Desire is a State of Mind
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I really do appreciate them. As I've said before, this is something of an AU. So the timeline may not always match up perfectly with canon and eventually, the story will diverge radically from canon in order for the pairing to work. Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Kyuubi talking to Naruto or anyone else in bold italics.
Naruto talking to Kyuubi in bold font.
Chapter Notation: The chakra key so to speak is something that I made up. It seems plausible to me, but I doubt it's canon.
Chapter 3
A month had passed since his encounter with Suki and the Akatsuki was clearly on the move. Which meant Itachi was on the move. Which in turn meant that Suki probably was as well.
"I'm sorry, Naruto." Tsunade sighs as she watches him with wary eyes. "After what happened with Gaara, I can't authorize you to leave the village." The Akatsuki had killed the Kazekage, but he had been revived thanks to an elderly Sand woman's sacrifice. "They're hunting the Tailed Beasts."
He had known this would happen. Granny Tsunade wasn't going to let him search for Suki without a fight now, but he had to try. He wasn't going to let her die and after what had happened to Gaara, he hated the Akatsuki even more.
The blonde was still in Tsunade's Office and had been for several minutes. They were locked in a Battle of Wills. "She's right. They're going to be targeting you." And Kurama really wasn't helping!
"Kurama, be quiet!" He was trying to reason with Granny Tsunade!
Tsunade shakes her head at him. This wasn't going well, but Naruto wasn't going to give up. His friend's life was at stake!
She sighs and points towards the door. "This conversation is over." No, it wasn't!
"The Akatsuki is after the Tailed Beasts." Well yeah. "I'm one of them. That means that there is a chance that Itachi will come here to find me." Wait. That was brilliant!
Kurama was right! Suki might just follow Itachi back to the Leaf, if she truly thought he was gunning for him!
Why hadn't he thought of that before?! "And even if he does, if we can find the other Tailed Beasts, we can find the Akatsuki!" Which meant that they could find her!
"Alright." Naruto sighs, seeming to shock Tsunade.
She blinks at him in confusion. "Really?" Not that Naruto could blame her. He had just flipped the switch pretty quick there.
He nods at her though. Acting might not be his strongest suit, but hopefully she'd believe him. Besides, he really was going to stay in the Leaf for the time being. Well at least until they could come up with the plan.
His eyes take in the sight of a surprisingly orderly office, trying to regain some semblance of calm from the normal sight. "They're going to come after me. If I go out there, I'll just be putting everyone in danger." It did help a little, but not nearly enough.
"Well get her back." Kurama might be an annoying, perverted fox sometimes Naruto thinks to himself, but his heart was in the right place when push came to shove. "The woman is a survivor. She is after all, the last female Uchiha for good reason." And he was also right.
Suki was a survivor. She had proven that much on their very first real mission with Haku.
"Why, why did you do it?!" Naruto held onto Suki's body as she lay nearly motionless in his arms.
He didn't understand it! She had always hated him! So why would she take that hit for him?! Why was she barely moving?!
Her hands barley moved at all as she looked up at him. "I don't know." Needles covering most of her body. "I hated you, but my body moved on its own." It was a disturbing sight. "I can't die. Not yet. Not before he's dead." Those were her final words before she closed her eyes and Naruto completely lost it!
Kurama's power had flowed through him. It should have burnt him alive, but all that he could focus on was making them pay. They had actually killed her!
By the end of the battle, Haku and Zabuza were both dead and Sakura was clinging to Suki's corpse. The sobs had seemed unending and Naruto just stared in disbelief unable to believe that their teammate was really gone.
"Ah!" All that changed when Suki suddenly cried out in pain.
Sakura's eyes widened. "You're alive!" She was alive! Naruto sighed in relief.
"S-Sakura, you're s-shoving the needles in deeper!" The pinkette swiftly released Suki after that.
