Huge thanks to: Estel-Ara, Gertrude Abbernathy, Utena-Puchiko-nyu, Calamus, xXMewzikLuverXx, ladywolfTerri, sasori-chibi, Hot-Emo-Athiest, lil joker, sir authoress, Lufry, TheFallenbecomesHaunted, sher162252, Jisa, roses in bloom, idkgoaway, hamiechi, for reviewing!
It kind of hit me when I was writing this chapter that I could have just made it into a werewolf story since I was so obsessed with writing a mated NaruSasu fiction, but then I realised I'm not very good with claws (shakes head) so this will have to do.
Disclaimer: Nope, Naruto is not mine. If it was, you would know, trust me.
Notes: Let me remind you that this story comes with a huge OOC warning. Sasuke is bright, but also very innocent because of a certain overprotective brother. I am under the belief that his personality in canon is mainly due to his brother's betrayal. That's why I think it's credible that with his brother reasonably sane and well, Sasuke would be a lot more naïve to the outside world.
'Thoughts'
Emphasis on a word
The word can be found in the dictionary on the bottom of this page
Chapter 2: Possessive (manifesting possession or the desire to own or dominate)
"So... You haven't actually seen anything suspicious?" Naruto repeated for the third time as he inched closer to Kakashi with an inquisitive look. After his arrival two hours ago, Kakashi had gathered him and Sakura for a quick briefing of the current situation.
The two newcomers had been given squat.
"I'm telling you, they're good. I know they're close, but I can't pinpoint the exact location." Kakashi replied and his only visible eye crinkled in a friendly manner. Naruto and Sakura exchanged a look that clearly questioned the credibility of their old mentor. After all, a man famous for his combined fighting skills and porn wasn't exactly a man one should blindly follow.
"This isn't so you can send us out scouting while you sit here and read, is it?" Sakura asked accusingly, turning to stare at the silver-haired man with a critical eye.
"...I will admit that it's partly true, but this could pose a serious threat too. It's like killing two birds with one stone," was the cheerful reply.
"Be serious!" Sakura yelled, pulling the pink ribbon in her hair to unfasten it with a huff. With deft limbs she quickly pulled her hair together and used the ribbon to make a firm ponytail. A few strands fell loose to frame her face, and Naruto himself sometimes wondered how on earth she could be his colleague. Sakura looked incredibly girly with all her pink everything, but she was deadly and efficient in her line of work.
"I am serious. The intruders are a reason for concern... And it's important to read." Kakashi reasoned, fingers already clutching the orange book in question. Naruto snorted when Sakura whacked their unsuspecting ex-teacher upside his head. "Sakura, don't give him a concussion. That would only leave us with more work," he admonished when he noticed the pink-haired woman was preparing herself for round two. She huffed, but lowered her fist obediently, turning away in search of something to distract herself with.
Sakura ended up taking in the view, enjoying the shelter of the vast mountains. The mountain range was something only the villagers in Tsuyu could fully manoeuvre without killing a handful of people in the process. And it wasn't because they could manipulate the weather like so many foreigners thought. It was a ridiculous notion. A few years ago a rumour had spread. It was said that the village chieftain had the unique ability to control the weather, and anyone who wandered into the mountains without permission incurred her wrath. It had made every outsider superstitious, and for five months not a single soul had even dared to gaze up at the mountains.
Sakura could only laugh at their ignorance.
Tsuyu wasn't situated on a mountaintop, like many believed, but in a shallow valley. The villagers merely referred to the valley they lived in as the Trinity Point because three huge mountains shielded it. Their entire society was based on one thing: the very simple, very useful, very brilliant cave system. Instead of crossing mountains, they simply passed directly through them. To be honest, Sakura was surprised no one had discovered the caves yet, but she wasn't complaining.
It made it thrice as easy to protect the village.
"I'll take the first watch. You get yourself settled." Naruto placed a gentle hand on her shoulder as he came up beside her. He had long ago noticed that the clouds were becoming heavier and darker, and had immediately proceeded to set up his one-man tent. One could say the lot of them were rather spoiled. Instead of huddling together in the closest cave, they had all bothered to carry their own tents for privacy. And since it was something they could afford, Tsunade had not once complained to them about it. The tents were easy to set up and take down, were nicely camouflaged in grey and green colours, and the privacy it offered when alone kept people more pleasant when together.
Naruto could tell there would be a storm soon, and he would've preferred it if Sakura had her tent up as well by the time the squall reached them. "The weather will be rough tonight. You better hurry," he said offhandedly, waiting for her to speak. He knew her well enough now to know when she used the silence to gather her thoughts. Sometimes he found his pink friend very easy to read.
"Why him?" Sakura asked quietly after several minutes of oppressive silence. Naruto was neither surprised by her lack of discretion nor offended by her blatant distrust toward his judgement. He was, however, rather miffed she phrased herself like a jealous lover instead of the concerned best friend she ought to be. She should be asking her questions in concern for his well-being rather than compare his chosen one to the million possibilities out there. "How on earth could you have known it was him?"
"I just felt it. Couldn't stop myself from-"
"Naruto! You should be more considerate. You gave him no choice, and now that you're tied, he can't go back. Don't you see the danger here?" Sakura's voice was sharp and Naruto quickly raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. "I know I have overstepped my boundaries, and I have no excuse for that. But despite everything I've done to him, I know he doesn't hate me. It gives me hope." His eyes softened a fraction as he put his hands pleadingly on her shoulders. "Please don't take that away from me."
Sakura stilled as she let his words sink, leaving Naruto to fidget nervously. Suddenly she laughed and patted his head as if he were five years old. Naruto let his hands drop as he stared at her in bafflement, surprised by her sudden change in behaviour. "As if I could," Sakura said with an assuring final pat, "Only you, Naruto, only you," she murmured fondly. And with that, she bid him good night and went to set up her tent. Naruto grinned at her retreating back, silently agreeing with her.
It was only him.
Him and Sasuke.
It was more than enough.
Sasuke stared.
He didn't really know where to look. The thought that somebody was buried in the soil underneath him freaked him out more than a dead, visible body ever could. It was a whole different matter if someone had died right in front of him. He would be able to assess the body, find out the cause of death and more importantly, determine if the culprit was still around. He preferred it when he could see the dangers around him, although his gut instinct usually had a knack for keeping him out of trouble.
This, on the other hand, was someone who had been buried by a person who cared deeply enough to spend a lot of time on making the perfect gravestone. As silly as it might seem, the thought made him uneasy. Then again, a lot of recent happenings made him uneasy. He didn't feel comfortable sleeping so near a grave, and not because he expected dead bodies to rise, no, it was just the very fact that someone was buried under him.
With just one look outside, however, it became obvious that leaving wasn't an option. It was pouring, and he could see the yellow flashes of lightning at regular intervals, quickly accompanied by rolling thunder. If he left now, he would be asking for a cold and if he were lucky, he would be down with pneumonia in a matter of hours. Sasuke didn't have a choice but to impose on this sacred place.
That's what it was now. Itachi had taught him that since his first day at the ninja academy. Every place used for burial, officially and unofficially, was sacred. It was a disgrace to not respect the memory of the dead, even if these memories didn't belong to you.
It didn't matter. He wasn't here to wake the dead. If everything went according to plan, Sasuke would be gone by midday, hopefully sooner. Having calmed himself, Sasuke rolled out the sleeping mat and curled himself up on the harsh straws. The travelling mat was really uncomfortable, but it would have to do. He wouldn't be sleeping on it for long anyway if Mizuki had been right in his assumptions. If Sasuke was lucky he might even meet Itachi on the way back, and he was anyway certain he could reach Konoha within the week. His sense of direction couldn't possibly be that off.
Konoha.
He missed Konoha. It was his hometown after all. And more importantly it had a library, which he was determined to milk for information. Someone must've heard about this village before. There must have been some records of previously odd disappearances and whatnot. And he could talk to his brother again. Itachi would certainly know how to solve this, and the world would right itself again on its axis.
Content with his plan, Sasuke tucked a hand under his chin and dozed off.
"They're here. You see them?" Kakashi peered over the edge carefully as he watched three outlines approach in the distance, pointing them out for the two others. He was right. Three dark figures were quickly approaching. They moved stealthily, obviously well trained in combat, but it was impossible to be noiseless in this rocky terrain. One appeared to be talking rather loudly as well, possibly complaining by the sound of it. It didn't take long for the wind to carry the voice up to them, and Naruto sharpened his ears as one of the men voiced his obvious distaste for the unstable mountain terrain as his careless foot sent a rock rolling down the mountainside.
Once again, Naruto had to applaud Tsunade's sharp insight. The men below them might be seasoned fighters if they had the bravery to enter the mountains, but they were foolish for letting their guard down. However, they were still a good mile away from the village, and it was for this very reason Tsunade chose to put the guards so far away from the village itself. Not only did it give them more time to prepare should they be attacked, but the enemy was easier caught off guard. They thought they were safely away from the village, and that made them prone to silly mistakes and brash actions.
