Guilt of Innocence

by Chosha Kurenai

Uchiha Sasuke abandoned Konoha in his persute of power to join Orochimaru. However, this was only a cover story. In fact, on Tsunade's orders, Sasuke is to act as Konoha's spy within Otogakure. One agreement and his path had changed forever...

2. Battle on the Rooftop

Guilt of Innocence

By

Chosha Kurenai

Important Note:

This is the beta'd version of the chapter. This chapter has been Beta'd by Shadowkyra. Thank you so much for making sure that any of my stupid mistakes have been corrected.

Summery:

It is well known that Sasuke abandoned Konoha in his pursuit of power to join Orochimaru. However, this was only a cover story. In fact, Sasuke went there on Tsunade's orders to act as Konoha's informant within Otogakure. One agreement and his path had changed forever…

Disclaimer:

I, Chosha Kurenai, hereby swear that ownership of Naruto and its entire relating media belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. Guilt of innocence is fan fiction only and is written purely for entertainment and not meant as infringement of any rights belonging to the neither artist nor companies who created them. Please support the official anime/manga releases.

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Chapter Two

The Mission Begins – Battle on the Rooftop

The Sun was quite bright as it spilled gently into the Hospital room, the atmosphere of the room somewhat lighter than it had been since the conversation with the Hokage and yet Sasuke had not been allowed out of the Hospital just yet. It seemed that the hospital staff was either keeping him in longer to make sure that he wasn't going to relapse into his comatose state, or, as Sasuke suspected, they were just being paranoid and wanted to keep him in just a little longer. It was something he felt was weird since Kakashi was already allowed out of the hospital, but he had long since given up on trying understanding the mind of hospital staff. The faint humming of a tune that seemed to come from beside him served lighten the rooms atmosphere even further.

Without moving from where he was sitting, Sasuke glanced out of the corner of his eye towards the source of the. Sakura had recently come in to visit him, her attitude bubbly and with a smile on her face, fresh flowers and an apple for him. She chattered aimlessly to him as she started to peel it. Despite the fact that Sasuke had yet to say a word to her other than a faint greeting – a glance in her direction and a grunt – it hadn't upset her in the slightest. In fact she seemed extremely happy. It was only recently that she started humming a song to herself as she sliced the apple slowly, carefully and neatly on the plate balanced on her lap. It made him wonder if she'd been talking to him while he was unconscious as well to not be perturbed by his silence. He'd been told that Sakura had visited him almost every day to change the flowers and tried to talk him out of his coma.

In all honesty it partially made him wonder, if she had so much time on her hands why she didn't just try to improve as a ninja instead of wasting her breath on him? It obviously wasn't working. It also partially freaked him out that someone who had been a fan girl of his had been allowed to be with him, alone, while he was unconscious. True, her fangirl tendencies had subsided somewhat recently, but she did revert to her old ways on occasion.

He had to suppress a shiver up his spine at the mere thought.

Still, now that she was more focused on trying not to slice her fingers while peeling and slicing the apple, Sasuke could focus on more important things – namely the mission that he had been given to him by Tsunade. Staring down blankly at the blanket pooled around his waist, he thought over the information he'd been given. He would become a spy within Otogakure, the village that was controlled by the very man who had given him his cursed seal in the first place, and who obviously had some interest in him anyway. A desire he'd discovered later on. He wanted his body, or more specifically, the Sharingan, which would be done through an immortalising jutsu of some kind. Hence the three year time limit as if it was any longer he'd be at risk of becoming a new vessel for Orochimaru, not something he particularly wanted. After all, how could he figure out his own path, or kill Itachi if his mind was destroyed and his body turned into Orochimaru's vessel? However, his main problem, or at least the first one to consider, was how he was going to leave Konoha and make it seem as though he was actually betraying the village to join Orochimaru? It wasn't his acting that he thought he would have trouble with. Tsunade had told him he would have to do this at the most opportune moment. How exactly was he going to manage that?

He narrowed his eyes. What could he do to make it actually seem real? How was he going to convince everyone that he would want to go to such a creep who had obvious intentions wouldn't benefit him in any way?

