Welcome to the next chapter and Happy Easter to you all! (Not even holidays stand in my way of updating, just me being a Capricorn.) I feel that all I do is type… at work and then when I get home, but that's cool with me. I actually got a small cut on my index finger and it hurt to type, made it through regardless. Time to promote my other story for Young Justice: if you're a fan then you should check it out! I'm sure you don't want to keep reading my ramble so go forth and read :)

Sasuke bolted awake at three in the morning from another nightmare that decided to contaminate his mind. He was so tired of having the same one replay its grotesque scenery. Sleep had only found its way to him a few moments ago. His head fell back on his pillow out of mere exhaustion. The Uchiha turned as his eyes absorbed the darkness within the room. His curtains were still. The room was distinctly quiet and latched onto a slightly eerie air. He knew that outside these walls the whole compound resembled this feel.

He didn't need this right now. His sleeping thoughts were brought on for the last few weeks and overstayed their welcome. All thanks to Itachi's last visit, he remembered everything in vivid detail. The massacre happened five years ago, leaving his memories blurry and lacking. Then his brother had to use that damn Tsukuyomi. Now it was back in every bloodstained corner of his mind.

The boy swayed his ebony eyes to the ceiling. It was almost pointless to try and sleep again. No matter how much his body ached for it. He rolled over hearing the wind blow again and the house creak. He shut his eyes in anything but relief.

He just needed the nightmares to stop… It was the worst torment to suffer through, especially since it was all in his head. There was no way to stop it once his eyes were shut in the night. Reliving the pain and then waking up to it disappearing, evaporating into the walls, was a small liberation. Not long after he would realize that it never really departed. It sat in his mind, gathering dust and just when he believed that visibility wasn't an issue… it came back in the worst way. His brother…

The Uchiha shifted on his bed, folding his hands above his head. It was a wonder why he still lived in this house when all it did was add on to his conscious mind that it was his fault for being too weak to save anyone. He was only eight at the time and he knew there was nothing he could have done, but just the desire he felt to blame himself was too overpowering and so he gave into that years ago.

It wasn't a battle worth fighting for when it was his own flesh and blood that caused the nightmare he lived in every day. Sasuke closed his eyes once more in an effort to forget.

Time ticked by and slowly dragged before six o'clock had arrived. Sasuke hardly had enough sleep. He felt fatigue as he sat up; swaying his legs off the bed. He figured that he might as well get up since there was no point in trying to sleep again. The summer heat was leaking onto the house already. The Uchiha looked over at the window noticing that the sun was barely above the horizon. The palms of his hands brushed over his eyelids and remained there for a moment. It was only morning and he already felt this longing to just crawl back under his covers and sleep.

His arms dropped to the mattress as he pushed himself up. He knew he was still expected to meet up with Kakashi for training in an hour. It wasn't that he didn't have time to kill since his sensei was going to be late, about three hours as usual.

What Sasuke really wanted to learn was something useful and powerful like the Chidori. Anything else, including team practice, was pointless to him now. The team hasn't found reason or virtue to recover since they haven't been in each other's presence in days, all due to his impulsive behavior. Sasuke held no further complaint to this since as of now, he didn't care. The longer he could avoid them, the better.

Nonetheless, the teen got up and decided to leave. Sitting around would do nothing for him and maybe some morning air would renew his thoughts.

His feet lead him to the dock outside of the compound and he found himself near the edge of the wooded walkway. His reflection in the moving surface was no different than the other few times he brought his eyes to this spot. He loathed the idea that his vengeance was towards someone that almost mirrored his own face. As he looked down a pebble slipped from his fingers and distorted the image. The ripples expanded as the stone sank to the depths of the water.

He sat down, moving one leg up to rest his chin against his knee. He felt as if he didn't know what was happening around him anymore and couldn't grasp onto any type of refuge… He thought about what he was actually doing. Sitting here alone when he could just take the motive and talk to someone, yet he never felt that he could. The right wasn't his to own. Self-created, self-bound, his shackles weren't his friends… they were hand crafted by the one emotion he could only allow himself to feel and that was resentment towards them. His reflection was the culprit.

