He's been gone almost a month, off on some errand for Orochimaru. When Sasuke asks around, all he can get from the other nin studying under Orochimaru is a shrug and a "Maybe he'll be back tomorrow? Why do you care where he went, anyway?"
He doesn't know why he cares. He only understands that Naruto (or Fox, in his Sound Village ANBU costume) was raised by Orochimaru and has the same look in his eyes as Itachi did that night: the look that says you've done something so wrong and abhorrent that you've completely lost yourself. Something Sasuke is dying to understand, and worm inside, and destroy. Even Orochimaru doesn't have that kind of power, couldn't even dream of controlling it, yet he does. It interests Sasuke. Why? Why does the crazy, demonically powerful fox-boy follow Orochimaru with some kind of bizarre devotion?
It's almost annoying.
It's nighttime (not that you can tell in the tunnels) when he hears the swift shuffling of Naruto's summons (huge foxes with wild eyes and numerous tails, that would eat everything Naruto let them, but resort to trying to get a bite off all of them) outside his door. He bolts awake, heartbeat in in his throat, and dresses quickly.
He knows where the boy's going: to report to Orochimaru on the mission, and discuss the 'situation' with Konoha after they recruited one of the most promising rookie nin right out from under their noses. Oh yeah, and implanted a fox demon right in their midst.
He stalks steadily down the hall, letting Naruto hear and report his presence there. If they want him there, they'll invite him in. if not, he'll be shown away by a summons. It wasn't really surprising when the door opened and Naruto's stony face ducked around the door.
"It's awfully late, Uchiha." You shouldn't be out here.
"I wanted to hear the mission report." I know. I don't really care. And I won't be turned away, fox boy.
"I see. Orochimaru-sama is busy. The toy arrived smoothly and in one piece, though I did feel tempted to take a nibble…" You may not enter. And I am hungry. Would you like to volunteer yourself?
Sasuke took a step back, watching morbid glee and fascination light the blonde's eyes as he followed, getting just inside Sasuke's 'safe zone'. He snarled, and flinched when the fox matched him exactly, though his face was more animal than man.
He turned to walk away, determined to put as much space between them as he could. Before he could take a step, however, an arm tightened over his neck, and he breathed in sharply, tense. A voice snaked its way to his ear: "Don't run. We predators chase little beasts that run, little hawk." You are not a snake. You are not one of us.
And then the arm was gone, leaving Sasuke standing there and trying not to acknowledge how much his knees shook (with stress, Sasuke, not fear, never fear).
(AN: sorry this chapter's so short. and the scene at the end has a purpose, so believe it! :)
feel free to review if you want to see a certain character, if you think i've done something wrong, or if you have suggestions! i will certainly look at them all, and do as much as i can to please the readers! X) )