'Why are you so weak? Still not enough….Hate..'

Wait…..that was it, wasn't it? He could actually use that in this case. Though he was still unsure which was the right path, hate would be a strong driving force. He knew that because of the drive it had given him for so long. He also knew that in the early years, his hate for what Itachi had done to him had made him impatient.

He could use that impatience as a factor.

So lost in his thoughts he didn't realise what happened until something was practically shoved under his nose. Instinctively he lashed out, only to have his hand connect with ceramic. A gasp came from Sakura as the plate went flying, apple slices spilling to the ground as the plate smashed to pieces against the floor.

Sasuke almost winced, but held his painback. Had he really been so lost in thought that he had forgotten Sakura was there and had the sudden appearance of a plate as a threat? He really needed to get a hold of himse-

Wait….

First opportunity. Could he use this as an opportunity to start this mission off?

"Hey, what was that for?" a new voice exclaimed, startling Sasuke. He looked arround to see Naruto standing at the door and Sakura was looking rather upset to see that the result of her hard work was now scattered across the floor. Of course Naruto would wonder what the heck was going on. He liked Sakura after all (if the constant asking of dates was anything to go by). Sasuke couldn't help but wonder about his luck.

Good timing as always Naruto, He thought with dry amusement, as he turned to shoot the darkest glare he could manage in Naruto's direction.

"Wh-what…? Why are you staring at me like that?" If anything, Naruto looked rather unnerved. Then again, he had never glared with such intensity at him before. Sasuke had never tried channelling all his hate in Naruto's direction before. Naruto was annoying sometimes, yes, but he never desired to kill him.

Now to bait the hook….Sasuke mused as he hid his eyes behind his bangs, mulling over how to get his message across. Well, with Naruto it's always better to use a stick than a carrot.

"Hey, Naruto…."

"Wha….what?"

"Fight me…Now!"

He could hear Sakura gasp in horror, but he ignored her, waiting for Naruto's response.

Naruto seemed to have been thrown into utter confusion. "Huh?" he asked, giving the Uchiha his signature closed eyed confused look. "What are you babbling about? You're still recovering…"

This wasn't really the response that Sasuke was going for and he clenched his fists. For once, even if you don't know what's going on, why can't you do what I need you to do right now? He thought in exasperation as he channelled chakra to his eyes to activate his still incomplete Sharingan. He shot a glare in Naruto's direction for extra effect, to show him that he was fully serious here. "Shut up and fight me!"

Now that he had their attention, it was time to start feeding them doubts. If he was going to have to pretend to betray them, he was going to have to convince them that he did this on his own and not because of Orochimaru.

"You think you helped me? That foolish Godaime Hokage, butting into other people's business," Only because she wants to make sure that there aren't any more threats to this village. But insulting her will not only make my intentions more obvious, but also wind Naruto up. He seems rather attached to her after all.

"What!" The sudden anger on Naruto's face confirmed Sasuke's speculations. He hid a smirk behind his cold expression as he got to his feet, staring Naruto down from his full height. Naruto stared back at him with intense blue eyes. Like I said, a stick is better than any carrot when it comes to Naruto.

"Sasuke-kun, what's wrong with you!" Sakura blurted didn't need to turn to look at her to know her expression was one of horror. After all, he hadn't shown this kind of anger before. The only time he had seemed so forceful was when she had seen him in when the cursed seal was influencing him back in the forest of death (as far as he knew, the memory of that moment was still hazy even now) "Naruto, tell him to stop! I mean…."

However, from the grin on Naruto's face, Sasuke knew that Naruto had taken the bait hook line and sinker. He wasn't likely to listen to Sakura right now. He'd been challenged by someone he saw as a rival as well as a teammate and friend, and Sasuke knew that Naruto would never pass up this opportunity. They never did get their fight at the chunin exams after all. "Well then," Naruto said, his blue eyes almost eager, "I was thinking about it too…."

"Hey you two, cut it out," Sakura protested, but again she was completely ignored.