It made it all so much easier.
"Do we attack?" Sakura whispered, squinting to get a better view. Before anyone could respond, the three people beneath them froze in their tracks, standing completely still as if listening in on the conversation. Kakashi just silently shook his head as he took a cautious step backwards, mindful not to make a sound. There was no way they could've been heard across that distance, but if the intruders even had an inkling of their presence, then their entire advantage would be ruined.
"There were two black-haired men down there with the same symbol on their backs as Sasuke. One of them must be his brother." Naruto mused out loud as he plopped down in front of his tent. "Sasuke won't be happy if he finds out we attacked them," he stated with conviction, silently conveying his message to Kakashi. His old mentor only nodded once in understanding, tilting his head as the trio below noisily made their way up toward their camping plateau.
"I suppose we could try to warn them off first. Our orders are simple: let no one cross the border without specific permission." Sakura suggested with a shrug. She didn't care much for fights, and under Tsunade's tutelage she had learned more about healing herbs and cleaning wounds than fighting techniques. It didn't mean that she wasn't a proficient killer; she just preferred to poison the food, or perhaps slip sleeping draught into the drink and then proceed to kill the victim in his sleep. The only sharp weapon she bothered with was a kanzashi, which could hardly be called a blade, despite its deadliness. Sakura liked it when she could make the death seem natural.
Naruto, on the other hand, wasn't as gracious with his killings, but he was still subtle. However, it was impossible to ignore the dead bodies left in his wake as his preferred weapon was the sharp kind; blades. Of course, it all depended on the mission, but he would usually stick to throwing knives and hidden blades. This was the complete opposite strategy compared to Kakashi who only carried a standard katana and a dagger. The man left a terrible mess and his signature was known all over the country. He always arranged the corpses in a neat position and he never injured his victim's face. Kakashi's only explanation was that he thought it was terribly rude to just leave the corpses after he had killed them, and that it was bad luck for people who passed into the afterlife with disfigured faces (1). It was an obvious sign of disrespect for the dead, he would say, and then Naruto would loudly point out that they were dead because Kakashi had killed them. Kakashi would only stare at him sternly for interrupting before slowly explaining to Naruto that the dead deserved respect, even from their killers. This would be when Naruto would arch an eyebrow, shake his head and just turn around to walk away in the opposite direction.
The only thing they carried in common was smoke bombs. Nasty little things if someone happened to accidentally detonate one. Naruto could easily be categorised as that someone. Luckily he had realised in young age that he should never depend entirely upon a weapon that required a sharp aim, and had instead been happy to choose another area of expertise.
Naruto quickly closed the open tent flaps and sat down heavily on the closest rock with his back against the hard stonewall behind him, appearing very relaxed. Sakura followed suit and simply lowered her shoulders where she sat, observing the view through deceivingly droopy lashes. Kakashi didn't change his attitude much, only went to lean against the wall beside Naruto, still with his nose buried deep in the book. They waited patiently in silence for the small group to reach them.
The first sign came with the sound of footsteps coming closer, occasionally followed by the small rumble of a rock rolling over the edge. Then it was the indignant mutters of a man complaining about the rough terrain and the impossible weather. 'Good, they must've been caught in the storm,' Kakashi thought rather pleased. For unprepared people, the storms could be a taxing experience when up in the mountains. It wouldn't be much of a fight if it came down to it then. This would be a simple matter easily dealt with. Sakura and Naruto could probably return to the village already by tomorrow.
All of a sudden, everything around them became silent. One moment, everything was there, the echo of the heavy footsteps and the hissed whispers, and in the next second, everything was deathly quiet. It was as if someone blew out the only candle in a completely dark room, and caused everyone to fall silent, and some to panic. To say that they panicked would be much of an exaggeration, but Naruto frowned and Sakura's relaxed shoulders tensed ever so slightly. Kakashi's guard was up and screaming for him to locate the intruders immediately.
This shouldn't be possible.
They were the predators here.
The change was quick and deadly. Naruto's gut feeling screamed at him to duck, and he barely had time to bend his head before a kunai was trembling in the mountain wall behind him, exactly where his left eye had been, if his assumption was correct. It was enough to get them moving. In silent agreement, they spread and went for the closest cover. Sakura followed the trail upward and was soon out of sight. Kakashi disappeared into the cave. The tunnels would take him a level above the current plateau and would position him beneficially for an ambush. Naruto only stood up, prepared to face the danger head-on.
He was the bait.
He barely caught the sharp movement in the periphery of his vision, but he had certainly anticipated something unexpected. He acted on instinct and threw himself away with a backward flip. He only registered black hair and the familiar Uchiha fan his Bonded had plastered on the back of his shirt, and for a fleeting moment he thought his intended was attacking him. Then he noticed the great difference in height, and was immediately reassured. That meant he could draw his blades. He slowly inched his ring finger closer to the toggle lever of his hidden blades, and positioned himself with his back to his opponent. By all means, let him think he had the advantage. It gave Naruto something to brag about when he met up with Sasuke later.
Now, if only the intruders would kindly attack, or better yet, go away.
Before his brain realised what the body was doing, he was already doing a roundhouse kick, skilfully aiming for the attacker's head while blocking the blurred fist currently heading for his stomach. However, an elbow easily deflected his foot and in the next second something dangerously cold and sharp was pressed against his vulnerable throat. It had happened so quickly Naruto hadn't even managed to see all the moves, but he had been quick enough to tactfully place his hand over the man's chest. He had given himself perfect access to the heart.
They were caught in a stalemate, but the intruder obviously didn't know this as he only pressed the polished steel closer to his neck arteries warningly. Well, better find out what the entire ruckus was about. And keep his fingers crossed that Kakashi and Sakura had managed to deal with the two other opponents who had yet to make an appearance before him. The man before him was taller than Sasuke, even a few inches taller than him, but the resemblance was unmistakable. It quickly cleared whatever confusion was left.
The man was obviously searching for someone, a family member to be exact.
"You know my brother. Where is he?" The words were hissed into Naruto's ear and once again he was surprised by the similarity between the two, apparently, brothers. He opened his mouth to reply, but stopped short when the katana to his throat drew a drop of blood. "And don't lie to me. I saw the surprised look of recognition. For a second, you mistook me for him." Ah, Naruto had already found the first difference in the two brothers. Although they did look alike, the way they threatened others were vastly different. Like this one, Sasuke would act and talk with the same direct aloofness and chilling conviction. However, where Sasuke was easy to confuse, taunt and anger, this version would most certainly remain just as unimpressed with the wasted efforts.
"Sasuke is safe in the village, waiting for my return." Naruto tried to sound placating, but doubted it would work unless the mentioned little brother was within sight. This guy didn't seem to take people for their words and seemed to be the type who had to see things to believe it. Naruto was proven right when the only response was a quick demand to see Sasuke. Naruto almost laughed at the prospect of just taking strangers into the village without permission from Tsunade first. "I can't without permission from the higher-ups," he said instead, biting the inside of his cheek to prevent his lips from tilting upward.
"Then get permission."
"It doesn't work that way." Naruto shot back, a little annoyed by the obtuse orders.
"Make it work that way. Don't forget the situation you're in." The man made a point by shifting the katana just a little, so his victim was reminded of the steel at his neck. Naruto smirked cruelly in a way that would make Sasuke raise a questioning eyebrow. It was something very unlike him, and even his assailant noticed the change in atmosphere. Deliberately, Naruto made a small flick with the wrist close to the man's chest, causing the sleeve to fall down and reveal his ring finger pressed against the toggle lever of his hidden blade. Even from the sharp angle, the man could clearly see the blade, and the aim could not be mistaken. If Naruto released the blade now, it would shoot straight into his heart.
"I would be damned if I were bested by you." Naruto informed curtly, and watched with satisfaction as the man slowly lowered the katana and took a guarded step back for a new assessment. The blonde considered pointing out how the man was fooled by, most likely, his outfit, but in a way he also understood. One wouldn't expect an orange-clad guy such as himself to be particularly discreet. That's what made him so unpredictable to others. Everyone who met him thought they knew his type because he was wearing screaming orange on a daily basis. Frankly, Naruto thought it was rather prejudiced of them, but it gave him all the more fun when he took them by surprise.
"Why are you here?" the taller man asked, and Naruto had to chuckle. This guy still had the guts to ask the questions, although he was the one intruding. He could most definitely see the similarity between the brothers. It was rather charming. Before he had a chance to reply, Kakashi beat him to it. "You're trespassing," he explained calmly, appearing from the shadows with his sword held directly over the throat of a man with a strangely spiked ponytail. He was apparently the second guy of the little party. Not that Naruto had expected another outcome. Kakashi wasn't one to disappoint in battles. He was both strict and demanding toward himself, and although Naruto had never understood how Kakashi could thrive with such an attitude, his old mentor had never shown anything but progress. It was rather mind-boggling. "We're the only warning you get," he added with a mocking tilt of the lips.