The rest of the mission was a bit of a blur for Naruto. He was just relieved that Suki was still alive and that somehow they had won. After that, he liked to think that Suki had warmed up to him and Sakura considerably. Though in the end, she had gone with Orochimaru.
That still burned him. That she would go with that creep! It didn't matter though. One way or another, he was going to save her and bring her back to the Leaf! Just like he had promised Sakura!
"Yes, just like you promised Sakura." Kurama actually rolls his eyes at him. "That's why you want to save her."
Naruto feels himself twitch. "Will you stop beating around the bush and just say what you want to say?!" This was getting annoying.
Frustratingly though, the Nine Tails just scoffs at him and retreats into the back of Naruto's mind. Whatever. He'd make him talk later! Right now, he had to come up with some kind of plan to save his friend from that creepy snake!
Back in the Sound, Suki was reasonably pleased by her progress. It was exhausting, mastering Genjutsu, but there was no denying that she was a lot better at the art now than she had been a month ago.
Granted, that wasn't a high bar in general. Still, it was the principle of the thing. Now, she was progressing beyond dispelling Genjutsu and into conjuring her own.
"You've improved." Kana's eyes were glaring daggers into her back. "You're still far from a Genjutsu Mistress though."
Obviously. One wasn't going to master a Ninja Art in a month. Suki knew that wasn't realistic to expect anyone to increase their skill level that fast, but Kana now reviled her. That much was clear.
She rolls her eyes at the petite woman. "And you're still far from a Taijutsu Specialist. Would you care to refine your skills in that particular area?" Though Kana didn't see it, Suki was quite certain the other woman knew that that the last Uchiha had rolled her eyes at the Genjutsu Mistress.
"You broke my nose once, but you won't ever get another cheap shot like that in again." Her voice came out in a manner that greatly resembled one of Orochimaru's snakes. "Even Lord Orochimaru's patience is not infallible. You're very lucky to have those eyes of yours, otherwise I think he would have killed you long ago."
Jealousy was such an ugly trait. It was even worse on a woman "competing" with another woman over the affections of a man who wasn't interested in her. Pathetic.
Suki would sooner Chidori herself before she ever disgraced herself in such a fashion. Kana made no secret about her devotion towards Orochimaru, but at least she didn't actually drool. There were a few Sound Women who actually did. (Suki couldn't understand these women for the life of her, but she digressed).
The woman really did love to try her patience. "You're free to think what you like." Suki smirks at her. "The fact of the matter is Orochimaru sees me as more valuable than you. So keep that in mind when you decide to annoy me." She walks off, not even sparing her a backward glance. "Doing so will never end well for you."
Elsewhere Itachi sighs back at one of the many Akatsuki Hideouts. They were still desperately trying to find the Tailed Beasts. This wouldn't be easy.
"We captured the One Tails." Pain's lavender eyes glance at all of them warningly. "We still need the others." Those eyes were not to be trifled with.
Itachi never wanted to test his visual prowess against the Rinnegan. Of course, Pain believed he was a God and that was his greatest weakness in the Uchiha's mind. If it came down to a fight, he would exploit that fact.
He just hoped that it didn't. "Of course. So where we going next?" Which was why, Itachi nods as his partner inquires as to their next move.
It was important to keep up the act. As long as he was alive, he could help Suki and pass along information to Jiraiya about the Akatsuki. At least, his existence had a purpose. That was something.
Kisame might be right. They were both likely fated to die horrible deaths for what they had done to their comrades, but at least he would accomplish what he wanted before doing so. Protecting his foolish little sister.
"The teams will be divided up to go after the Beasts." Pain nods approvingly at Kisame. "Two men or women for each one."
His foolish little sister who had so willingly wandered into the serpent's den. Had she really grown so desperate, that Suki felt it was necessary to seek out power offered by an abomination such as Orochimaru? Apparently, the answer to that question was yes. She had and it was all his fault.
If had planned things better, perhaps he would have anticipated the Sannin's part in this saga. Unfortunately, he hadn't. So Itachi would just have to deal with the cards that fate had given him.
