Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters created and trademarked by Masashi Kishimoto in the Naruto universe. They belong to their respected owners. I am not making any money off of this story. I do, however, own the plot of this story and Ryoku Uchiha. Please do not use him or any of the written work as shown below without my written permission.All the lyrics at the beginning of each chapter are written and produced by OTEP. They are not my own

Warnings: Violence, coarse language, suggestive themes, dark themes, genderswitch, SasuFemNaru, major spoilers

Paragraphs in italics- flash backs, dreams, and thoughts
normal- present

Enjoy :)

And I... think about it all the time.
I'm volatile and afraid to cry.
But I'm... still not comfortable in my skin.
And the anesthetic… is slowly wearing thin

Ghost Flowers

Chapter 10: Dark versus Light

.

.

The moment the dark shadow's name was whispered, he was gone with the wind, the sun's gray rays blinding her.

She couldn't see him, or anything for that matter.

But oh god could she ever feel him-

And he was coming right at her.

Before she could even begin to think, she jumped at reflex, flipping backwards through the air away from him. As soon as she landed, she ran.

She ran as fast as she could, knowing that if she wanted things to go her way, she and Sasuke would need to be completely isolated from the war. If her fellow comrades were even a few kilometers close they would interfere without doubt.

And she really, really needed things to go her way for this to work.

Stick with the plan. Stick with the damn plan and everything should turn out fine.

She was sprinting as fast as she could, feeling her sage chakra slowly drain from the amount of energy she was putting into what one would basically call, running away.

Although she wasn't a quitter, or one to run away from a fight, her heart was beating so strongly through her ribcage that it did feel like running away. It was as if in the back of her mind she couldn't, and wouldn't, believe that this-this-is reality.

Long ago she had fantasized about this very moment. Hoping-no-wishing that Sasuke would just listen to her for once in his damn life; maybe even realize that vengeance wouldn't give him anything other than a false high that would eventually drop down to the lowest of the lows.

The blonde was someone that understood just how low that low truly felt. Out of everyone, she was the only one who could possibly even have the slightest understanding of how Sasuke felt.

Not Shikamaru, Kakashi, or god damn Sakura.

No one, but her.

That's why, long ago, she had tried to destroy those sick fantasies of hers away, because the raven she had grown so found of would forever be a cynical bastard that was more stubborn than a mule.

Lost in her thoughts, the cerulean-eyed beauty hadn't even realized when Sasuke had caught up, being approximately a couple meters behind her.

'fuck, if he attacks, then the plan will be ruined. Just a little further!'

Finally running into what seemed like a clearing, the blonde stopped immediately, black flames dancing in front of her face, stretching towards the sky with a heat so blistering, that her skin seemed to be scorched by the very presence of the flames.

Turning around, a serious glare etched into her face, she observed the fact that she was trapped inside a massive circle, guarded by the intense black flames.

Amateratsu.

From the other side of the circle, where the flames had yet to reach, Sasuke walked in slowly, a dark and twisted look on his face. He seemed to be studying her before coming to a complete stop. As soon as he stepped in what seemed like a boundary that pleased him, the flames closed off behind him.

No escape

Without uttering a word, knowing that at this point in time it was still useless, the kunoichi adjusted her stance into attack, sage style. She knew that the more time they spent exchanging these silent 'pleasantries', the more time she would have to replenish her chakra to the max.

Seeing her stance, she swore that she saw his lips turn into a sneer before he pulled out his katana at an agonizingly slow pace. As soon as the tip was unsheathed, he jumped.

The jinchuuriki met him head on, deflecting the blow with her father's kunai. They both slid back from the force of the impact before meeting again, this time blade to blade, face to face, and breath to breath.

She punched, aiming for those damn eyes, but he caught her wrist, twisting around so that he could return the favour with his foot. Blocking the blow, they continued with the intense hand to hand combat, knowing that for now it was useless

It was so quick, fast, and furious, that she didn't even have time to realize the amount of scratches that had accumulated on her face and arms. Sasuke seemed to be untouched by the whole ordeal while she was the one already beginning to break down. She couldn't look at him with hope and longing anymore.

She needed to end this foolishness.

Jumping back she summoned two clones to assist in the fight, all of them surrounding the Uchiha. Once he was distracted, she couldn't help but think of how well the clones were doing. Usually, one cut or kick would be enough to disperse them and yet they were able to hold their own against the manifestation of madness itself.

With an intense speed, she created a Rasengan, slamming it into the raven's abdomen with full force. He flew back, landing on his feet like a cat. Yet as soon as he came to a stop, he coughed hoarsely, clutching his stomach as blood dripping down his chin. He then directed his gaze towards her; his eyes full of hate as bloodied teeth were bared at her.

"When will you get it, Sasuke!"