"Iruka." Sasuke's brother took a step toward the man currently held hostage, but Naruto simply unsheathed the blade on his left arm and the man stopped. "Itachi." The man, Iruka, responded warily, and Naruto could practically see the elaborate discussion they had through eye contact alone. They were seasoned fighters all right, but they had a disadvantage Naruto was going to exploit to the fullest. Not a single one of them knew this terrain like he did. One move, one move, and it would all go to hell until one was left standing.
"Could someone get this bloody beast to let go?" Sakura's enraged plea made Naruto turn his head abruptly. 'If they have injured her…' Naruto bristled at the thought, but almost immediately calmed himself in a rare show of self-restraint. This Iruka would simply be the one paying the consequences if she were hurt. Kakashi had turned around as well, still with a firm hold of the man before him, but Naruto could tell from the way his pose had stiffened, he was probably thinking along the same lines as himself.
When Sakura first came in sight, she was walking on her toe balls, craning her neck to stop the man behind her from tugging at her hair too much. The guy was holding her pink hair tightly in his grasp far above her head, forcing her to almost walk on her toes. Her arms were tied behind her back with her own hair ribbon. The guy was arrogant enough to not even have a weapon aimed at her, even though he was armed. It was obvious by the bulging utility belt around his waist that he considered himself quick enough to take the risk. Naruto scoffed. These newcomers were seriously underestimating them.
"Ah, looks like you've got something of ours," the new intruder commented lightly and bobbed his head toward Iruka. "I'll let this missy go, if you let him go," he offered, looking pointedly at Kakashi. It wasn't even a question. Kakashi immediately loosened his hold on Iruka, watching intently as the man started undoing Sakura's ribbon. As soon as her wrists were free, she turned around swiftly and gave the offending man a good kick on the shin before stomping off to stand beside Naruto. Satisfied, Kakashi pulled Iruka up and gave him a shove in Itachi's general direction. The Uchiha quickly made a grab for him and made sure he was steady, before his eyes landed challengingly on Naruto. His eyes narrowed and for a moment Naruto imagined the eyes bled red.
"No need to look at us like that. We had every intention to solve this peacefully, but then you disappeared on us and attacked instead." Kakashi chided gently as if he were facing naughty four-year-olds. Sakura huffed at his mild tone, but didn't comment. Iruka shuffled consciously where he stood, appearing slightly guilty for his accused crime. "We are looking for someone," he explained, "and the tracks continue through the mountains. We need to pass."
"What's the rush? If he's related to either of you it seems like he can take care of himself." Sakura said and put her hands on her hips in irritation.
"He is my brother, Sasuke. And although his fighting skills are up to par, he's not very experienced. And I know you have him." Itachi pointed at Naruto, daring him to deny it. "I can't believe you keep him here in this wilderness all by himself."
"Naruto takes care of his ma- guests." Sakura defended, outraged by Itachi even hinting at Naruto being unable to provide for his own. "He was left in the village with friends that will take good care of him, until he returns. Sasuke won't come to harm while we are here." Sakura swore with conviction as she crossed her arms defensively. These people got on her nerves, although their concern for Sasuke was touching, they had completely misjudged the blonde. He was the most caring person in the entire village, and he would doubtlessly go to incredible lengths to keep his raven well protected and cared for.
"There's no village here in the-" Iruka trailed off and his eyes glazed over, recalling a faraway memory. When his eyes cleared again, he looked decidedly uncomfortable. When he spoke, his gaze pierced Naruto right through the skull. "Don't tell me this village is called Tsu- Tsuy- Tsuyu or something?" he pleaded, and when Naruto gave a short nod, the man looked rather horrified by the revelation. He rubbed the creases on his forehead with a dejected sigh, and when he looked up again, he looked much older. "And you're sure he's in the village?" His question was deigned with another nod.
Without another word, Iruka grabbed an arm each of the two other men and dragged them a little away from the group of assassins. He bent down and started whispering. Several times Itachi stood up and proceeded to leave the circle to beat something up, but Iruka promptly dragged him down again every time. It was when the enraged brother shot up and shouted the word "mate?" that both Iruka and Shisui were unable to hold him back. Then he practically stalked toward Naruto and bent down a little so that they were face to face.
"Tell me one thing," he hissed, "did my brother go with you willingly?" Naruto stopped the urge to swallow, doubting that it would leave a particularly good impression, and instead focused on giving a good answer. "He didn't struggle," he replied casually, 'until after he regained consciousness,' he added mentally, proverbially patting himself on the back for such a diplomatic half-truth. He could tell from the corner of his left eye that Sakura had just prevented herself from slapping her forehead in resignation. Oh well, he couldn't please everyone, and Sakura knew him well enough to tell when he wasn't being completely honest.
Itachi narrowed his eyes. He had come to the obvious conclusion that the blonde had to die. He just hadn't decided on how yet. His thoughts, however, where interrupted when the pink girl poked the blonde's shoulder to get his attention before pointing at something in the sky. 'A pigeon?' Itachi thought. He had seen several pigeons on his journey to the mountains, so he couldn't fathom why this one would make a difference?
It became clear soon enough when the bird dived from the heavens to land on Naruto's shoulder. Upon closer inspection, a piece of parchment appeared to be tied around the bird's right leg. Carrier pigeons? Clever, he hadn't paid the birds much notice until now. After all, they were quite common, but now that he knew, he wouldn't let one slip by him again. Intercepting messages amongst the villagers might give him more useful information.
Meanwhile the blonde had quickly unfastened the message, and was currently reading the note with narrowed eyes, the pink-haired one was reading over his shoulder with barely concealed mirth. "I told you so," she chided and patted his arm in a motherly fashion. "It didn't hold him for long."
"What?" Iruka couldn't help but inquire, curiosity getting the best of him. Naruto looked up, but didn't give an immediate reply, causing Kakashi to graciously step in. "Well, if his silence is anything to go by, I bet Sasuke has just made a run for it. Am I right?" A tight nod was the only response he got before Naruto turned on his heel and marched off into the cave.
Itachi wasn't far behind, but Kakashi daringly took him by the upper arm as he tried to pass. "Don't follow him. Sasuke can't have gotten far and he is also heading in our direction. The same storm that hindered the pigeon from reaching us sooner will have forced Sasuke to seek shelter. That means your brother hasn't been on the move in the dark of night, which makes it highly unlikely for anything to have befallen him. Naruto will find him within hours," he advised, "just wait here and your brother will come to you soon."
Itachi gave it some thought before driving his katana into the ground. "Iruka, Shisui, let's make a camp here and rest. We'll give him until evening. If he's not back by then with Sasuke, we're following." The others quickly followed his example, placing their weapons within reaching distance and setting their camp as far away from the locals as possible. Shisui even had the audacity to ask for further directions, but Iruka had quickly put a hand over his mouth before Shisui had had a chance to repeat the sentence. Kakashi had only looked at him with a stunned expression.
Now while they were busy setting up their own camp, Sakura slowly inched closer to Kakashi, eyeing the intruders with incredulity. "Isn't this- ridiculously arrogant of them? We could easily kill them," she hissed, slightly peeved by their unconcerned attitude. The tallest one, who had held her by the hair, chuckled heartily at her outburst and turned to face her. "We," he began and made a circling motion to indicate he was referring to all the three newcomers, "are here on a mission to retrieve a most beloved little brother. Now he," Shisui pointed at Itachi, "is Sasuke's overprotective big brother by blood. That one over there," he moved his finger to Iruka, "has practically raised the squirt in the absence of his father, and as for myself," he directed the finger at himself, "I'm just trying to get into his," he pointed back at Itachi again, "pants," he finished, deftly catching the kunai aimed right at his heart with two fingers.
"Shisui, you know he isn't in the mood for your jokes." Iruka warned. "What Shisui's trying to say is that you are outnumbered and lack the drive. In other words, this isn't a matter of you killing us…" he trailed off, and didn't even bother finishing the sentence. They had probably caught the subtle hint already. Content with himself, Iruka sat down on the closest rock with a feeling of ease that had been absent since Sasuke's disappearance. So the youngest one had managed to get bonded to that blonde uncouth youth, huh? Well, perhaps not youth, but certainly not fully adult either.
And then his thoughts started rolling. They would have to inform Fugaku of their discovery. Iruka frowned. Although the man might be generally cold, it was no secret to Iruka that Sasuke was practically Fugaku's little princess. Sasuke might be insulted that he wasn't graced with his father's presence more often, but the stern father kept his youngest son spoilt and charmingly ignorant of the world. Sasuke knew of the dangers out there, knew the world could be cruel, but had never been exposed to any of the hazards. The youngest Uchiha was like a scientist with so much knowledge, but still only able to draw conclusions based on others' experience.