He knew darkness, grew up inside its collapsing walls. It was a harmless place to be and the pain inside was part of the deal. What were another few years of suffering this way? The Uchiha looked up to the rising sun. Its brightness wasn't welcomed behind a barred cell.

It took the teen a while before he found the motive to leave. When he arrived at the Third training ground he found himself alone, like he figured he would. Sasuke wondered why they were going to be training here. This is where the team was first assembled. The trip down memory lane wasn't a pleasant one for him to deal with.

A few hours had passed before Kakashi arrived. Sasuke was leaning against one of the three logs in the center as his sensei walked over.

For the second day in a row Naruto was enjoying a bowl of his favorite ramen with Iruka. He was in the process of explaining what was on his mind, knowing that Iruka was always someone he could speak to without restraint. No judgment would be cast on his wavering feelings.

"You know, you and Sasuke have been at each other's throats for as long as I can remember. Even at the Academy you two couldn't get along, more like refused too," Iruka explained looking down at his former pupil. "I knew it was going to be difficult for you to be on the same team as Sasuke in the beginning, but somehow you made it work. It seems like the two of you are good friends."

"Yeah, but Iruka sensei, it just seems like everything just took a turn for the worse." The blond had his chopsticks lightly tapping against the side of his half-filled bowl. "It was stupid of me to accept the fight, stupid of Sasuke to challenge me, and stupid of Sakura to get involved." His frustration was played out carelessly, not having the heart to be mad at the people, just the messed up situation.

Iruka was surprised, almost bewildered, when Naruto explained the fight that happened a few days ago. "I know that you're upset and all, but what's done is done. At least you learned something, right?"

"Of course," Naruto sighed, staring into his bowl. "Even though Sasuke is my rival, I need to remember that he's a friend first. Sometimes I just feel like he couldn't care less about the survival of the team or our friendship for that matter." It was true. Sasuke never showed any emotion around anyone except anger or annoyance. He could remember a few times, rare times, that the Uchiha smiled.

"You've grown up a lot, enough to realize that everyone changes at their own pace. I'm sure that Sasuke is just having a hard time dealing with you catching up to him."

His head turned, dropping his rare anger and taking some offense towards the statement instead. "Hey, he should be happy for me. I train endlessly just like he does."

"Maybe he just doesn't like the idea. I know that you want his acknowledgment more than anything, but he thinks that recognizing your strength marks him as being weaker." The Chuunin leaned forward on the counter, having finished his meal.

"That makes no sense whatsoever." His face fell as a frown took over his expression. "Even in our fight we were close but he was still that little bit stronger, having the upper hand like usual. It seems like nothing I do will make me get as strong as him, but it's not that I'm not okay with that. I get it. We're rivals and that competition helps us get stronger, but now I think it's just getting in the way. In the end I don't care who surpasses who. To me the only thing that matters is if he's still here..." The anxiety that Sakura held seemed to seep into his brain. Sasuke was rash sometimes…

"I just think that Sasuke needs some time to come around," Iruka replied lightheartedly.

His hands hit his head. "Ugh, you're starting to sound like Kakashi sensei."

"Well, considering what has happen in the last few months, I think you guys need some down time. The invasion and the whole Akatsuki ordeal, you should be happy with a break."

"Are you kidding? I'm not afraid of the Akatsuki or Orochimaru or anyone else who threatens this village. I will be Hokage one day and protecting the village started the moment you gave me this headband!"

"Settle down. No need to get all riled up." Iruka gave a small laugh. "Just take it a step at a time. Remember you're still a Genin."

"Yeah, well this Genin never goes back on his word." His statement swelled with pride as his eye lightened up. "I want to become a great Hokage, just like the Fourth! He's the one that I idolize the most!" He picked up his bowl and continued eating.

"You and Sasuke are alike in more than one way. Maybe finding out why you have that something in common instead of just thinking you know it, will help."