He nods his head in understanding. "Very well then." Itachi dutifully plays the part of a loyal Akatsuki Member by bowing slightly to their "leader."
Had things been different, he would have never fallen into this organization of thugs. Though Kisame wasn't nearly as much of a thug as he liked to pretend to be, he was certainly sadistic. Not that such things mattered in the grand scheme of things.
He had a goal and that was to protect his sister and the Hidden Leaf Village. If he had to, Itachi would have tolerated "Tobi" as his partner. Mercifully, he didn't have to though.
A short while later, Kabuto saw something red in the distance but he couldn't make out what it was at first. That's when he realizes he had dropped his glasses and reaches down for them.
"It worked." Suki smirks as she releases the Genjutsu, only for Kabuto to find that his glasses were still attached to his face. "I guess all that training is finally paying off."
Damn it. He couldn't believe that he had fallen for something as basic as that! Then again, the silver haired medic supposed that he should count himself fortunate that this was all Suki had chosen to do with her Genjutsu.
That or perhaps, she couldn't go much further. "Childish, Suki." He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose as if to make sure they were still there. "Truly. I would have thought you would be putting your newfound skills to better use."
The woman had said her Genjutsu was barely adequate to begin with. It was likely that this actually marked something of a milestone for the last female Uchiha. Using Genjutsu "successfully" against an opponent.
"Better use than annoying you?" Suki tilts her head in a mock innocent fashion. "That would be rather hard to do." The raven haired woman smirks at him. "The only thing better than annoying you, would be killing Itachi."
Kabuto feels his irritation grow at those words. She was playing with him. Suki Uchiha may be a prodigy and she had the Sharingan, but one thing she lacked was any control over her impulses.
In the long run, that wouldn't matter though. "Well go on and have your fun." He rolls his eyes at her. "Your time is almost running out. After you kill Itachi, you'll be Lord Orochimaru's Vessel and then, you'll be little more than a memory."
"Sharingan: Genjutsu!" Suki glares at him. "If you wish to quarrel with me, knock yourself out." Suki's eyes narrow at him. "Go on. Pinch the nerves in your neck that will render you unconscious." Suddenly, he felt his hand move to his neck. "You're a medic, I know that you know where they are."
It was the influence of her Genjutsu. He knew that. Fortunately, she was still new enough at the art, that he had retained control of his conscious thought. Unfortunately, his mind seemed to have a mind of its own. He just couldn't stop his hand from moving.
He glares at her as his hand inches closer and closer to his neck. "This is no longer amusing." How dare she treat him in such a fashion?! "Stop this game of yours!"
"I'm not being childish." Suki's smirk never wavers. "I'm merely practicing. One of most useful aspects of intermingling Genjutsu with the Sharingan is that it allows one to control their movements." Damn it. He knew what was coming!
Try as he might, he was having an awful time controlling his body. He needed to release the Genjutsu, but couldn't resist her long enough to undo the attack.
"You're going to regret this." His words come out as a his as he pinches the nerves in his neck. "I can promise you that." And everything went black as he fell to the ground, unconscious.
Suki shakes her head. "Save your threats for someone who cares." She sure as Hell didn't.
She didn't give a damn about what Kabuto thought of her. Besides, she had achieved two important goals today. Suki had effectively used two different variations of Genjutsu and now, she could steal Kabuto's key.
With that thought in mind, the raven haired woman reaches down and pulls a key out of Kabuto's kunai pouch. "Time to look at those files." The files about all of the ninjas in the Sound Village. The very same files that would help Suki decide who recruit for her team to help her kill Itachi!
Unbeknownst to Suki, Naruto was currently hard at work. He was trying to make Kurama talk. Once, he finally manages to do so, well the blonde in question was suddenly regretting that decision.
"Honestly, one would think that you would have realized this long ago." The Nine Tails scoffs at him. "I understand when you were children, but by now you should fully understand how to resolve this situation!"