Now they had to return Sasuke in the company of his husband. Fugaku would be livid, especially if he found out how exactly the bonding took place. He would probably do something crazy like hiring the blonde to assassinate himself. It certainly wouldn't be above him. Oh hell, they would never hear the end of it. The thought of Fugaku interrogating Naruto about all the dirty things he had done to his youngest son, all the spluttering and blushing on both parts, made Iruka fall over with fresh peals of laughter. And it was while he was laughing his head off and met Itachi's questioning gaze through his tears, he concluded that things would most certainly turn ugly before it could possibly get any better.
It was merely the joyous way of life.
Sasuke woke up with a disturbing feeling of danger in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, but he was sure it was close. He would have to investigate. Throwing away the raw blanket, Sasuke popped his head out of the cave mouth. Everything seemed calm, but it was too calm. The storm had passed and still he couldn't hear a sound. There were neither birds chirping nor any animals lumbering around. He couldn't even see or hear an insect nearby. If they had disappeared, it only meant something more threatening was approaching, or worse, it was already here.
Scrambling to gather his belongings, Sasuke continuously scanned the area for any movement. He was officially experiencing the chills now. He had to make a plan. Should he continue immediately, or should assume that this something was close by and simply wait for it to go away? Ah, decisions, decisions, always the freaking decisions. It was here, right now, he was pretty certain about that. Now, the question was why it was here and what it was looking for.
A twig snapped not too far away, and Sasuke stilled. That sounded… human. Someone was here with him? Naruto? Shit, Naruto! He had completely forgotten about his insane Bonded in his moment of panic. Throwing caution to the wind, Sasuke quickly threw his meagre belongings over his shoulder and quickly headed for the closest trail that continued upward. If he were caught, he would never hear the end of it.
"Wait!" Someone shouted and Sasuke turned to face the unfamiliar voice. Unfamiliar was good. That meant they hadn't met before and he could probably come up with some lame excuse for being here and then be sent on his merry way home. It was obviously a man, despite his long hair. It was black, but looked dull compared to himself or his brother. His skin was even paler than his own and had a sickly sheen to it, although the guy seemed healthy, so it was obviously just his complexion. His clothes were unfamiliar and he carried no village symbol. Sasuke thought he might be from Tsuyu, but he would surely have remembered his… odd appearance if that was the case.
How suspicious…
"That grave, you didn't touch it?" The way he toned it, it was obvious the answer had better be a negative one, or Sasuke would soon find himself in a fight. When he only shook his head, the stranger seemed to relax a little. "My apologies," he offered, "but it is my best friend who is buried there. The grave has been left untouched since it was raised over twenty years ago, and I intend to keep it that way."
"I only slept in there for shelter. I didn't touch anything." Sasuke quickly reassured, even motioning for the man to enter the cave and check for himself if he wanted to. The man only shook his head in response and proceeded to study the youth in front of him. Sasuke became uncomfortable under such scrutiny, but he didn't want to draw more attention to himself than absolutely necessary. Besides, he didn't think the man would find him fascinating for long.
"That is the Uchiha crest, which means you can't be from here. You must be one of the lucky bonded." The man concluded and raised an eyebrow expectantly, waiting for Sasuke to elaborate for him. The raven only managed a snort. Lucky? Hardly. "Yeah, I'm apparently bonded to the loudest blonde one I've ever met," he spat.
"So you're one of the forced ones?" The lifted eyebrow twitched with interest. "I have met several of them through my time here. My name is Orochimaru. Wanderer; I go wherever I please," he added, looking quite content. "So you said a blonde one. What is his name?"
"Naruto." Sasuke replied sullenly, kicking dirt with his feet.
"Uzumaki? Ha, it's always the blonde ones," he mumbled, looking a little troubled. Sasuke tilted his head curiously. So Orochimaru knew of previous cases? That was interesting. Maybe he could help him get back to Konoha. "So, why are you out here alone? I doubt your Bonded would let you go on your own. He must be around somewhere." Orochimaru scanned the area behind Sasuke's back, obviously expecting something to leap at him any second.
"I… ran away. I'm heading for Konoha, but I'm a little lost. I've never been to these mountains before." Sasuke admitted, looking abashed. He was generally good with directions, another courtesy of his brother, but he hadn't been awake when he had been taken, and thus he had no possibility to backtrack. But if Orochimaru were a wanderer, he would certainly know his way around. It was a perfect opportunity for him to get home sooner.
"You've broken the bond then?" Orochimaru stated, looking pleased. Sasuke blinked. "Naruto said the bond can't be broken," he said, remembering Naruto's incessant naggings regarding that topic the past few days. Orochimaru frowned, and Sasuke unconsciously mirrored his facial expression. He could say what he wanted about Naruto, but the blonde had never struck Sasuke as the type to lie. Was it possible that this man knew of something not even the villagers had knowledge about?
Everyone had said it was impossible, but Sasuke had a hard time believing any of them had actually tried at all. They thought it was wonderful, and since it was so rare, they must've drawn the conclusion that everyone involved would eventually give in to… fate? How overrated. Sasuke wasn't one to be blinded by silly superstitions, and he certainly wasn't going to start now. He wanted a choice, no matter how stupid his conviction; it was the principle that mattered.
"Sure it can be broken, but it's a risky process from what I've heard."
"How? Can you do it?" Sasuke put down the weight over his shoulders to relieve his shoulder. Something told him this would be quite the conversation, so if he would have to fight, he didn't want to be slowed down unnecessarily. He dumped the bag by his feet and shifted his hands closer to the utility belt around his waist, patiently waiting for a reply.
"I can do it, no problem. But it's painful, and not everyone survives. You sure it's worth it?"
"Of course! I think it'll be easier for the both of us if the bond is broken now."
"What, no regrets? No second thoughts?" Orochimaru sounded surprised by his determination. Sasuke shook his head. Of course he had considered it, imagined it even, a life with Naruto. And when he had left the village, it wasn't with the intention of never returning either, because Naruto had stressed the importance of the bond often enough. He didn't want to leave the blonde alone. But the funny thing was that Naruto wasn't alone, not anymore since he had befriended Sakura and Kakashi. And after spending several days in the blonde's presence, Sasuke couldn't say he felt anything different toward Naruto. He did feel a remarkably strong sense of security and a high level of comfort, considering the short time they had spent together and how long it usually took for him to get used to new people, but it was nothing earth-shattering.
"So, do you need anything? Like, an ingredient or anything?" Sasuke wasn't sure if he should volunteer to collect whatever Orochimaru would need. If the seals were as complex as Orochimaru said, then perhaps he would be better off if he just stayed away. He didn't know how seals worked, had barely heard someone mention it in passing. It wasn't a common subject in Konoha. It wasn't illegal or anything. People just didn't deem it interesting enough to consider it as a part of Konoha's defence nor offence. It just wasn't clever enough according to the general public.
"Sorry kid, it doesn't work that way." Orochimaru made a move to pat his head ruefully, but Sasuke instinctively made a grab for the wrist. "I simply have to bite your neck," he explained, jerking his wrist free from Sasuke's grasp.
"Excuse me?"
"Your neck, I have to bite it."
"Why?"
"Have you ever wondered how a small village like Tsuyu can possibly prosper in such a violent mountain range?" Orochimaru changed the subject rather abruptly, but now that he had aired the question, Sasuke wanted to hear the answer. "I'll tell you how: seals protect the very foundation of Tsuyu. Some people, with a strong soul, can tap into an inner power of sorts. First it has to be tamed and controlled, so a physical manifestation is difficult. The only way is to use seals. And naturally, Tsuyu is protected by several of them. Only the strongest of the best is sturdy enough to protect an entire village, which means the village is protected by blood seals."
"Seals? Blood seals?"
"Yes. There are exceptions, like your own clan where some members can effortlessly create simple illusions, but if you're going for the heavy stuff, seals are the only way. Bonds are supposed to be unbreakable, and are therefore quite resilient to anything less than blood seals, and even that is a hard bargain."
"But you can do it?" Sasuke challenged, looking very sceptical.
"I can."
"Then do it," he ordered.
Orochimaru didn't need a second invitation. Before Sasuke could even comprehend that the man had moved, Orochimaru was already behind him and biting down on his neck with painful precision. Sasuke didn't even have time to shout before his unexpected assaulter had pulled back, looking ridiculously pleased for causing him pain. The man's happy countenance irked Sasuke to no end, and if it hadn't been for the fact that Orochimaru was helping him out, Sasuke would already be throwing a kunai.
"So what do I do now?" Sasuke asked, tenderly prodding the bite with a cautious finger, drawing it away to find his usually white digit tinged with an interesting shade of red. Great, the idiot had bit him deep enough to draw blood. How was he going to explain this to Naruto?