For a moment, Sasuke thought about this. Fighting in the hospital room would likely only get them both injured and in more trouble than it was worth. He'd never be allowed out of the hospital. But there was one place he could go to that would work well enough for the two of them to use. With that he jerked his head to indicate for him to follow him. "Come with me," he said, eyes still watching Naruto, his sharingan picking up the look of annoyance and the faint tremble of excitement in his limbs even though he seemed to be covering it with his annoyance at Sasuke's attitude.

With that he headed off and exited the room, glad he wasn't facing anyone to show his disgust as he stepped harshly on one of the apple slices, squashing it under his foot. However, he kept up his act, only pausing for a moment when he was out of sight of the other two to try and get the squashed apple from his foot. Thankfully he managed it and managed to get his act back together before Naruto joined him. Sasuke resisted the urge to glance at him, instead leading him through the hospital and up the stairs towards the roof. the soft patting of his feet and the faint echo of Naruto's sandals was the only sound that accompanied them up the stairs as Sasuke thought on what he was going to do in this fight. Of course he didn't want to kill Naruto, but he would need to make it seem that he was trying. Besides, he could actually feel a faint trill of excitement at the thought of battling Naruto. He was strong. Like Lee, like Gaara, like Hyuuga Neji. Naruto had beaten at least two of them. He knew right away that in this fight there could be no holding back. Naruto would be unlikely to hold back on him, and Sasuke's pride wouldn't stand for it. He also needed to know, this battle would help him to see, see which path was stronger, Itachi's hate or Naruto's protection.

He would find out the truth in this fight.

Pushing the door to the roof open, Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly at the sudden bright light hitting the retinas of his sensitive eyes. But it passed quickly and Sasuke made his way out onto the roof. It was flat, surrounded by high criss-crossed wire fencing and two large water towers over by the door. However, he ignored them as he walked further onto the roof before turning, eyes landing back on Naruto once more who stood facing him. The patting of footsteps and the door to the hospital below clanged open again as Sakura followed, but neither of them paid her any attention. As long as she stayed out of the way there was nothing wrong.

"Hah!"

Sasuke blinked. What the heck? Was Naruto Laughing? His eyes narrowed as his pride twinged at that. "What's so funny?" he growled. Just because he was acting didn't mean that it gave Naruto the right to insult his pride like that. It was all an act but the battle was serious.

"Funny? No," Naruto said, and Sasuke became aware of the tremble of excitement that seemed to travel through the blond. "I'm overjoyed actually. To think how I can finally beat you."

So he was excited at the thought of fighting him? It was just a variation of their usual bantering, but if Sasuke was going to be keeping this act up, he couldn't just smirk at him and banter back, as much as he wanted to. Well, maybe he could….

"What did you say? Stop blabbering nonsense, loser!" Of course he could only snarl it however, but it really didn't give him the same satisfaction that their banters usually did.

Still, Naruto seemed to realise that this wasn't going to end in their usual 'friendly' pre-fight banter and his face became serious, eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I'm no longer the loser you once knew me as. I've changed."

I know you have. How could he not have noticed? From the guy who couldn't even make a single bunshin and failed the exams goodness knew how many times, to someone who could summon giant frogs and beat demon possessed ninja. Sasuke knew he was strong. That's why this thrill of excitement ran through him at the thought of fighting Naruto. Still, it wasn't something that he would let Naruto have the last word on either way.

"You dim-witted idiot," he sneered, "What are you so full of yourself for, huh!" You've got stronger; I'll give you that, but don't count me out. Even if the reasons for this fight are fake, I wasn't lying back at the chunin exams when I said I wanted to fight you.

Naruto put a hand on his hip and smirked, and suddenly Sasuke thought he saw his own expression reflected back at him. Maybe they had been rivals for too long. "Eh, what are you losing your cool for?" Naruto taunted suddenly. "That's so unlike you. What? Are you afraid now you've challenged me to a fight, huh? Sasuke?"