He had had it up to her with the fox's taunts, Naruto thinks to himself as he prepares some Ramen. After all, a ninja had to eat!
Though he still wanted Kyuubi to get it out of his system. This had obviously been bothering him for awhile. So logically, Kurama was going to tell him eventually.
Might as well force him to do it now. "If you know a way to save her, stop flapping your jaws and just tell me!" That's what Kurama meant by resolve this situation, right?
"Brat, did you learn nothing from Jiraiya's books?!" The Nine Tails was starting to sound exasperated.
Well yeah. Of course, he had. Though Naruto really didn't see what that had to do with Suki!
Whatever. He'd get his answer one way or another. "Yeah, but we're talking about Suki! Not Pervy Sage's books!" Sheesh. Kurama seemed to have a short attention span lately!
"The Uchiha woman has two goals. Killing her brother." Yeah. Naruto understood that. Itachi did deserve it! "And restoring her Clan. There are only two things that might tear her away from that snake as it stands. Itachi's death or the promise of her second goal."
Naruto blinks as it suddenly all falls into place. The Fox was clearly out of his mind. He couldn't be serious!
Did he really think that Suki had feelings for him?! "She doesn't like me that way!" Actually, Suki didn't like anyone that way as far as Naruto could tell.
"Brat, there is a reason why she didn't kill you when she had the chance." Suki had said it was on a whim. "And I can assure you that it wasn't the lie she fed you about sparing your life on a whim."
Naruto wanted to say that Kurama was out of his mind, but there was no reasoning with the Fox when he got like this. That and some tiny part of him, couldn't argue with his logic and was beginning to wonder if maybe the Nine Tails had a point.
Not long after that, Suki had snuck into Orochimaru's lab with the key and was looking over the personnel files. Normally, a locked door wouldn't have been a real issue for any ninja worth their salt, but the Sannin was far too clever for it to be an ordinary lock.
She wasn't sure about the details, but that door wasn't opening without a key. A key that was under a very special Jutsu. One that she hadn't actually seen cast. So she couldn't copy it.
"Karin looks interesting." She muses as she reads over the woman's file.
The woman was somehow related to Naruto. She had to be because she had the same last name as him, but the blonde didn't have any living relatives left. Well at least that's what Suki had thought until she saw the personnel file.
That wasn't the only reason why she was interesting though. "She can heal people and her Sensory Abilities are phenomenal." This was a woman who would be very useful on her quest to killing Itachi.
"Let's have a look at Jugo then." She glances over another file that was labeled High Risk.
To say the least, the giant's chakra abilities and skills with animals were intriguing. Though she couldn't argue with the High Risk label. There was a reason why he was called Jugo of the Scales. It seemed almost anything could tip the scales and transform him into a bloodthirsty monster without any notice.
It was a gamble, but one she was willing to take. "I'm definitely taking him." Though she still had to look up Suigetsu's file.
Kabuto had mentioned him specifically. Which meant it was likely he was exactly the sort of ninja she was looking for. When she found his file, Suki soon discovers that the silver haired ninja hadn't been kidding.
"He's psychotic." Suki blinks.
Even by ninja standards, Suigetsu seemed to have racked up a high body count thanks to his sword fetish and his Clan's water abilities. If the Uchihas were fire, the Hozuki's were water.
She shakes her head at the thought. "Well it doesn't matter whether he's sane or not." What mattered was whether or not he could get the job done and it certainly looked like he could, she thinks to herself as she swiftly places copies of the files into her kunai pouch.
At that same moment, Kana was entering the lab. Thanks to her many years of loyal service, she had a key to it. What surprised and enraged her though was who else was inside the lab when she entered it. Suki.
"I can't believe that he trusted you with a key!" She snarls.
What made her even more suspicious was the fact that Suki knocked over several vials of something onto the table. That bitch was hiding something and yet, Suki had the absolute audacity to glare at her as if Kana was the one who was in the wrong!