Naruto? This had nothing to do with Naruto. Sasuke shook his head to gather his wits. He was only doing the dobe a favour, so he had no reason to be upset, even if he did find out. Sasuke, however, had no intention to tell him. He could tell the blonde would have a fit if he found out. And he would probably try to figure out how to break the seal. Telling Naruto would be like defeating the purpose, and Sasuke wasn't stupid enough to tempt fate to fuck him royally over a second time.
"You just wait for the seal to show. It won't take long, a couple of hours, tops. Then it needs time to develop. That's also when the pain will make itself known. You have to be strong for this to work." The obvious insinuation that Sasuke lacked the necessary strength to complete the seal, made the raven's eyelids tick spasmodically.
"I'll be fine," he insisted, eyeing the man as he swept past him and into the cave. "Who is Jiraiya?" Sasuke questioned, following Orochimaru inside as he squatted down in front of the gravestone. "Exactly what is says here: a good friend. He was killed in these mountains and I couldn't take his body back home. If you look closely, you can find his name etched into the memorial stone in Konoha."
"How did he die?" Sasuke tried to sound contrite for the man's loss and his abrupt intrusion, but he couldn't help but ask the question that had been gnawing at him through the entire previous night.
"Extensive injuries, according to her. Personally, I believe otherwise." Orochimaru spat, looking bitter as he meticulously brushed the gravestone with gentle fingers.
"Her?" Sasuke pried, and Orochimaru visibly clenched his jaw as he spun around to glare at him. "Look kid, don't you have a place to be?" Orochimaru questioned with a pointed look in the opposite direction. "No," was the quick reply, but taking the hint, Sasuke quickly let the subject drop and instead focused on a more important matter. "About that," he continued, "how do I get to Konoha from here?"
"The best way is to follow the caves north because the foot of this mountain bottoms straight into a part of Tanzaku Gai's south-east trade routes. I bet it'll take you a day to reach. Just find the road and it's pretty straightforward from there."
"Caves?"
"Yes, the entire village is surrounded by an intricate cave system. Although there are a lot of violent storms in this area, earthquakes aren't a problem here, which make the caves safer than the paths outside."
"I didn't know," Sasuke responded with a downtrodden expression at being kept in the dark. He still couldn't help but be slightly miffed that Naruto had withheld such vital information. Had he known, Sasuke would have been miles away by now. At least he had been going in the right direction. It was a good thing Mizuki had paid attention to the assassins that frequented his shop. Sasuke was sure that without his help he would have headed straight to the sea, and a dead end.
"In the beginning of your stay, you are confined to the village for a short time before you're given more freedom. If you behave, you might be allowed to take on some missions later." Orochimaru languidly dragged a hand over his face, pulling down the corners of his mouth in a way that made him appear even sicklier. "But right now, hypothetically, you shouldn't have a need to know about the caves," he finished, looking at Sasuke to see if he were catching the drift. Sasuke scoffed. Of course, maybe Naruto hadn't bothered telling him because he didn't expect Sasuke to leave in the first place. But seriously, wasn't that a pretty long shot?
Sasuke's left eye twitched. Naruto, that baka! How dare the blonde dictate his life so easily? When he saw him again, Sasuke was going to smack him into oblivion… Thankfully, he wasn't going to see him again. Taking a deep breath, the raven put his frayed nerves at ease by thinking of how proud his mother would be for making it this far alone. Even if he met Itachi along the way to accompany him, he had still managed quite a bit on his own. That would show his father that he could be accomplished too! Yes, that would be his goal. He had to get home so he could brag.
With calmed nerves, Sasuke squatted down beside Orochimaru. "Out of curiosity, how do I remove the seal?" he asked tentatively. At his inquiry, Orochimaru laughed at him. "So you do have second thoughts?" he stated, looking smug. "It's to be expected. The bond is made to create a sense of… addiction, you can say." The man traced Sasuke's cheek with a pale finger, seemingly entranced by the young man's borderline desperation.
Sasuke pursed his lips and stood. No bloody way in hell was he going to be swayed by something so abstract as a pretend marriage caused by intuition and bad luck. "Thank you for your help," he said, and Orochimaru looked up at him from his spot on the ground. There was a hummed reply that Sasuke found rather odd, but he didn't comment. The man had been a great help, and for that Sasuke was thankful. He wasn't stupid enough to look the gift horse in the mouth. That would be plain rude.
Stepping out of the cave, Sasuke took his time to enjoy the fresh air before he picked up his discarded belongings. The heavy air was the main thing he didn't like about the caves. It was almost unbearable over longer periods. Besides, to him the caves were useless at night because he didn't know the system by heart. The further in one went, the darker it would get too. He didn't have time to explore and analyse the caves. He had to get moving! Sasuke wasn't stupid. Naruto must have been informed of his escape by now. Meaning the raven would have to move strategically in order to avoid the blonde.
Sasuke would have to reason with himself for a while. He started walking north, away from Orochimaru, following a trodden way mindlessly as he considered his options. Apparently, dead ends were something to expect, his sleeping cave was proof of that, and he would have no way to know where the caves led beforehand. Another issue was the directional challenge. How could he possibly know if he were heading north if he only had dark, cold walls of rock to navigate by. Too bad Mizuki hadn't thought of giving him a compass. Wouldn't it be safer for him if he continued travelling aboveground instead? Another important factor to take into consideration was what Naruto expected him to do. If he thought Sasuke had discovered the cave system, then his safest bet would be to stay away. Of course, it wouldn't be the first time Naruto had underestimated him, so he could very well be searching for him on the paths.
The black-haired youth was startled out of his reverie when a twig snapped behind him and a heavy hand came down on his shoulder. "You are in such trouble," a chilling voice whispered straight into his ear. Had Sasuke been a lesser man, he would've fainted. Although his shoulders were tense, he forced his stance to relax. Turning around to face the enraged blonde, Sasuke didn't think twice when he shot his fist straight at Naruto's stomach. However, his eyes widened to the size of saucers when his fist stopped by itself inches from its intended target.
Gentle fingers wrapped themselves around his clenched fist and pulled his hand away. "You can't hurt me." Naruto sighed as if this was a knowledge that should've been instilled in him since his birth. Sasuke was about to speak his mind, loudly, when a faint throbbing in his neck rendered him silent. Hoping Naruto wouldn't see; Sasuke quickly turned that specific side of his neck away from the blonde, forcing him to stand diagonally across Naruto.
"What's with you?" A hand felt his forehead worriedly and creased eyebrows expressed the dismay at finding the skin warm to the touch. "You managed to catch a cold in the span of one single day?" was the unimpressed comment as Naruto pushed Sasuke to the ground so he could settle down. Unsettlingly willing, Sasuke sat down by a tree so he could support his back against the trunk. He muttered something in reply that possibly ended with "dobe", but Naruto didn't have the heart to ask him to repeat. Sasuke had already closed his eyes. It didn't take long for the boy to enter a slumbering state, and Naruto took the opportunity for what it was.
Taking a firm hold of the raven, he quickly heaved the sleeping male onto his chest. Snuggled up against him with his chin resting comfortably on the top of Sasuke's head, Naruto could feel some of his anger ebb away. Not that the male in his lap wouldn't get an earful when he woke up, but right now he wanted Sasuke to gather energy for their trek back to the camp. Besides, it was rather nice to sit like this without the usually heavy silence hovering over them. He was glad that they still had an hour to spare before they would have to go.
When in this state of bliss, for Naruto it felt like months since he had been stomping, yes, stomping, through the dank caves on his way to retrieve Sasuke. He had been absolutely furious. Granted, in hindsight, he conceded that assuming Sasuke would docilely allow himself to be left behind seemed like a pretty farfetched notion. However, to do something so ridiculously stupid as venturing into the mountains alone, well, that was just beyond him. If it hadn't been for the very obvious fact that his happiness depended on the black-haired boy, because he most definitely was a boy, then Naruto would have killed him on sight. Luckily for the both of them, Sasuke hadn't gotten far. Not that it would have affected his search much anyway. Sasuke had spent several days with him before Naruto had left, so the bond had had enough time to manifest properly.
When he had stepped out of the cave, Naruto had quickly noticed the wet ground and small ponds of fresh rain. Judging by the soggy ground, Naruto had deduced that if he just headed in the general direction of Tsuyu, he would sooner or later stumble upon a rather soaked little Uchiha. And that idea had suited him just fine then, but right now though, he wasn't so sure. If Sasuke had such a weak immune system that even one night in a damp place could make him ill, Naruto would have to take safety precautions in the future. He wouldn't have his raven sick for such minor reasons.
