Kunais and Paintbrushes

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all like this chapter.

Chapter Notation: I decided to add a second pairing. One that I've never seen done before. It will just be a minor side thing though. The vast majority of this story's focus will be on Sai and Sasuke. Happy reading.

Chapter 8

When Saturday dawned, Sasuke was waiting for Sai. It was strange how his boyfriend had become such an integral part of his life so quickly. Though idly, he muses he needed another term for Sai.

"Boyfriend sounds like something an Academy Student or Genin would say." Not something that two powerful ninjas would call their significant other.

Though he wasn't entirely sure what else he could call him. Sai wasn't his husband. He wasn't his lover. So what should he call him?

"You seem rather troubled by something." Sai appears out of nowhere.

Sasuke almost jumps. Had he really been so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize the other ninja was approaching? Being distracted to such an extent was normally a good way to get yourself killed when you were a ninja! What was the matter with him?!

Sasuke shakes his head. He was already outside and had been waiting by the hot springs. "Not troubled exactly." That wasn't the right word for it.

"Well something is on your mind." Sai tilts his head. "And it appears to be perplexing you a great deal then."

Alright. That was more accurate. Still, Sasuke wasn't sure how he was supposed to answer that. It all seemed so trivial, even in his own head. So goodness only knows how stupid it would sound, if he muttered those thoughts out loud.

Sasuke shakes his head. "It's nothing important." He smiles at Sai. "So what did you want me to paint today?"

The artist raises an eyebrow. Sai obviously knew that something was up and Sasuke was trying to change the subject. Though thankfully, he it didn't seem like he was going to push the issue.

"I want you to paint something that you're afraid of." Sai smiles at him pleasantly.

Sasuke blinks at that one. Whatever he had been expecting. That wasn't it. There weren't many things left in the world that could still scare him honestly.

He shakes his head at the thought. "Did Kakashi give you a list of suggestions or something?" These were all rather intimate questions.

It would be like Kakashi to slip Sai suggestions. The last Uchiha could easily envision such a thing happening with disturbing ease and Sai going along with it. Because Sai was Sai. He followed orders.

"No." His boyfriend shakes his head. "Lord Kakashi didn't give me a list." He smiles brightly at the other ninja. "I came up with these all on my own."

That was surprisingly, Sasuke thinks to himself as he reaches for some black paint. Sai probably expected that though. Most people associated black with the night sky and the night frightened many people. It was the fear of the unknown he supposed.

Unfortunately, his own fear wasn't anything nearly as common as that. Sasuke's personal demons weren't easily vanquished by a nightlight. No. They were far more tricky than that.

"Really?" Sasuke looks at Sai as he begins splashing the formerly pristine white canvas with the dark paint. "Why?"

They were all so intimate. He and Sai had barely known each other before this. There were times when that simple fact was so easy to forget, but it was true. A week ago, Sasuke had barely known Sai and the reverse was also true.

So much had changed and in such a short amount of time. It was almost enough to leave Sasuke feeling more than a little breathless. Of course, he could compose himself better than that though. Well at least on the outside.

"Because I wanted to get to know you better." Sai squeezes his ass. "And asking you to paint your kunai, well that seemed like it might be in poor taste."

Sasuke twitches. Alright. Forget everything he had just thought about maintaining his composure.

Sai was asking for it and well the last Uchiha had no problem giving it to him. He whirls around and goes to smack the deviant upside the head for that comment. "You are such a pervert!" He snarls, his one eye flashing red and the other lavender.

The Sharingan and Rinnegan. Anyone else besides Naruto and Sai probably would have flinched. Not them though. Naruto because he was born fearless and Sai because he had the fear beaten out of him in ROOT.

"And you're astonishingly predictable sometimes." Sai chuckles. "You shouldn't ask questions that you don't want the answer to." He smiles at him.

That smile. It was so different than the one Sasuke had grown accustomed to seeing on Sai's face. It was so real. So genuine and warm that it made it almost impossible for him to stay mad at the other ninja.

Was that intentional or an accident? He didn't know. With Sai it was truly hard to tell what was an elaborate plan and what was just part of the forced awkwardness that he possessed.

That though brought a deep pain to his chest. "Pervert." Danzo. This was Danzo's fault.

Not for the first time, Sasuke wished that he had drug the bastard's death out more. Not only had he worn his family's corpses (well part of them) as trophies and armor, he had nearly ruined Sai. That bastard had deserved to die.

"Ah there you are." Sasuke hears an all too familiar voice call out from behind him.

That's when he turns around and blinks. It was Orochimaru and Sasuke couldn't help, but twitch at that. People were getting entirely too comfortable with just prancing into his District!