"What do you mean?"

"Talk to him. You guys only know each other as teammates and rivals, but really how well?"

"How can I talk to him when he's completely avoiding me and everyone else? I haven't even seen him since I went looking for him with Sakura. Besides if he doesn't want to talk to me, why should I bother?" Naruto loosely clutched his hand around his chopsticks before releasing them, letting them clank against the counter.

"Unlike Sasuke, you can put this situation into perceptive. If Sasuke really is a comrade of yours, someone you would be able to risk your life for, then you know how much it would hurt to lose that friendship." Iruka inwardly sighed. It was hard to explain something like this to someone who knew it, but couldn't distinguish it. "I know that you can accomplish anything that you have determination to achieve. That's what makes you Naruto Uzumaki."

"You're right. I am pretty amazing," the blond stated, getting his morale back. "I can fix this, no problem!"

"Alight, that's the spirit. What are you going to do then?"

"… Um, I haven't gotten to that part yet… Maybe I should wait a bit. I don't even know what to say or if he'd even listen to me." He was stalling and he knew it.

"Well, alright. If you're sure, but waiting too long could also cause a problem."

Naruto faced away from his sensei. He wondered if Sasuke even cared at this point… The thoughts pounded against his heart. He knew what it felt like to be alone, to gain friends, but not to see them walk away after a bond was formed and tied. Sasuke was fading, that much was apparent… but he wanted to believe that he could still reach him.

"Did you hear? Lee's having his operation tomorrow," Sakura said, inspecting her reflection in the glass window. She moved a strand of hair from her face. "I hope everything goes well."

Ino hunched over the counter, her elbows being her support. "Really, he decided to go through with it? I thought all he had was a fifty-fifty shot at best." The two of them were together in the Yamanaka Flower Shop. Ino was on duty, much to her dismay. Sakura had free time so she decided to pay her friend a visit. They both shared equal opinion on their rivalry. They could rekindle their friendship as long as Sasuke was left out of the equation.

"Actually Lady Tsunade increased his chances by one percent." Meekness took resonance of the kunoichi's voice. "She really is amazing." Her tone died down as her glance shifted to an array of flowers on display.

"Okay, what's up with you?" Ino asked after a moment of silence had loitered in the room. "I know you didn't come all the way down here just to talk about Lee."

"Nothing's up. I just don't have much to do. Kakashi sensei has been on his own missions so Naruto, Sasuke, and I have had nothing to do lately. That's all."

Ino leaned away from the counter, her hands still resting against her chin. "You're lucky that you can even go on a mission. I had one today, but unfortunately I had to work. So they went without me." She knew that work came first, but sometimes she wanted that bit of liberation.

Sakura debated on saying this. The words danced around her head before she allowed passage. "Hey Ino, have the three of you ever fought?" She brought her hands together as she walked over to the counter.

"Of course, we get into arguments all the time. With Shikamaru being so lazy and Choji eating all the time, how can we not?"

"No, I mean physically fighting."

"Physically? No… Shikamaru and Choji are best friends, they don't even argue. Shikamaru and I butt heads, but he thinks it's a waste to argue with a girl and face it, he's right." She tilted her head, finding oddity to the question as she continued. "Even though Choji and I don't see eye to eye on everything, it never escalates to more than words."

Her head hung a little. "Oh…"

Scrutiny was detectable in her voice. "Why? Did something happen on your team?"

"Well…" She paused, biting her lip before she allowed the words to be released on exhale. "Sasuke and Naruto got into a fight a few days ago on the roof of the hospital. Sasuke wasn't even fully recovered yet…"

Ino folded her arms. "That Naruto, why does he always have to cause problems?"

"Actually, Sasuke was the one that started it… Kakashi sensei broke it up…"

"But why would Sasuke challenge Naruto? It doesn't make any sense."

"Sasuke's been… acting different lately and I'm just worried." Her fingers tightened around each other, showcasing her discomfort.

"I've noticed that before," Ino replied. The Forest of Death incident with the Sound Ninja replayed in her head. "Do you know why?"