Naruto was content to let Sasuke sleep, safely cuddled in his lap, but he was forced to give him a nudge when he realised the sun stood high in the sky. Itachi didn't strike him as the most patient guy, so if he didn't want him going ballistic in Tsuyu, they would have to get moving. "Sasuke, wake up." Naruto gave his lover another push, causing Sasuke to mutter something before burying his head deeper into Naruto's shoulder. Now, the blonde had to admit that the sight was adorable, and hadn't it been for the fact that he was supposed to be pissed, the cute yawn that followed would have been his undoing and allowed Sasuke to sleep a little longer. Unfortunately, Naruto was mad, and with knitted eyebrows he prodded the raven until his eyes opened blearily to stare at him.
"Teme! Our village is called Tsuyu for a reason," the blonde chided as soon as Sasuke was reasonably coherent. Naruto beat the urge to give Sasuke a good old, kinky spanking for his dare, but reminded himself that they had to get going. Instead he settled himself by grabbing him by the upper arms and squeezing the air out of him in a bone-crushing hug. With eyes tightly shut, he nuzzled Sasuke's chest with great affection. "We have only one great mountain passage that faces the sea. We frequently experience strong winds and violent storms. Our village has shields to protect against the weather, but if you're up in the mountains, you're in quite the nifty situation," he explained in a calmer voice.
"I know," was the stiff reply, and Naruto stopped his Sasuke-cuddling to stare at him questioningly. He really could keep nothing from his raven. Sasuke must've asked Sakura on one of his visits. Remembering what he came for, Naruto quickly helped Sasuke stand before he bent and picked up the bag the young man had brought with him. "We have to go," he urged, "Your brother wants to see you." Eyes wide and eager, Sasuke spun around and grabbed his shoulder with a disbelieving enthusiasm. "Itachi is here?" he asked brightly. Naruto nodded hesitantly, surprised by the sudden change in personality. "Take me to him." Sasuke pleaded, tugging his arm demandingly. And Naruto, unable to deny a compliant mate, simply pointed at the closest cave entrance and motioned for the raven to start walking. And Sasuke practically bounced on his feet as he disappeared into the cave, and Naruto had to run after him to not lose sight of the blue back as it was swallowed by darkness.
"You do know we have some talking to do, right?" Naruto said tersely. Sasuke's apparently good mood was dragging him down. The raven in front of him halted and turned to face the blonde. His trademark scowl was in place and Naruto stopped himself from sighing with relief. Now he was seeing the Sasuke he had become accustomed to and the sight pleased him greatly. "I don't like the bond." Sasuke gritted out through clenched teeth, "I want to choose for myself, not be influenced by something as nutty as fate. I don't want to like you." Naruto nodded understandingly, pleased because this was the first time Sasuke had admitted there was something between them and stated his feelings. Now the only thing left for him to do was to help Sasuke get the facts right.
"Although this bond is of the romantic type, like every other bond, it can't create illusions." Naruto corrected gently, surprised by Sasuke's sudden willingness to share. "If you feel an attraction toward me, it is your own doing and the bond is merely encouraging your emotions. Don't go blaming the world for what you consider your own shortcomings. Having an interest in me isn't a sin, you know," he scolded lightly, taking the raven's hand in his own as the cave got darker.
The darkness wasn't much of an issue for Naruto as he had played hide and seek inside these caves with Kakashi as a child (2). He most certainly knew the way by heart, but for Sasuke's comfort, he opted for the more traditional way. Instead of going through the caves in the dark, Naruto searched the walls for the hidden entrance to the cave's storage room. For every other kilometre in specific locations throughout the entire cave system, the chieftain had demanded a storage room in case of emergency and for safe travelling. The room was equipped with basic healing kits, dried food, water containers and extra tents. What was even more important was the huge amount of torches safely stocked in waterproof crates. Having the foresight to see the necessity of properly lighting the caves when he returned with Sasuke, Naruto had already fished out a torch and placed it by the entrance of the room. The entrance wasn't blocked, but still well hidden since it blended in with the wall from all angles.
Bending down to pick up the flambeau, he watched from the corner of his eye as Sasuke ransacked his bag for something. When he stood, the raven had already taken the torch and was currently in the process of lighting it with a match. With the torch burning, Sasuke could finally see more than blurred contours again, and he took his time marvelling at the many provisions stored in the small room. This village really had everything covered. It was obvious that the caves under no circumstances met the expectations of minimal living conditions, but it certainly had everything necessary for longer journeys.
Sasuke was impressed.
They continued walking in silence, but at a much quicker pace than before. Sasuke understood; his brother wasn't always as patient as his calm exterior might indicate. Naruto had several times made a sort of noise in the back of his throat before promptly shutting himself up. He was obviously trying to pick up the conversation where they had previously left it. "It doesn't do much, the bond I mean. It doesn't really change anything."
"If it doesn't really make any difference, why bother to bond?" Sasuke asked sourly ahead of him.
"It's complicated. I doubt you will understand the extent of our situation. Tsuyu is a village of assassins. It's a lonely profession. I can't really depend on anyone. But as my Bonded, you're different. You can run from me, hit me and taunt me all you want, but you can never betray me. For an assassin, a partner who could never hurt you in such a way, it's our only true sanctuary."
"Naruto, that's the most beautiful load of sap you've ever spewed." Sasuke mocked, looking offended because Naruto wasn't traumatised by the prospect of sharing the future with another. "This is deep stuff, dobe," he continued seriously, smirking with his back to the blonde. Naruto was torn between responding to Sasuke's light banter or being hurt by the obvious dismissal of his emotions. The raven didn't give him a chance, despite his best efforts to explain and be there for him.
What a damn annoying bastard his mate truly was, but Naruto adored him (3).
"Is that... porn?" Shisui bent forward to peek over the book cover, undeniably intrigued, but Kakashi had already shut the book with a resounding snap and a glare. Quick to heed the warning, Shisui was already on the other side of the camp before Kakashi had the time to speak. Bored out of his mind, Shisui wandered off to Iruka's corner of the plateau. Iruka had settled down on the rock that the blonde had occupied before he'd left. Right now the brunette was currently in the company of the pink-haired girl. Sakura, was it? Crinkling his nose, Shisui slumped down by Iruka's feet, crossed his arms over the man's legs so he could rest his head on his arms, and proceeded to stare at up at his comrade pleadingly.
With Itachi hiding away in Kakashi's tent to brood, no one had figured out how Itachi had convinced the silver-haired man to let him borrow it, Iruka easily read the silently conveyed message. He had to admit he shared his best friend's sentiments. Iruka was getting restless as well and wanted to get moving. Borders be damned. "If the blonde can't find Sasuke, we have wasted too much time here already." Shisui whispered, throwing shifty glances in Sakura's direction as he spoke, assessing her reaction.
"Naruto knows where Sasuke is. The bond between them is strong enough to locate Sasuke wherever he may be."
"How can you be so sure?"
"It's practically the only thing that kind of bond can do. It brings a heightened sense of awareness to the other's presence. Old couples have claimed they received empathic powers, but it might just be a result of all the time spent together." Iruka shrugged dismissively. "Still, a mating is like marriage taken to a whole new level. You become more aware of your partner and the emotions are stronger with bonded couples compared to married people. It does not, however, make you depend on your other mate, and you can live perfectly well without a bond."
"Then why the bloody hell would anyone bother?"
"Bonded couples are incapable of hurting each other. Sasuke could never fight Naruto if it was his intention to kill him. He would experience a complete body lock since the brain priorities the other partner no matter what. That's why the village is so intent on keeping the couples in Tsuyu. Can you imagine what would happen if you pitted a couple against each other? Tsuyu's defence would crumble if the enemy sent Bonded people to fight their intended ones. It would be an all-out war. Even if one could kill another's Bonded, the partner would never allow it. It would be a massacre."
"That makes it sound even worse. Why give yourself such an obvious weakness?" Shisui looked decidedly unimpressed and Iruka sighed. No, he hadn't expected Shisui to understand, but he had hoped the man would catch the gist of it. "It can't be put into words, Shisui, the love and adoration you would feel for someone who was made for you." Iruka explained mildly, and Shisui's eyes lit up in fascination. Chuckling, Iruka found it endearing that even a battle-hardened man like Shisui could find such childish joy in the concept of destined love.
"How can you know so much?" Sakura butted in from the sideline, cocking her head curiously as she stared at Iruka. She had been listening with sharp ears, trying to collect as much information from the conversation as possible.
"My mother used to tell me stories." Iruka indulged her unwillingly, not comfortable talking about his parents to strangers.
"How come she knew so much?" Sakura continued. By the way Shisui bristled in his lap, Iruka could tell he was getting annoyed on his behalf. Instead he gave the younger man a pat on the head, much like he would a dog, with the silent message to calm down. Iruka saw no need to make enemies of them yet before the blonde returned. Besides, it would surely piss Itachi off if he had to break up a fight between one of his best friends and a pink boxer. Shisui had discovered early in their little meeting that the smaller girl knew how to pack a punch, and his stomach was still in the process of sporting the resulting bruises. Shisui considered it a disgrace to his own reputation, but even Itachi had cracked a smile when he had been told the story.