She screamed in vain and desperation, her last and final attempts to bring the raven back to reality. She would beat him senseless, undergo one thousand tortures, die at his own hands if it at least meant that some sense would be knocked into him. She had to give it her all… And if he refused to co-operate.

The blonde kunoichi swallowed the lump in her throat.

She would kill him.

He jumped again, their blades clashing as she defended his downward strike. His blade was nearly touching her face, when she maneuvered, hoping to land another deadly blow which the raven evaded with ease. Striking again, the kunoichi couldn't help but think that considering their skill levels, this little tournament was beginning to turn into a race for who would be able to outlast the other.

She needed to step up her game.

Feeling a very familiar adrenaline rush burst through her veins, she could feel his dark and suffocating chakra to a maximum, as well as every flicker of emotions that came with it. Although, just by looking at his facial features she could tell his emotions right away. He's never seen her look like this before, he didn't know anything about her abilities. Finally, it seemed, she able to catch him by surprise. She sprinted to his side at a speed that was even hard for the sharringan to follow and kicked him – sending the Uchiha flying by the sheer force. As he landed into the ground with the speed of lightning, a cloud of smoke engulfed him completely.

She held her stance, unmoving, curious to see how the Uchiha would retaliate. This was only a taste of a power so miraculous that he would never understand the amount of supremacy she now held in her hands; despite his so called Sharringan.

Suddenly, the feeling of his dark chakra swimming with atrocities had hit a whole new level. As it was sinking into the darkest depths of hell, she wiggled her fingers, preparing for anything that bastard would through at her, yet anxious enough to feel her control slipping.

Something was wrong.

Her throat was burning with an acidic fire unlike anything she had ever felt before and her chest felt as if it where compressing more and more by the second.

Then the smoke began to clear…

Her senses were overwhelmed by a chakra that was fouler then all nine tailed beasts combined. It inundated her mind and made her want to do nothing more than curl up into a hole and hide.

She looked straight ahead to where the raven had landed. The only sign of her deadly attack was a large crater that came into view along with a very angry Uchiha. Yet that was not what scared her into oblivion. The shock that not only came with the ebony-haired male's quick recovery was the monstrous beast that hovered above him – Susanoo.

She had only heard stories from Karin about how monstrous the chakra beast was, but to see it with her own eyes only caused the acid in her throat to rise.

He walked slowly and deliberately towards her, the skeletal demon growing darker and stronger with skin and armour, yellow, feral eyes narrowed down at her in the same manner as its master.

Then, the vitriol was uncontrollable.

She fell to her knees, hacking and coughing on the hard cold ground, eyes squeezed shut at the intensity of the force. Cracking them open, cerulean widened at the sight before her –

A mangled crow.

'I'm putting the trust of my brother's life in your hands. That is why I am giving you a piece of my power to help you along the way…'

Unbelievable.

Before she knew it, the mangled crow began to move with life again, flying high into the sky before bursting into a flock of crows surrounding not only her, but Sasuke as well. From the gathering of crows, a manifestation of Uchiha Itachi himself emerged, a curious expression playing upon his face.

"Otouto," he spoke slowly in a leisurely drawl, "I had hoped that it would never come to this".

Getting over her own shock, she glance over at the younger Uchiha, not accustomed to seeing such a shocked expression gracing his features rather than the usually permanent state of glaring. He seemed to be at a loss of words, unable to digest the situation just as much as she was.

"It saddens me to think that after learning the truth you seek to destroy the Leaf, isn't that right, Sasuke?"

Overwhelmed by emotions that the blonde has never before witnessed, the obsidian-eyed man was overcome by rage once again.

"What the hell is this? Some sick mind game?"

"Not at all, foolish little brother. I knew that this would happen between the two of you and I knew that Naru-chan would fight to the end. So I decided to assist her a little in case she were to be faced against a Susanoo of my own eye."

"This isn't possible!" he argued back, the lid on his emotions far gone and destroyed by now. "This isn't real!"

"Of course it is. I knew I would die by your hand, Sasuke, so I devised a particular clone – perfected the process, and implanted it into Naruto the last time I had the pleasure of seeing her".

Crazed eyes landed upon her and all she could do was stare, still assimilating the situation at hand. Itachi on the other hand seemed to waste no time in continuing his cause.

"Otouto… don't destroy the leaf. Stop what you are doing,"

"They forced you to slaughter our clan! They all deserve to die!" Itachi seemed calmed with the statement, shaking his head before speaking,

"Our clan was foolish, Sasuke, they wanted to start a another war -"

"Then why did they make you kill off the innocents!"

"Because are clan is tainted, Sasuke," the elder chastised, trying to control an animal out of its cage. An animal that was too confused, too shocked, and too angry to listen.

"Nothing but blood and suffering come out of the Uchiha."

