Wicked Whims
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I wasn't planning on updating this story so quickly, but I was inspired by the largely positive response. If you're interested more info about update rates, feel free to check out my profile under the New Update System section. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Bold text: Kurama speaking.
Bold italics: Naruto speaking to Kurama.
Chapter 2
Naruto wasn't sure how long he had been drifting in and out of consciousness. Even with Kurama helping him heal faster, it was a constant struggle to stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time.
"How is our patient?" Naruto hears Obito's voice through the foggy haze of his mind. "Your transformation jutsu convinced almost everyone, but the Kazekage is suspicious. He's demanding to see Naruto."
Someone fluffs his pillows, Suki judging by the long black hair that was teasing his cheek as she leans over to do. The hair didn't feel like a porcupine quill, so that ruled Madara out. "I'm not entirely surprised that Gaara saw through it, but we could hardly wait for Naruto to fully recover before saying something. Extend a private audience on my behalf to the Kazekage. He's smart. He'll be furious, but the Kazekage isn't foolish enough to provoke a needless bloodbath especially not when Naruto is in no condition to fight."
"You have a talent for nearly getting yourself killed. If it weren't for my efforts and the Uchiha woman's, you would be dead. The Raikage still lives, but we are in no shape to fight. You've been drifting in and out of consciousness for three days." Kurama flicks his tails in open agitation inside Naruto's mind.
Naruto frowns as the pieces begin to fall into place. While he was asleep, Suki must have pretended to be him and convinced the others that the world was at peace. Gaara knew that something was wrong, but probably not what. The only silver lining being that as far as he could tell, everyone was still alive. It was up to him to keep it that way.
"Alright. I'll tell him. If we're going to make this version of peace last, we'll need the cooperation of the Kages." Obito smiles slyly at Suki. "So find a way to get this one to play nicely."
Suki rolls her eyes. "I can handle it. You just make sure you stall the Kazekage. I still need to change Naruto's bandages."
"I'd ask why you don't just have Sakura or Karin do it, but I suppose our family's passion and tempers burn hot." Amusement dances in Obito's eyes. "I shall speak with the Kazekage."
Suki glowers in response as her kin chuckles, wandering off. Leaving Naruto alone with his former teammate.
"You can stop pretending to be asleep. I know you're awake. How much did you hear?" Suki watches him, reaching for his bandages.
Naruto squirms, feeling his face grow hot. "What did Obito mean? I get the temper thing, but not the other part?" He was covered more in bandages than anything if Suki changed them she was going to get an eyeful.
"Humans are pathetic. Your modesty is what concerns you at the moment?" Kurama scoffs.
"Hey, just because we don't prance about naked all the time doesn't make us pathetic. It's not like we have your fur." Naruto glares.
Suki shakes her head. All the while she continues to gently unwrap some of the bloody bandages with a practiced ease. She'd done this before.
"It doesn't matter and Loser, I'm changing your bandages." Suki raises an eyebrow. "I've been doing it since the end of the war. Would you rather have me do it or maybe you'd prefer Madara or Obito to be your medic? Sakura and Tsunade currently have their hands full treating other patients."
"Oh." His face was still burning. "I guess when you put it that way, it makes sense." Besides, the last thing he wanted was for Madara or Obito to see him in an even more vulnerable position.
She nods, undoing them and reaches for some disinfectant cream once the bandages over his chest were finally off. Suki pours some onto the exposed, bruised skin and begins using her hands to rub it in.
"Didn't know you could be that gentle…" It was a stupid thing to say, but it was true. Suki's fingertips danced along his skin like determined butterflies.
"Sometimes. I can be when people aren't pissing me off." Suki sighs, watching him as she pulls out more bandages. "So, you should really stop doing that. I'm not sure what you heard, but as far as the rest of the world is concerned…peace has been achieved. We nearly died fighting against Madara and Obito. You made them see the light. I pretended to be you and made a speech."
"I can't believe people actually thought you were me." Naruto frowns.
Part of him wanted to laugh and the other part wanted to scream. Mostly though, he was angry and terrified. Angry at himself for being too weak to fight back against them currently and terrified over what might happen to the others.
Suki smiles slyly as she leans over and wraps bandages around him. "Of course, they bought it. At this point, I know you better than you do. I've kicked your ass enough times that I can copy your body perfectly and your personality is remarkably predictable. It's not hard."
"You never kicked my ass and I'm not predictable. I'm the Leaf's number one most unpredictable ninja." He tries to glare at her, but finds himself smiling.
The Suki he used to know was still in there somewhere. Enough so that it was all too easy to fall into their familiar rivalry. For just one moment, they were innocent Genin again.
"Whatever you say. I spared you on a whim, Naruto. Don't make me change my mind." She pulls the blankets off of him. "Now shut up and let me get the rest of these changed."
Naruto finds himself squirming again. "Suki, I can do it myself."