Meanwhile Naruto grumbles as he nurses a few bruises on the back of his head. Suigetsu and his damn sword and Sasuke with his temper. It had been a painful combination yesterday.

"Hey, don't look at me that way!" Suigetsu grins at him as he rubs the own bump on his head. "You're the one who wanted to learn how to handle a sword!"

Well yeah. He had. Naruto just hadn't thought Suigetsu would be so damn psychotic about it. Then again, he probably should have seen it coming. Kisame had called the guy a Prodigy in the Art of Murder, after all.

"Yeah." The blonde rolls his eyes. "I did, but I didn't think that you'd go crazy on a beginner!"

Karin laughs at that. Yeah. Maybe, the sapphire eyed ninja deserved that. He should have seen it coming, but still. He didn't appreciate being laughed at by his distant cousin!

The red head just wouldn't stop though. "Oh come on!" The laughter kept coming. "You know what Sugietsu is like!"

The blonde sighs as he looks around the training grounds they were in. That was true. He did know what Suigetsu was like.

More than once, Naruto was shocked that Sasuke hadn't killed the other man during their journeys as Taka. Sasuke had never been the most patient person begin with. Maybe Jugo had stepped in and saved Suigetsu's neck or something.

"Yeah." Naruto sighs." I guess."

Jugo laughs softly and shakes his head. "You get used to it." Probably.

One could get used to almost anything by exposure, he supposed. Gods and Goddesses knew that it had taken Naruto awhile to get used to Pervy Sage's well pervyness.

No. Naruto didn't care that that wasn't a real word. He was a badass ninja who had helped to save the world. He could make up words if he wanted to! Believe it!

"Besides, Suigetsu's only acting out this way because he thinks your cute." Jugo sips on his tea before he continues. "And he's afraid that you like Sasuke better. So he's just acting out to get your attention."

Wait! What?! THUD! Naruto falls out of his chair in shock. There was no way that he possibly could have heard the gentle giant right! Suigetsu did not like him! Not that way! Did he?


Sai narrows his eyes at Orochimaru. He knew enough about the man from his former slot in the Bingo Book and from Team Seven to be suspicious of him. He was also the one responsible for Sasuke leaving the Leaf in the first place.

"Orochimaru, what are you doing here?" Sasuke's voice sounded torn between confusion and annoyance.

That was a good sign, Sai decides. The Sannin was less likely to ruin things, if Sasuke didn't want him here. Maybe, he'd get lucky and Sasuke would tell the other ninja to leave.

Once Orochimaru was gone, they could go back to important things. Important things like painting and making out. And if he was really lucky, maybe more than that.

Sai quite liked kissing though. "I'm here to make you an offer." Kissing was nice. Of course, he'd like to go even further, but that would come in time.

Sasuke was unexpectedly shy about that sort of thing. He needed someone who knew exactly how much to push before Sasuke would get seriously irritated. If one didn't push with Sasuke, they weren't going to get anywhere.

Naruto's problem had simply been that he had pushed too much. There was a fine line that one had to walk. Luckily, it seemed that the savior of the Ninja World was very much only interested in women. That meant he wasn't going to try to steal Sasuke away from him.

Orochimaru was another matter though. "An offer?" The Sannin definitely would steal Sasuke away from him, if given half the chance.

Sai's fingers itched to draw some rather lethal art at the thought. It was astonishing really. Before Sasuke, he couldn't remember the last time that he had felt an emotion as unpleasant as jealousy.

It was a dark feeling that felt like a weight in his chest and stomach. Like his blood was on fire and strangely itchy. It wasn't quite as poisonous as hatred, but it was distinctly unpleasant.

"That's right." Orochimaru smiles at him slyly. "You still wish to restore your Clan, right?" It was as if the other man though that he had won something.

The artist wasn't exactly clear on what the Sannin was up to, but he doubted it was anything good. His every instinct was screaming at him to chase Orochimaru off. It was a ridiculous thought, but one that he couldn't foolish banish.

Orochimaru was a Sannin. One of the strongest ninjas in his generation. He would not be an easy opponent to defeat by any measure.

The last time that Sasuke had fought him, his almost lover had been lucky. "Of course. Though I fail to see what that has to do with you." Orochimaru had already been gravely sick by the time the two of them had fought.

Sasuke had the advantage that time. Still, the former ROOT Member knew without a doubt that his boyfriend could defeat Orochimaru with relative ease now. That wasn't necessarily the case for him though.

"There are many bloodline Clans that are like your own." Orochimaru pauses as he eyes Sai, clearly not sure what to make of his presence there. "Nearly wiped out with only one or a handful of members left."