Ok, if this is how I normally sound, I'm either going to have to beat him up for imitating me, or I'm going to have to re-evaluate when I use that attitude… He thought, feeling the taunt grating his nerves. "Shut up and fight!" He growled. Can we get this over with? I actually do want to fight you.

"Before we start, you better put on this Konoha headband," Naruto said. Had he picked it up from the bedside table, Sasuke wondered.

"I don't need something like that," Sasuke said. If this fight was supposed to be the start of a betrayal for this mission, why would he wear his Konoha headband?

"Just do it," Naruto said

This was beginning to take far too long, Sasuke thought with exasperation. Stick, not a carrot. He pointed to his forehead with a thumb. "You won't even lay a finger on me, let alone by forehead."

"No!" Naruto exploded suddenly, almost surprising Sasuke by his forcefulness. "I'm saying this is a symbol! That we fight as equal Konoha ninja!"

I do see you as a strong ninja. That's why I want to fight you. Not that he could tell him that. "That's why I'm saying you're full of yourself! You think you're on par with me!"

Damn, did he honestly sound as much of a bastard as he thought he did?

"Of course I do!" Naruto argued back. "In fact I've never thought of myself as inferior to you. Not even once!"

Of course you haven't. Because you don't think like that. You just barrel in and do your best. Isn't that how you've always done things, Idiot? "You're pissing me off!"

"That's because you're still weak, Sasuke-chan!"

….Oh you did not just say that…

If a single word could have acted as a start bell, that was probably it. With a roar, both of them launched themselves forwards, Naruto darting towards him even as he darted towards Naruto. He didn't need his sharingan to notice the clench fists aiming for him. Quickly he lashed out; grabbing the hands coming towards him and digging his heals into the ground as he stopped the punches, pressing against the other's fists with his palms as Naruto tried to push forwards, gritting his teeth.

You're stronger, but you were never very good where stances are concerned. My hands aren't the only thing I attack with! With a twist, Sasuke raised his foot and lashed out. At the last minute Naruto seemed to realize that he was open to the attack and pushed away. Sasuke's foot just grazed the front of his orange jacket as he skidded back a little, using a hand to the floor to steady himself. However, he hadn't even straightened before his hands went to the seal that had become familiar to Sasuke after seeing its repetitive use.

The Kage Bunshin.

That could be a problem since he would be significantly outnumbered when one considered just how many Naruto was capable of creating.

"Tajyuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Sasuke almost winced as he saw what seemed like hundreds of Naruto's that were suddenly surrounding him. However, he was already on his toes. Naruto was able to outnumber people and be a one man demolition team, but he had no formal style to fall back on. Besides, Sasuke had seen Naruto's fighting style hundreds of times. With the Sharingan allowing him to see each bunshin for what it was and picking up every movement, he was ready.

Soon, he had no time to think as the Narutos all began to attack at once. He was made to fall back on instinct – a kick to the stomach to barrel one into those behind it, twist around, a strike with his fist, using momentum to flip to his hands and strike up with his feet sending two more flying into the air-

Still, the numbers were still against him as he felt another strike him, only having enough time to block it from striking his stomach with his arms, sending him flying upwards with a grunt of pain.

"U-Zu-Ma-Ki….." Naruto started and his eyes picked up a shadow of Naruto behind him.

Wait…..this is….like Lee's move, or my Shishi Rendan! He realised. If that hit, that would certainly hurt.

"Naruto Rendan!"

He couldn't afford to get hit with something like that, he realised. He couldn't underestimate his strength. Quickly he formed the seals he needed, blocking Naruto's foot with his arm, hands still forming the 'Tora' seal.

He probably wouldn't have considered it if it was the real Naruto in front of him, but somehow, each clone was obvious to him, as if on instinct. He took a deep breath as the Naruto close suddenly realised exactly what Sasuke was going to do from the horror that crossed its face.

"Katon: Gokakyou no jutsu!" And he blew out the fire from behind curled fingers, shooting it through the clone that puffed away, bathing the hospital roof in a sea of fire. He heard multiple clones puffing away with a cry, but just as he breathed the last of the flame, something strange began to occur. The flames were spinning unnaturally.

What the….?