One on hand, he was happy. Suki might be flirting with insanity, but she cared enough to tend to his injuries. She wasn't too far gone yet. On the other, well, a ninja had to have his privacy!
"Alright. If you insist on being stubborn, go ahead." She shrugs, handing him the bandages and heads towards the door. "You still blush like a Genin by the way."
"I do not blush like a Genin!" Naruto glares.
Suki laughs, walking off with a sway to her hips that Naruto had never noticed before. Maybe he was just imagining it. He'd spent way too much time with Jirayia.
Just thinking of the old pervy sage makes him wince. Naruto still couldn't believe he was gone.
A short while later, Suki finds herself face to face with the Kazekage. The redhead was eyeing her in the same way a leopard might a lion. The wary way a predator eyed another. Uncertain of what their next move should be, but knowing they had to make it carefully.
"Gaara." Suki sits down across from the Kazekage.
"Uchiha." His gaze never wavers. "I want to speak with Naruto." immediately. The real Naruto. I know that you were using a transformation jutsu."
Suki sighs. She had expected as much. Gaara was too perceptive for his own good sometimes.
"I'm afraid that's not advised at this time. He's still recovering from his injures." She pours them each a glass of sake. "Out of curiosity, what gave me away?"
Gaara takes a polite sip of the sake. "Your eyes. They'll always give you away. I told you before I recognized you as a kindred spirit. That our eyes were exactly the same. You may have looked like him and talked like him, but that look in your eyes was nothing like Naruto. It was far too calculated."
She couldn't fault his observational skills. Though it was a bit irritating to know that'd be difficult to fix. If she was lucky, she wouldn't have to. Naruto might actually cooperate.
"Well spotted. As I said, he's recovering from his injuries. Everything I said was the truth, though. The four of us have come to an understanding." She plays with the food on her plate, not having the heart to take a single bite. "In exchange for an end to the needless bloodshed, Naruto will become Hokage and will meet our demands."
Gaara arches an invisible eyebrow. "I thought something strange was going on, but tell me the truth. Did you betray the Leaf Village or did you cut a deal with Madara to spare your life…to spare Naruto's?"
So much for small talk.
"I never betrayed the Leaf Village. The Leaf betrayed my family long ago. We helped to found that village and it's soil is soaked in the blood of my Clan." Suki grits her teeth, clenching her fist. "We were isolated and made into revered pariahs. They would have eventually killed us anyway. We decided to strike first. I'm certain you can sympathize. It wasn't that long ago you were in a similar position due to having a tailed beast."
Gaara was right. They were the same in some fundamental ways. The only difference was Naruto had managed to 'save' the redhead. Suki was very much still surrounded in a world of darkness.
A frown mars the Kazekage's face. "What happened was a series of tragedies that should have been prevented, but unfortunately we cannot change the past. I notice that you didn't answer my question. So, I can only presume that you cut a deal to save his life."
Suki clenches her fists so tightly, her fingernails actually dig into her skin. A drop of blood sliding down her hand. "You really shouldn't make such foolish assumptions without any proof. Perhaps I merely decided to fight alongside my family or just wanted to be on the side destined to emerge victorious."
"You love him. You could have killed him or let him die a thousand times over, but he's still alive." Gaara takes a gulp of his sake, staring at her expectantly. "And he loves you. He spent years searching for you. He'd do anything for you even indulge you in this mockery of a peace."
A kunai to the heart would have been kinder than Gaara's words. It takes all of Suki's self-control not to rip the redhead's heart out with a Chidori.
"Hold your tongue, Kazekage or I will demonstrate why a mockery of a peace is preferable to a real war." Her world was bathed in a sea of red thanks to the Sharingan and Rinnegan. Her bloodlines had both activated, yanked into being by the sheer force of her rage. "It's because of me that Madara decided to show mercy. He could have squashed you and the other Kages like insects, but he didn't because I convinced him this was better than an imaginary world or ruling over ashes. You should be thanking me."
Gaara stands up and bows. "I apologize. I've upset you by being too honest. Perhaps you're not even ready to admit it to yourself. You're walking down a dangerous path, but it's not too late to turn back."
He was wrong. It was far too late and why should she? Suki had a chance to recreate the world. A better one this time.
"Why would I want to go back?" She shrugs. "So, I can beg the village that turned my brother into a murderer for forgiveness and hope they won't decide to do it again? So more jinchuuriki can suffer as you and Naruto did? To go back to a true peace that will almost certainly be ruined in less than a generation? Tell me why would I ever want to do that?"
Gaara shakes his head. "I will trust Naruto's judgment on this matter. For now, my people are safe and I intend to keep them that way."
"Good. We have an understanding. Leave." Suki glowers at Gaara.
Somehow the Kazekage had enough chakra to disappear in a swirl of sand. It seemed that Kurama wasn't the only tailed beast helping their host heal faster.