, really well hidden.

Suki could be the most vicious and sarcastic person that he had ever met. Now at sixteen, he saw that for what it was. A defense mechanism. She didn't want to get close to people because she was afraid of losing them.

"Well she's not going to lose me and I'm not going to let her die." He mutters to himself.

He was going to find a way to save her. Naruto just wasn't sure how yet. He wasn't going to let Orochimaru kill her though. Naruto was going to keep his promise to Sakura to bring Suki back and then Team Seven would officially be whole again.