Finally, the fire seemed to dissipate as if the wind had blown it away, leaving the real Naruto and one more clone and…..what was that in his hand? It looked like a sphere of tightly compressed chakra, but he had seen no hand seals creating it at all. In fact, if he didn't know any better, it looked like he and the clone were compressing it all together by sheer will.

What is that jutsu….?

Whatever it was, he realised suddenly that while he was in the air like this, he wouldn't be able to dodge it at all. Swearing he concentrated, lightning crackling around his hand as he created a chidori. If anything, he could use the chidori to perhaps counteract whatever this thing was.

He hoped.

No, no time for second guessing. He's coming!

Now, the plan may very well have worked. Sasuke hadn't mastered the jutsu to Kakashi's level, but he could at least control the chakra to an amount that wouldn't overpower or be overpowered by the massive amount of compressed chakra in Naruto's hand. He positioned it to strike only at the strange sphere.

But there had been just one one miscalculation.

Sakura.

"Stoooooooop!" Sakura screamed, a blur of pink suddenly coming towards them.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he realised what was going on, Naruto's blue ones widening at that exact same moment.

That idiot, is she suicidal? If she continues at that speed…

She'll get hit by us both!

"Both of you stand down!" She cried.

Sasuke knew that he couldn't. He was in mid-air falling. There was no way for him to slow himself down. Naruto was running at a speed that even if he did slow down, he wouldn't be able to stop in time.

Dammit!

Sasuke considered what to do, about to yank his hand away so that he would collide with Sakura without actually driving his lightning fist right through her. He closed his eyes he knew what Naruto had was going to hurt when something suddenly grabbed his wrist.

What the? Eyes opening, he realised that a gloved hand had him by the wrist. As he looked, he only had enough time to see another hand grabbing Naruto's wrist. With a blur of grey, suddenly the world seemed to spin as he was wrenched from the air, his momentum sending him flying – towards the water towers.

With a faint cry he quickly heald the Chidori in front of him again-

Clang! Sasuke winced as he felt metal scrape his arm, the lightning crackling through and dying. Wincing, Sasuke opened his eyes to see his arm buried right into the water tower, the metal crumpled and twisted around the hole that his arm disappeared into.

This was going to hurt a bit, he realised grimly as he yanked his arm back, ignoring the metal that scrapped across his skin. He closed his eyes as he was suddenly doused by a stream of water until he stumbled backwards. Panting faintly, he, he glanced over to where Naruto was, perfectly dry, a smaller dent in his water tower. But how could that be? He'd been sure that there had been much more chakra compressed into that, unless he'd released it a little when he got flung into the other tower.

"Hey you two!" a familiar voice shouted over to them and Sasuke almost groaned. I should have known….Maybe I should thank him because I got out of getting hit because of Sakura's stupid move. But now my chance is passed! "What are you doing on the roof of the hospital?" Fighting, what does it look like? Sasuke wanted to snap back, but held he his tongue. Kakashi actually looked pissed off. "If you're fighting, you're getting two heated. Both of you…"

Panting, Naruto pulled his hand away and Sasuke saw a small squirt of water coming from the tower in the middle of Naruto's dent. It still didn't make much sense.

"Heh!" he snorted. Either he did release that thing, or I miscalculated that jutsu in the heat of the moment.

"Why are you so obsessed with your superiority complex Sasuke?"

Sasuke blinked, glancing upwards as he realised Kakashi must have shunshined and was now on the water tower that he had just thrown Sasuke into.

He better be just acting here, because if he's forgotten exactly what Tsunade told me, I'm going to hit him, Sasuke thought, shooting a glare at him for a moment, half at annoyance at the superiority complex (I do not have a complex!) comment and half to try and convey exactly what was going on.

"That level of chidori just now," Kakashi continued. "Isn't an appropriate technique to be used here against your own comrade. Were you trying to kill Naruto?"