Sasuke eyes narrow. It was apparent hat he was thinking what Sai was thinking. Orochimaru was meddling with things that he had no business meddling with. Namely, Sasuke's lovelife.

"I'm aware of that." His voice was suddenly like ice.

Orochimaru glances at Sai again and back to Sasuke. "It's become rather apparent to me that aren't attracted to women." He knew.

The Sannin knew that he and Sasuke were together. Whether that was because of intuition or Orochimaru had been spying on them, Sai didn't know. In some ways, he didn't care.

What mattered was that he knew. "I don't need your help to find a lover and even if I did prefer men, I fail to see what that would have to do with combining any bloodlines." Sasuke's voice was hard, but his grip on his sword was harder.

"Sasuke, you misunderstand me." Orochimaru coos at him. "I only want to help you get what you want and gain some valuable insights into human biology in the process."

"And you misunderstand him." Sai hisses. "I believe that Sasuke's made it quite clear he wants you to go." Every second that the other ninja stayed there, the artist grew more and more agitated.

"He's right about that." Sasuke turns his attention back to his painting. "I do."


Elsewhere Kakashi sighs as he listens to one of his scouts give their report. In this case, Shino. His insects were invaluable in a situation like this.

Orochimaru was an experienced ninja. He was more than capable of realizing when his village had been breached in most cases, but even he wouldn't necessarily suspect a fly of being a spy.

"I'm afraid that they must be hiding their more exotic medical research better than before." Shino shakes his head. "My insects didn't see anything like what you were referencing."

That causes the Hokage to frown. Orochimaru was quite clever and if he wanted to, the silver haired ninja knew that he was quite capable of hiding his experiments. The Sannin could also make his life very, very difficult if he wanted to.

"I see." He rubs his temples. "Well thank you for trying, Shino." The CopyCat Ninja suddenly felt a migraine coming on.

He'd approach Sasuke about this. Kakashi knew that much. What he didn't know is what his student would say.

Sasuke wanted a family. That much was obvious. He was also gay. So that meant that if he took a lover, that lover couldn't be the biological parent of their child. Until now.

"Of course, Lord Hokage." Shino bows respectfully, before darting off as quickly as he had come.

He honestly couldn't predict how his most elusive student would react to Orochimaru's outrageous offer. Would he be disgusted? Would he be intrigued but concerned about the safety of any children sired using this method? Would he be thrilled and take Orochimaru up on it despite the risks?

Each possibility seemed just as likely as the next and Kakashi couldn't lie. That was deeply troubling to him.

"I suppose only time will tell." He sighs as he pours himself a glass of sake.


Orochimaru raises an eyebrow at that. To say the least, he was less than pleased about Sasuke's less than enthusiastic response. That wouldn't stop him though.

He had done this specifically for his former student. There was no way that he was going to let such marvelous genes go to waste merely because Sasuke preferred men.

"So you do not wish for your child to share your genes and the genes of someone you care about." He smiles at him slyly. "You would rather use a surrogate or not have children?"

Sasuke twitches as he sets the brush down. "I said that I wanted you to leave." Orochimaru remained undaunted though.

After all, fortune favored the bold and he was a Sannin. He wouldn't give up that easily.

"Naruto, perhaps?" He pauses as adds almost as an afterthought. "Jugo could be a good choice or even Suigetsu." Granted for power, Naruto would be his first recommendation, but Jugo for his general temperament when he was in control of himself was a better choice. "One of them could make an excellent second father to your child." And well Suigetsu's bloodline was a rather diverse one.

SMACK! Before Orochimaru knew what was happening, he felt a fist collide with his face. With bone crushing force.

At first, he had assumed it was Sasuke. When he looked up as he clutches his now bloody and broken nose though, Orochimaru saw that wasn't true. It was Sai who had attacked him!

He was so shocked, that he wasn't even angry at first. "Perhaps, Sasuke would be interested in your offer, but the decision as to who fathers his child should be left up to him." The boy was practically seething with rage.

So that's what it was then. The artist had feelings for Sasuke and judging by the fact that the Uchiha hadn't become enraged at the other's overprotective gesture, it seemed to a certain extent those feelings were not entirely one-sided.

Hmm. Sai wouldn't have been his first choice, but the boy must have some talents. Danzo wouldn't have taken an interest in him, if he didn't. That much was glaringly obvious.

"Yes, of course." Orochimaru glances at the canvas.

Hmm. It seemed that Sasuke had decided to paint a picture of himself. It wasn't bad, Orochimaru notes. Sasuke likely would never be a great artist, but it was at least proficient.