She still believed that it had connection to the curse mark. "No. I mean I have my suspicions but other than that, I can't say. Sasuke was mad when he challenged Naruto, but I don't know what about…"

"Don't Naruto and Sasuke fight a lot anyway? Shouldn't they be fine by now?"

"I doubt they even talked to each other since then," the girl distressed. "Even I haven't been around either of them, so I don't know." A sigh passed. "I should get going. My mom wanted my help with something. So I'll see you later."

"Yeah, see you. And don't forget to let me know how everything turns out."

"I won't," she said, pushing open the door.

Sasuke looked over at his sensei after they created some distance between each other.

"The first thing we are going to do is warm up through a quick sparing match. Then comes the actual training," Kakashi explained. He purposely chose this place in hope that his student would recall the bell test and the circumstances of team seven's formation. He knew that Sasuke would pick up on that aspect. He wanted the Uchiha to realize the distance he created as protection was actually harmful.

He dug the front of his sandal into the dirt as his gaze lowered. "Why can't we just skip to the actual training?" Sasuke asked impatiently.

"There's no need to be hasty, besides warming up helps before the concrete training begins."

"Fine," he responded loosely. He took in a breath to allow his muscles to relax a little. Tension was felt throughout his body. Questions hung around the lost feeling he was suppressing. There was someone in front of him, yet he felt so detached and uprooted. It was a chilling sensation that even he couldn't distinguish.

Kakashi detected a minor amount of uneasiness from Sasuke. "There is only one condition; we are going to be using taijutsu, no ninjutsu or genjutsu. This also means no Sharingan." Sasuke just nodded. "Now I'm not going to hold back, so I don't want you to either."

"Fine. I'm ready when you are." His breath was drawn out. He wanted to train in hope of clearing his head, but he also desired a way to remove his stress without words.

"Alright." Kakashi came rapidly at Sasuke with a punch which he blocked just in time, only to be hit by another. The Uchiha did a handspring back and landed on his feet as to not fall, then charged at his sensei himself.

Kakashi blocked the attacks effortlessly. "Don't be so direct. Your opponent can easily read your attacks like that. You need to keep the enemy guessing."

"I'm aware of that," Sasuke said with annoyance trapped within his voice.

"Then show it."

Sasuke charged at Kakashi again, but was easily knocked onto the grass. For some reason his curse mark was effecting his chakra. Usage wasn't the problem, he knew that he didn't need it. But the faint discomfort was compromising his focus. Kakashi's seal should be preventing the mark from spreading or causing him pain while he didn't have it unleashed. It shouldn't be bothering him. He knew if he brought it up though, he'd just receive another lecture or something, which he didn't care for.

He stood up. This instance reminded him of his fight with Yoroi, but this time he had no trick up his sleeve such as the Lion's Barrage. It's not like his chakra was inaccessible, but it might as well be. He was getting aggravated on how easily he was getting defeated. He then winced as a small recognizable sting hit his shoulder.

"Is something wrong?" Kakashi asked, having stopped a moment prior to his question.

"No," he replied sharply as another wave of pain suddenly hit him.

Kakashi folded his arms and spoke in his knowing tone. "There sounds like there is to me."

"Can we just continue?" Sasuke knew that he could ignore it and wanted to leave the matter to settle.

A shake of the head was accompanied with a sigh. "If that's what you want." It was up to Sasuke to talk and so he'd wait, again.

Sasuke inhaled. If he indirectly used the curse seal's power the pain would cease and he would gain the upper hand. It was only a theory since he usually sustained his questionable desire to attempt this in a real fight.

The Uchiha went in for his second wave of attacks and Kakashi could feel something was off. It was fine that Sasuke was attacking quicker and with more efficiency. His attacks even seemed more powerful but something was wrong and he didn't like it. Something had to cause the detectable change.