Suki's eyes were watching her like a hawk. "I was about to say the same thing to you." Those damn eyes of hers!
Those were the problem! If Suki had normal eyes, Lord Orochimaru wouldn't be so besotted with her! Couldn't the man see that she was a snake?!
Well actually, Lord Orochimaru had a Summoning Contract with snakes. That might be part of the attraction. Still, this woman was a liability. No matter how many biological assets she might bring to the table, Suki Uchiha was still far more likely to stab the man in the back than to be a loyal servant! Why couldn't he see that?!
"How dare you?!" Despite all that, Suki was the one questioning her loyalty?! It was outrageous! "This time I'm not going to let you get a cheap shot in!" She immediately hurls a Genjutsu at the other woman.
Unfortunately, it didn't connect or Suki dispelled it too quickly for it to have an impact. "Genjutsu: Sharingan!" And now, she was frozen and that bitch was smirking at her!
Damn it! No! She had been teaching Suki how to use Genjutsu. Everything that Orochimaru had requested of her, anyway.
Sadly, that included things like controlling your opponent's movements, stealing information, freeing yourself of it, removing it when it was used against an ally, or even paralyzing your opponent (or causing them to go unconscious).
"As you said before, I have been improving." Sukis smirks at her as she saunters over to Kana slowly and traces a kunai against her throat. "I can do a lot worse to you than break your nose, but you're still more useful alive than dead. Don't flatter yourself by thinking that you're irreplaceable though." She glides the deadly weapon along her jugular. "That's always subject to change."
Kana would have replied to that, but she was still frozen. Even her lips were frozen. The damn bitch had learned away too fast!
The only comfort that she could take in the situation was that Suki was unlikely to be able to hold this Genjutsu for long and that it was unlikely the Uchiha was lying. If she was lying, she would have already slit her throat. Just like how Suki clearly wanted to.
"Oh that's right." Suki's tilts her head to the side, feigning innocence. "You can't speak because you can't move." She dispels the Genjutsu. "If you decide to tell Orochimaru that you saw me here, next time…I wouldn't let you go. Remember that."
Kana's eyes narrow! This woman actually expected her to keep this a secret from Lord Orochimaru. "Very well." She wouldn't do that, but she'd pretend to be cowed by this vile woman for now.
"Good." Suki glances down at the table, lifting it up and sliding the contents into the waste can nearby. "This will be our little secret then." Before summoning a fireball and lighting the trash can on fire. "Goodnight, Kana." And with that, Suki strides out of the lab. Leaving Kanna to her thoughts.
So Kana waits and she waits until she was sure that the Uchiha was truly gone. "She destroyed the evidence." There was no way of telling right away what Suki had ruined, but it had to be important.
The wench wouldn't have burned the papers after dosing them with chemicals, if they weren't important. The only proper thing to do was to tell Lord Orochimaru as soon as possible. So that's exactly what she was going to do!
"I won't let that viper deceive you, Lord Orochimaru!" And with that being said, Kana rushes off to find her Lord and to tell him what she had seen.
Of course, Suki fully expected Kana to go running straight to Orochimaru. Which was why she had forged copies of those files in advance. "All I need to do is replace them before Kana can speak to Orochimaru." She smiles to herself.
So about ten minutes later, Suki sneaks back in to do exactly that. She wanted to be sure that Kana was gone, but to get there before Orochimaru did. Now, that the files were replaced…he'd never know what she'd seen.
If it came down to it, Suki would fight Orochimaru. She just hoped that wouldn't be the case for awhile yet. She needed to be strong enough to kill Itachi before that happened. Not just strong enough to handle a sickly version of the Legendary Sannin.
"Now it's her word against mine. Kana has no proof." Suki had replaced the files. The Genjutsu Mistress truly had nothing on Suki at the moment. "Kana doesn't know who she's dealing with."After all, even if Orochimaru believed the other woman over her, Suki doubted he'd be willing to give up his next vessel over something like that. She had won this Battle of Wills.