"She was from Tsuyu." Iruka replied briskly. At Sakura's stunned expression, the brunette opened his mouth to elaborate, but instead he found himself trailing off when a shadow fell over his best friend's kneeling form.
"What's going on here?" Kakashi put an inquisitive hand on Shisui's shoulder, eyes narrowed in on the Uchiha currently using Iruka's lap as a Wailing Wall. Sakura, surprised by her usually lonesome colleague's burst of interest, blinked owlishly up at the man before her as Iruka voiced their concern regarding the situation. Sakura took her time to take in the scene before her. With Shisui placed so peculiarly in the other man's lap, the entire thing would have appeared strangely intimate if it wasn't for Kakashi towering over the two. From the way she looked at it, Sakura almost fooled herself to believe that Kakashi was bothered by the closeness the intruders shared. This was a very odd discovery indeed as the silver-haired assassin had never before displayed any particular interest in outsiders.
"Ah, don't worry about that," Kakashi replied to Iruka when the man was done explaining himself. Still rather hesitant, Iruka looked down to continue his discussion with Shisui, but was taken off guard when the silver-haired man squeezed Shisui's shoulder in a friendly manner and bent down to whisper something in his ear. When he was done, Shisui had already scrambled up on his feet and was in the process of dragging Kakashi away from the rest of the crowd. Iruka couldn't help but feel very suspicious when Kakashi pulled out a horrifyingly orange-coloured book from his vest and solemnly handed it to Shisui. The man was balancing precariously on his toe balls in his eagerness to open the book, and when he finally managed to settle himself down, Iruka noticed with mixed emotions the serene expression on Shisui's face.
Iruka swallowed thickly with anxiety. Only three things could relieve Shisui from his boredom, and three things only. Number 1: Itachi, number 2: violence, number 3: sex. So, deductive reasoning told him that Itachi was still in the tent and Shisui obviously wasn't fighting, which only left him with one option. 'So in other words,' Iruka concluded, 'I don't want to know what's in that book.' He got the shivers just thinking of the possible contents in that book.
No, Iruka wasn't a man who practiced celibacy; he was just a man of great privacy.
His thoughts were rudely interrupted when something tackled him unsuspectingly. Following the laws of nature, Iruka was sent sprawling by the force of impact, his arms automatically wrapping themselves around the bundle clinging at his waist. Dazed, he thought he could feel a distinct nose nuzzle into his vest fervently. "Iruka!" someone muttered like a desperate mantra, and he thought he heard Shisui say something about a "damned brat" with undeniable fondness.
Sasuke?
Iruka pushed the raven off him so he could take a better look. Sasuke was beaming up at him, still with a firm hold on his vest. Naruto was still by the cave entrance, observing the reunion with a slight smile. Muffled curses could be heard from Kakashi's tent as Itachi poked his head out to take a gander at the commotion outside. His eyes went wide as they landed on the familiar shape of his little brother, and when Sasuke discovered Itachi's presence, he immediately launched a new hugging rocket.
"Itachi!" he shouted gleefully, and one could wonder how long it really had been since they had last seen each other. Itachi, not one to ruin his little brother's good mood, simply wrapped his arms around his precious otouto as his nerves finally calmed down enough so he could breathe properly again. Not one to get caught in the moment, Itachi refrained himself from repeating his brother's name out loud like Sasuke was currently doing, but the ginger hand currently massaging his brother's scalp could not be mistaken. Itachi had found what was needed to revert back to his old, controlled self.
"…Sometimes you can't help but wonder who the brat's lover really is." Shisui commented dryly as he took in the scene with a satisfied nod.
By the time Sasuke found himself capable of letting his brother go, Naruto had already managed to light a fire and prepare a small meal. No one realised they were starving until a delicious smell wafted through the air and tickled their noses persistently. With both sides appeased and calm, they gathered around the fire, listening to Sasuke relaying in great detail his latest adventure to his brother.
Naruto showed signs of nervousness whenever Sasuke homed in on the story of his abduction. To his great relief, however, Sasuke seemed rather reluctant to admit he had fallen for such simple taunts, that he avoided the subject as much as possible. It turned the meal into a rather pleasant affair, despite the fact that no one had come to any solution yet about what to do. It was obvious that Itachi was to bring his brother home, but the village wasn't likely to allow that to happen.
"Do any of you know of a man named Jiraiya?" Sasuke asked suddenly with a scrunched nose, looking more at Itachi and Iruka than anyone else. He obviously expected to get his desired answer from them. With Itachi shrugging, Sasuke was left with the brunette to deign him with a favourable reply. Iruka didn't disappoint. "Now that you mention it, I think my parents mentioned him several times when I was younger. Jiraiya was a highly regarded Konoha ninja once, but I think he's dead now."
"He is dead," confirmed Sasuke, "I found his grave in one of the caves near the village. Orochimaru said he had been killed." Itachi stopped eating, staring down sharply on his little brother instead. Noticing the sudden drop in atmosphere, Sasuke stopped eating as well. "Orochimaru?" Itachi repeated in a low voice, his lips thinning when Sasuke nodded. "What did he want?"
"He was just checking on the grave."
"He didn't hurt you?" Shisui asked, scrutinising him from head to toe from where he sat.
"No, why would he?" Sasuke inquired quite puzzled, squirming under the many stares.
"The correct phrasing is: Why would he not?" Shisui continued, looking rather horrified at the prospect of Sasuke being in the near vicinity of a potentially dangerous man. Itachi seemed to share his opinion as he put down his food bowl and stood up with the intent to give Sasuke a thorough inspection. "Orochimaru is a missing-nin from Konoha." Iruka elaborated for the greatly confused Sasuke, who couldn't for the life of him understand all the fuss and for once took hold of his brother's arm and yanked him back down again in sheer desperation.
"He is? To me he said he was a wanderer." Sasuke informed, feeling a bit fooled. "And Itachi, I'm fine. The guy didn't touch me," he told his brother, excluding the vampire part lest his brother would suffer a conniption.
"Which is a pretty word for missing-nin." Shisui interjected, looking dumbfounded by Sasuke's obvious lack of self-preservation.
"This changes things." Iruka drawled slowly, deep in thought. "If he regularly visits the grave, then we know where to ambush him," he declared, looking very pleased with himself for coming to this conclusion. Shisui threw a dirty glare at the three locals in turn as he pointed out the obvious. "We would need permission to cross the borders," he reminded darkly, and the truth of his statement made the atmosphere even more dismal.
A heavy silence fell over the crowd before Kakashi sighed heavily. "Fine, we'll take you to Tsunade," he consented, "blindfolded," he quickly added as an afterthought. Understanding the weight of the compromise and the great show of trust, Itachi was quick to agree. Sasuke was only delighted by the prospect of spending even more time with his brother. Itachi would surely help him with his Naruto problem as well. Or maybe Iruka had some good ideas on how to best handle the situation?
After taking this into consideration and giving it some serious thought, Sasuke soon cornered Iruka when everyone else was busy setting up a comfortable sleeping arrangement. Sasuke knew he was doomed to share the one-man tent with Naruto, so he didn't even bother participating in the discussion. Instead he told the entire story from how it began in Konoha to when he woke up in Tsuyu. His runaway act was not something he deemed necessary to tell in detail. Iruka was patient and understanding when he listened, never once trying to break in, and only frowning when Sasuke told him how his first intimate encounter had went. However, when Sasuke stopped talking, Iruka was eyeing the younger man with mixed emotions.
Giving Sasuke's shoulder an assuring squeeze, Iruka looked solemn as he planned his next words carefully. "To me, Sasuke, it sounds like you've considered every option possible on how you can ignore the existence of the bond," he started, ruffling the raven hair affectionately, "It can't be said that you haven't tried, Sasuke. But have you ever thought of how you can actually make it work?" he questioned blandly, and judging by the way Sasuke stiffened, he had hit the nail dead-on.
"B- but Iruka," Sasuke spluttered, desperately tugging at the lapels of the man's vest, "I can't live the rest of my life isolated in some far-away mountain like a good, little wife," he protested. And Iruka drew the connection immediately. It was kind of sweet actually, how fond Sasuke was of his home. It wasn't even the bond itself that worried the man; Iruka knew it was something the raven would eventually ease into if he gave himself time. However, the thought that Sasuke might never see Konoha again, that freaked him out. 'Ah, Itachi's little brother is just the most precious little thing,' Iruka cooed silently in his mind, ignoring the want to just attack the guy and give him a noogie. No, he had to stay focused.
"Listen, as the wife," Iruka expertly suppressed his laughter, "in this relationship, Naruto can be overbearing in some situations. But he knows you can fend for yourself, and as soon as you settle down, I'm sure he'll let you do as you please. It was wrong of him to bring you here without your consent, but you must see this from his perspective too. From what you've told me, I gather you haven't exactly made an effort to make things easier for him or tried to gain his trust. It's partly your fault as well." Iruka admonished gently.