Sasuke heard a gasp from Sakura's direction and Sasuke glared harder at Kakashi. Do you honestly think I'm that stupid? He thought incredulously. I wasn't going to use it on him. I was going to use it on that jutsu. Whatever it was he used…I was certain at the time that it was just as dangerous as my chidori. Although… he remembered the tiny hole, now I'm not so sure….

"Where did such….Immature behaviour….come from?" Kakashi added, almost to himself. A glint in Kakashi's eye made Sasuke wonder if he was coming to a realisation about why Sasuke had been in a coma in the first place.

So he thinks I'm doing this for revenge, Sasuke summarised. How stupid. There's only one guy I want to kill, and it definitely isn't the Dobe.

Shooting Kakashi one last look – he was certainly going to have to say something about that intervention of his. Sasuke realised now would be a good time to get out of there. He would only have unwanted questions from his teammates and Sasuke had to keep his mind on his mission. The less they knew, the fewer lies Sasuke would have to tell. But he was still going to have a word with Kakashi later.

Quickly, Sasuke jumped, flipping over the fencing and landing on the scaffolding below. As he straightened, he felt something drip on his face. Blinking, he looked up. And choked.

The back of the tank that Naruto had ploughed into was completely ripped open, all the water gone as it a typhoon had ripped through all the metal on the inside.

If that had hit me…..I'd be lucky if I got away with being in hospital for a month! He realised in horror, having to steady himself against the wall as the realisation hit him. I didn't imagine all that chakra before….Naruto….just how strong are you really? All that….is this the power one gets when following that path…..?

Naruto doesn't hate, it's not in his nature to hate, and yet he's become so strong in such a short amount of time…. Could it be that….Itachi way to power is wrong….? Is it actually hatred that's holding me back?

I won't be able to admit it aloud but….Naruto is stronger than me on this path.

But where does that leave me…..?

To Be Continued….

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Translations:

(If not stated here, the translation may have come in a previous chapter)

~Dobe: not a proper translation, but often translated to 'Dumbass' or 'Dead last'

~Tajyuu Kage Bunshin no jutsu: 'Multiple shadow clone technique'

~Shishi Rendan: 'Lion barrage'

~Uzumaki Naruto Rendan: 'Uzumaki Naruto barrage'

~Tora: 'Tiger' – the ninja hand seals follow the animals of the zodiac.

~Katon: Gokakyou no jutsu: 'fire element: grand fireball technique'

~Chidori: '1000 chirping birds'

~Shunshin: Transportation jutsu (or something similar. Ie when Kakashi seems to disappear in smoke. Its actually just smoke or something else distracting like wind covering up a high speed movement, rather than teleportation.

Chosha's Notes:

Phew! I never thought that writing an alternate point of view to this fight would be so hard. Obviously Sasuke's reasons for fighting would have changed to go with the story, as my Sasuke isn't focused on Itachi's notion of hate is stronger, Naruto is better than me blah blah blah, but is trying to find out which path is stronger. After all, just because of this though doesn't mean he's given up on revenge or anything, he still wants to kill Itachi. I just felt that before the Itachi confrontation and after there was a giant change in Sasuke that seemed strange to me. In this story, Tsunade has cut in the middle of the brooding time Sasuke had to follow cannon personality, and gave Sasuke the mission to think of. Because of this it's probably made him focus on the mission and less on brooding over Naruto. I just hope that I pulled it off ok.

If not, well….it is meant to be slightly AU. But I'm trying my best to stick to his personality, while at the same time going to what I need to get this storyline. Still, if you can think of how I can improve on this, you guys let me know! Constructive criticism (i.e. telling me what's wrong and how to improve) is welcome. Please review. It makes Chosha Happy. A Happy chosha means quicker updates.

Next time on Guilt of Innocence:

Sasuke: Is it really possible that Naruto's way is stronger than Itachi's way? It seems that way….but….Wait, those guys. They're with Orochimaru…looks like Tsunade was right, Orochimaru is still after me. Works for me, now I can start this mission properly

Naruto: Next episode on Guilt of Innocence: Enter the Sound Ninja

Sasuke: From now on, I'll have to find out which path is right on my own.

Until next time

Ja ne!

Chosha Kurenai xXx