As Sasuke kicked he could feel his chakra fluctuate. It was difficult to manage his composure. He threw a punch that Kakashi caught in his hand, but was actually pushed back by the force. The teen kept his head low and his breath was rapid. He could no longer keep control of the curse mark, the pain rebounding to the extent of intolerable, allowing it to crawl across his skin. The sting was gone as quickly as the mark had spread. Half of his face and his left arm was tainted by the black flames.

"Sasuke-"

"I know. I don't need to hear it." The raven moved his hand back as his eyes closed, letting the curse mark withdraw to its original position.

The Jounin took a step back. He had hoped that he didn't need to explain this another time. "Then why did you let it happen?"

"It's not like I did it on purpose." Sasuke turned his head in an effort to drop the subject.

"You shouldn't lose control. The only way that could happen is if you caused it too."

Sasuke scoffed. "Why does it even matter? If I need to use the curse mark to make me stronger, then why shouldn't I?"

"I clarified the reason before. Using the curse mark will only result in ceasing your development." The Copy Ninja didn't like reiterating, especially on matters that shouldn't need a second verse. His head shook in disappointment. "The curse mark derives its power from you. Your chakra is being infected with Orochimaru's chakra. It is true and all that it can make you stronger but only for a few moments. Such it proves a great advantage, but once it spreads too far the power results in a weakness. Your body can't handle the strain and shuts down, leaving you immobile. Not only that but it corrodes your body and mind. In reality it's just trying to take over. You have potential to become strong enough without using the curse mark."

Sasuke held onto his frustration. "I need to use it sometimes. If I hadn't when I was fighting Gaara, he would have killed me."

"That's true, but do you remember what happened a few seconds after? You couldn't move. Gaara charged right at you and if it wasn't for Naruto you would have been killed."

"I would have been perfectly fine if Naruto didn't show up," he shot back in defense.

"Not from the way I heard it. Pakkun told me everything." He noticed the Uchiha's adverseness when the topic was being discussed.

"Like it even matters," he stated as his lack of concern settled to the ground. "After a few minutes I could move just fine."

"Don't argue with me about this, Sasuke. That's just the way the curse mark works. You shouldn't let yourself become dependent on someone else's power."

The teen took a pause, setting aside his tugging craving to stop talking altogether. "It's not just Orochimaru's power. It's mine too."

"You don't understand the point."

"No, I do get it. You don't want me to use the curse mark's power, become dependent on it, and then leave this worthless village to seek out further power from Orochimaru." Sasuke abruptly let the words escape. He titled his head as the wind silenced around the training field. "I don't even understand why it matters to you."

"I care about you, a lot of people do. You're right though, for some reason you don't understand, and that's the problem. And this worthless village, as you called it, has many people in it who are willing to die to protect you." Kakashi could sense the lack of acceptance the Uchiha latched onto whenever this statement was freely spoken. His voice remained calm. "Besides you're smart enough to know that Orochimaru can't be trusted. You know he's only interested in your Sharingan."

Sasuke lowered his resentment when his hand was placed insecurely over the curse mark. "I never said that I trusted him, I just…" His words halted, being replaced with an exhale.

"Just what?" A minor amount of pleading could be distinguished within his question. His tone was evened out with firmness to get an answer.

"Nothing. Forget it."

Kakashi closed his eyes for a brief moment. Sasuke still felt the need to conceal his problem. It obviously bordered on his revenge. He needed to make his student recognize the magnitude of such a decision. Orochimaru was somehow involved in this ordeal. The stubbornness that formed when the Uchiha was being defensive was practically impenetrable. "These are the types of things that make me worry about you, Sasuke. Starting an argument is not the best way to let me know that you're struggling with something. Being direct is a lot easier, for the both of us."

He semi rolled his eyes, gesturing his opinion. The clouds covered the sun, casting the field to litter with shadow, calming the situation. "I'm not struggling with anything and there's no reason to worry about me." His tone remained intangible, matching his confusion.

"I get that you don't like talking to other people when you have a problem, but it's better than keeping it bottled up."

"I already told you that nothing is wrong. Why can't you just believe me?"