Sasuke forms a Chidori in his hand. "Yes, now go." He was practically growling at the Sannin now. "I'll think it over and let you know what my decision is later!"

Orochimaru nods and quickly leaves. After all, he wasn't suicidal. And that was precisely what one would have to be in order to anger Sasuke beyond a certain point.


"That man needs to learn to take no for an answer." Sai half seethes.

Though Sasuke knew that his anger was directed at Orochimaru, it was still disturbing. It was disturbing to hear that much hatred in Sai's voice about anything. The Uchiha hadn't thought that Sai was capable of such things, but apparently he very much was.

He supposed that no matter how much training one went through, certain human instincts would always be there. Whether that was love or hatred. It was nearly impossible to alter the human psyche completely.

Sasuke sighs and nods. "Yeah. He does." He gestures towards his painting.

He really didn't want to show this one to Sai. Sai was going to be upset, but well the artist had asked Sasuke to paint what he feared. So that's exactly what he had done.

"You drew yourself?" Sai tilts his head in confusion. "You're afraid of yourself?"

Sasuke could see that he had confused his boyfriend. That was only to be expected though. Unfortunately, that meant he was going to have to explain why he had painted himself now.

"Yes." The last Uchiha looks at him. "That's what I'm afraid of most."

Sai shakes his head and places his hand on Sasuke's cheek. "Why?" Why? It was such a simple question, but the answer was anything, but.

There were so many things, but it all essentially boiled back down to one underlying caught. He could do it again. Sasuk could succumb to the darkness again and maybe, this time Naruto wouldn't be around to pull him out of it.

That was a terrifying though. Why the blonde hadn't given up on him sooner like almost everyone else, well Sasuke doubted he'd ever understand. He was lucky that Naruto hadn't though. Who knows what would have happened to him otherwise?

"I don't want to fall into that trap again." Sasuke sighs as he kisses the palm of Sai's hand. "That darkness."

He could do it again. It'd be easy, but pulling himself back out of it would be nearly impossible.

Sai smiles at him reassuringly. "You won't." That smile could melt a glacier, Sasuke decides.

"What makes you think that?" He whispers.

The artist smiles and kisses him. "It's in your kiss." That made no sense to Sasuke, but he kisses back.

Kissing the other man always felt good and he'd take what he could get. It had been such a long time since had felt good about anything other than mastering new Jutsus, that the sensation had been almost foreign at first.

Thankfully, it had gradually become less so and Sasuke was very grateful for that fact. Grateful for Sai and Hell, even to Kakashi. If Kakashi hadn't sent the artist to him, Sasuke probably never would have given Sai more than a second glance.

Things were different now though, he thinks to himself as he breaks the kiss. "I'm not sure how you think you can tell that form a kiss, but would you care to enlighten me?" They were together and to a certain extent, that was all that mattered.

They could figure out the rest later. Right now, he was more than content just to be with Sai and that wasn't something he had had before. It was something that he wanted more of though.

"People who have given themselves over to the darkness or are considering doing it again, they don't kiss like that." Sai smiles at him. "I know that much for a fact."

Who would have know that the pervert could be so romantic. Sasuke smiles at that. Sai was just full of surprises.

"So what are you planning on having me paint tomorrow?" He looks at his boyfriend pointedly. "Because I know that you've got something planned. Something big." And if Sai bothered to deny it, Sasuke was definitely going to call bullshit on that lie!

"Oh I don't know." Sai smiles at him teasingly. "Maybe, I'll finally ask you to paint your kunai for me."

Sasuke twitches. Every single time that he thought Sai was a romantic, the idiot just had to go and ruin the moment with a perverted comment like that! Did he get off on being slapped or something?

"You wish." Sasuke hisses.

Sai just laughs as he kisses Sasuke's forehead. "Of course, I do." He smiles at him slyly. "Though if you would rather show me what it looks like rather than creating a representation, that would be even better."

Yep. Sai definitely liked being smacked. That was the only logical conclusion that Sasuke could come up with to explain his boyfriend's very strange behavior.

"Keep dreaming." Sasuke rolls his eyes.

Sai smiles pleasantly as if he wasn't the least bit deterred by the raven haired ninja's response. "Of course. Though I believe that is what is more commonly referred to as a wet dream."

Sasuke blinks and just gapes at the artist. Honestly, one never had any idea what was going to come out of his mouth next! The damn pervert!

"Sai, has anyone ever told you that you have issues?" Sasuke sighs.

"Oh all the time." Sai nods cheerfully. "It's just no one ever tells me what those issues are."