Fidgeting under the stern gaze, Sasuke supposed Iruka had a point. A simple reason for that could be that he now had familiar people to confide in as well. It was reassuring for him to hear that things could work out between him and Naruto from someone whom he trusted. And he definitely believed in Iruka. The man had given him the fatherly affection Fugaku had only showered Itachi with. Fugaku hadn't neglected Sasuke in any way regarding general living conditions, but Sasuke felt a bit slighted by the apparent lack of approval in his father's eyes whenever he looked at him.
"Right, thanks." Sasuke smiled and he even gave Iruka a friendly shove to show his appreciation. This time Iruka really let the laughter loose. The little Sasuke from way back always used to hug someone to show his gratitude. The fact that he had now upgraded the cute move to a friendly punch in the shoulder made Iruka all nostalgic. Following the black-haired male back to the tents, Iruka soon raised an eyebrow when he discovered the new sleeping arrangements. Naruto and Sasuke would indubitably be sharing a tent together, while Sakura, as the only girl, was entitled to her privacy. Kakashi had fished up a spare tent from one of the storage rooms close by, and he had handed it to Shisui and Itachi.
Now, the big question was where the hell Iruka was supposed to sleep.
His answer came when Kakashi walked up to him and lazily pointed in the general direction of his own tent. Iruka paled. Why on earth had he been paired up with that pervert? Mentally noting that Shisui and Itachi owed him big time for this, Iruka stomped loudly over to the tent and looked down at it with a grim expression. He was not going to make a scene! Admittedly, he was the most patient one of the trio and possibly the best candidate to team up with a potential pervert as bunkmate, but still. Without a word, he shoved the tent flaps aside and entered the stuffed room. Quickly crawling under the blanket and huddling close to one side, Iruka had already dozed off when Kakashi entered and went to sleep beside him.
Sasuke couldn't fall asleep, despite his very comfortable position spooned up against Naruto and his tiredness. When the raven had settled down to sleep, he had heeded Iruka's advice and tentatively wormed an arm over Naruto's waist and snuggled closer to the tanned male. Of course, it was done under the pretence of being cold. When Naruto had simply raised an eyebrow at his ridiculous excuse, Sasuke had simply glared at him, abashedly closing his eyes.
He had felt Naruto shift around a lot, before warm fingers had wrapped themselves around him and hoisted him up so he was nicely occupying the blonde's chest. "It's warmer here where my heart is," the blonde had explained with a quick kiss to the mop of black hair, and Sasuke had been too flushed to give an adequate reply. And when Naruto had promptly fallen asleep, Sasuke had even dared to trace the chest with his fingers, slowly familiarising himself with the man he was sleeping on. He had quickly stopped though, not wanting Naruto to wake up and believe he was getting frisky. Naruto had shifted Sasuke around so much during the last hour that they were now facing front to back.
Right now though, the blonde was snoring softly.
It was nice, and Sasuke felt more at home right in this moment than he had felt in a long time.
Halfway into dreamland, Sasuke was aroused because his whole upper body was itching. With a lot of discipline, he managed to ignore the need to itch back until the feeling was irrepressible. By then the itch had subsided, replaced by an adamant sting similar to sunburn. It was then decided that this discomfort could not be ignored any further, and so Sasuke forced his sleepy eyes to open so he could scratch his arm. He had to see where he moved his limbs to avoid possibly embarrassing situations later on. It would be bad if he happened to touch Naruto in inappropriate places, especially if he hadn't even meant to.
Pulling up his left sleeve, Sasuke was surprised to feel his skin hot to the touch. No wonder it was bothering him then. Pulling his arms from under the blanket, Sasuke was startled to see small, black swirls peeking out from under the soft material of his shirt. Sasuke frantically pushed the sleeve further up over his elbow and brought the arm to his face for a closer inspection. In the dim light, it looked like an entire horde of small, inky black snails were having a field day on his upper arm. Wondering if the seal had spread other places, Sasuke carefully untangled himself from his… lover… and silently slipped outside.
In the moonlight, it was easier to double-check the marks on his arm. So far it had only spread to his left arm, from shoulder to elbow, but Sasuke didn't think for a minute that it would stick to one arm only. A little worried about the possible repercussions and unpleasant side effects, Sasuke was eager to examine his neck. He couldn't see much with his head firmly attached to his shoulders, and despite the necessity, Sasuke found himself bothered by that particular fact.
He would just have to improvise then.
Taking a polished kunai from his utility belt, Sasuke took off his shirt and held the weapon behind his neck as he bent his head to look into the blade. Using the blade as a mirror, he craned his neck and trailed the black seal with his eyes, following the patterns away from his neck and over his shoulder blades. Where Orochimaru had bit him, Sasuke could see three tomoe circled in with a thin, black ring. From there…
His observations left him with no doubts.
The seal had spread.
Well, fuck.
Quick dictionary:
Kanzashi: Japanese hairpin with mainly defensive purposes in battle
Baka: Idiot
Otouto: Little/Younger brother
Tomoe: A Japanese abstract shape that resembles a comma or the usual form of magatama. Fact taken from Narutopedia. Look up Sasuke's Cursed Seal of Heaven for pictures. The canon version looks exactly the same, except that Orochimaru's original seal only consists of the three tomoe.
(1) This was a belief of the ancient Egyptians. If you disfigured the face of a mummy, the person couldn't pass into the afterlife because his face was unrecognisable and thus he no longer had an identity. No, Kakashi is not specifically religious or anything in this story, I just like it when he has his quirks.
(2) Kakashi has taken Iruka's role in Naruto's childhood since Iruka hasn't met Naruto until now in this story. So yes, please imagine Kakashi looking for Naruto in dank caves while reading his perverted Icha Icha Paradise. Talk about multi-tasking and night vision.
(3) I kind of imagine him as the doting type with a backbone. Does that make any sense to you? Naruto is very patient with his loved ones, but if he snaps, he snaps. And trust me, he'll snap.
Ha, another chapter up. Next chapter should be up sometime after the summer months. Check out my profile for more info after August has passed. This is my last year in high school and I have four exams coming up, as well as I need to decide what to do with my life. In other words, I'm busy.
Oh, and most of the weapons are taken from Assassin's Creed. Yeah, I know, props for originality. But it's not like you can't find them anywhere else. All you have to do is google. But you know, the weapons from the game suit my characters since the name of the game is Assassin's Creed anyway.
Next chapter contains more NaruSasu lime. No, Sasuke does not suffer from a brother complex, although he is pretty close. Don't worry, Sasuke will realise what a wonderful piece of hunk he's managed to sink his claws into eventually, he just needs to suffer a bit first. After all, love hurts! Next lemon is first in chapter 4. I am, however, considering writing some KakaIru, it will either way be hinted at, but I don't know how long Kakashi can have the patience of a saint with something as delectable as Iruka flittering around. Also, in the next chapter the origin of Tsuyu will be revealed, although I don't think it's that much of a shocker.
Either way, thanks for reading!
NB! I will take up 2 things before I shut up… The second one isn't that important, but please read the first one because I would like your opinion.
1: One of my reviewers asked if this story would contain mpreg later on. I admit that mpreg is one of my many fetishes (as long as it's written within reason). However, as an answer to the question: No. It was not a part of my original idea and therefore it doesn't fit into my overall plan for this story. Not even the time span is long enough, so should I add it then there would be no actual birth or I would have to do a time skip. So no…
2: It has come to my attention that in this story, Sasuke is shorter than Naruto. Though most of you don't particularly care, I'm here to defend myself... Yes, defend my good name and honour. So, it's like this. We authors like putting adjectives in front of nouns because it spices the story, and adjectives like 'small' and 'tall' are unavoidable. Now, Sasuke would be 2 cm taller than Naruto if his height remains unchanged and totally canon. However, this is not common knowledge to every Naruto fan out there, so should I ever happen to write: "Naruto pulled the taller male toward him", then 1) Naruto does not come off as the seme, and 2) you begin to wonder how much taller Sasuke is. Because, you know, if he were a head taller, it just wouldn't look as cute, at least not in my book.
And then, if I should define the actual difference in height, I would have to write something like: "Naruto pulled the 2 cm taller male toward him", and then you would most likely go 'what the fuck', because that would be totally irrelevant to the story. And more importantly, Naruto wouldn't be able to pat his adorable uke's head and then my day would be ruined. And I can't exactly get Kakashi to do it because this is a NaruSasu after all, and he's busy doing... correction, busy with Iruka. You see where I'm going with this? So Sasuke is completely uke-ified in my mind, height and all! And there is nothing you can say or do to convince me- (Sasuke drops down silently and knocks P-Ys over the head with a frying pan, Naruto quickly clicks the 'add chapter' button while Kakashi obliviously reads his porn... eh... guards the door)
P-Ys