"You think I can't tell by now? Like it or not, you have dead giveaways when something is bothering you and I've known you long enough to be able to read them. I know it's annoying to feel like someone is prying, but I'm not. You know that there is free range here. I'll listen to you."

"I'm tired of repeating myself too. I'm fine and you really haven't known me that long..." The statement grasped truth, but couldn't hold.

Kakashi did know him well enough because he was the same way with his own sensei. "Then I'm going to share something with you. There are usually one of two things sought over when people are conflicted," he explained as he held up two fingers. "There are those that think rationally and those who try to rationalize their thinking. You however, have the tendency to go either way. You know what's right but when you make a bad decision you try to make it alright in your head. In the end it's easier to do what you know is right from the start, so you don't have to go through all of this trouble."

"That isn't as easy as it seems," Sasuke responded, letting his hostility settle.

"That's the catch twenty-two. Making the right choices can't always come easy even though they seem like they should. Sometimes it's easier to do the wrong thing because it takes the least amount of effort. In the end it's just not worth the distress and you'll be left with regret. I know that from experience and that's why I don't want you to be submissive to someone else's ideals."

"What if the ideals of others don't mean anything to me? There's nothing wrong to do something for personal gain."

"That's sailing on uncharted waters and can be hazardous. If the act is even considerable then what you really need to do is step outside of your own peripheral vision to understand how a decision is not only going to affect you but also everyone else around you."

"Hm." Sasuke was avoiding his predicament. He knew that stalling would leave him with the inevitable force of an answer if he kept quiet.

"You know for someone who doesn't have a problem you sure ask a lot of questions."

"I'm only speaking hypothetically," Sasuke said, crossing his arms.

He gave a small smile, knowing that this was as much as he really could help if Sasuke wasn't ready to talk just yet. "Of course, but we still have the rest of training to finish up so let's pick up where we left off then."

When sun met the horizon, training had to come to an end.

"Let's call it a day," Kakashi said. "Tomorrow there is something I need to take care of so you're on your own for training."

Sasuke was exhausted. Training alone was nothing when compared to Kakashi's teachings. "Fine." The Uchiha then started to walk away, but stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"We're heading the same direction. You don't mind the company, do you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. In actuality he didn't want to be alone right now... Kakashi was teaching him a new fire jutsu which he was mastering at a quick pace. His curse mark stopped bothering him after he managed to stop thinking about his predicament. It was the only way he could really concentrate.

In the back of his mind he was wondering what Naruto and Sakura were up to lately. He didn't know how they felt about the whole situation. They probably believed that time would simply heal the scratched shell of the team. They had no idea how deep that graze really was. It could be the beginning of an uncontainable collapse that would leave them all in shambles.

Keeping in his emotions was getting complicated for some reason. It seemed like he was losing control more than usual. His anger seemed to be seeping out without his detection. Sasuke closed his eyes and inwardly sighed. Tomorrow was just another day where his internal struggle would continue all due to his lack of will to open his mouth.

As they walked, it remained quiet. Shadows began to stretch and fill the ground. Sasuke didn't mind the silence. Someone was there beside him and that's all that he needed sometimes. When they reached the Uchiha Compound the two of them parted ways with a rested goodbye. As Sasuke walked past all the vacant houses and streets, his mind began to wander. He was starting to think that he shouldn't handle this situation on his own anymore…

Yeah, I avoided anything having to do with the mind awakening pills (have to leave you guessing for now) but you'll know for certain soon enough. I was finally able to bring back in Naruto and Sakura, which was a nice change in typing. I always love writing Kakashi and Sasuke moments. I'm sure that's obvious enough but I can't help it sometimes ;) So I don't know how many people actually read my notes but I appreciate all the follows/favorites/reviews as always. Also mentioned on my profile page that I'm willing to take requests for one shots or short story ideas (my profile page explains that). If you have a question about my story or for me in general like one of my reviewers left then I will answer you in a PM or you can just PM me. Long note, until next week then, hope you enjoyed the chapter! R&R!