"Then why should Konoha live peacefully? Why do they get to be happy when everything, everything was taken away from me! Give me some god damned answers Itachi!" He screamed in rage, the Susanoo growing with power at every second.

Suddenly the elder glared, his own tainted eyes spinning wildly

"It appears that you are still to foolish for an explanation, Sasuke, after all, you are not the only one that had everything taken away from them. You forget that you at least had a family. Some people in this world are cursed enough to have everything taken away from them at birth".

He gestured his head back towards the blonde jinchuuriki, whose red eyes were flickering back and forth between the two – too awestruck to even say a word.

Seeing his younger brother's face cloud with confusion, snarling savagely at the blonde, he smirked, walking towards the younger slowly.

"You are so lucky, Sasuke," he stared slowly catching the other's attention completely.

"You are so lucky to have someone who would love you unconditionally and give up everything for your happiness. You do have a family, whether you acknowledge it or not, other than our own. Although you were a bird that fell out of the nest early, you've grown into a truly unique specimen and have created your own- whether you see it or not- you have a home."

Sasuke pulled out his sword in a spiteful rage, the Susanoo slowly fading from the overflow of emotions. His eyes were watering as the sight of his brother – the brother he loved unconditionally who refused to understand that the reason he was doing all of this was for him.

In honour of his memory.

"Konoha deserves to burn for their sins against you – against us. Those vermin do not deserve the peace and calamity of their lives while mine was ruined. Although I think that you can agree, that it was not only my life that was ruined. They ruined yours as well!"

The ex-Akatsuki member shook his head, the smile still dancing across his face.

"They ruined Naru-chan's as well, yet we both love the village more than anything. So tell me, Sasuke, do you not love me?"

The other's face fell, eyes shocked at the accusation. It was the first time that the blonde jinchuuriki had seen the sinisterly powerful young man's face so broken with pure and utter sadness at Itachi's denunciation. Taking her own steps forward, she saw her chance. He was vulnerable and open, leaving the gap that she was looking for.

Remember to stick to the plan.

Itachi continued on with his rant, his once full and complete form beginning to fade. Shaking his head, he murmured aloud,

"It seems as if my time is running out. The clone wasn't designed to be durable for long periods of time".

Looking up again, he was all but from a few meters from his Otouto, the kusangi in his hands still upright, despite the despair that had taken over his entire body.

"If you love me, Sasuke, then promise to listen to me for at least once in your life. Promise me that you will leave Konoha safe from harm, if not for their sake, for mine". The other looked down, digesting the words with that had just come out of his brother's mouth.

"Promise me, for my sake, that for once you will give into your own desires – not into the desires of other people. You killed me to avenge the clan and now you are destroying Konoha in hopes of avenging me. If you really want to avenge me, leave Konoha in peace and live your life according to your own hearts desires".

"Aniki -" The short-haired raven interjected, confusion clouding his face completely,

"Aniki, explain to me why, why you did everything -"

"There is no time to explain, Sasuke, perhaps one day I will explain it to you, but for the time being," he moved even closer, placing two fingers on the other's forehead,

"You have good things going for you – do not forget that there are people on this cold earth who still love you, Sasuke. After all, don't you have a son to take care of?"

The other sneered, his breath shaking as cold words came out from cracked lips.

"This has nothing this to do with them! Konoha still will burn at my hands Aniki, I cannot promise you their safety…. But I can promise you that the desires of my heart will be fed, once every single parasite is exterminated!"

Suddenly the mere apparition of Uchiha Itachi burst into thousands of crows, surrounding the younger fully as he was transported back into his old house. Back to the room where he had witnessed his own parents fall to the hands of his brother. He looked around shocked to see the other standing on the other side of the room.

The scene was wrong though.

It was Naruto who was lying on the ground, cold and dead – swimming in a pool of her own blood; once sky-blue eyes turned dark and grey with the cold kiss of death. Then the door opened. His eyes widened at the sight of a small boy – a boy he had never seen before. His hair was thick and black, spiking at the back of his head. It looked like a mirror reflection of own younger self, except the eyes – the eyes were the same haunting sky-blue that he was never able to escape.

Was this….

Was this his….

It couldn't be…

Was this his son?

The boy, at the sight before him, screamed – falling to his knees from the horrifying scene before him.

"Kaa-chan?" he called out in a whisper. "Kaa-chan, are you ok? Kaa-chan? Why aren't you moving? KAA-CHAN!"

Unable to look, the familiar yet oh-so-different scene before him to close for comfort, he looked up – his brother's own accusing stare glaring at the blood on his sword.

"If you regret the loss of our family so much, foolish Otouto, then don't turn into me…

…don't turn into the monster that I had become…

…the monster that ruined your life"

Shocked with the statement, he suddenly stepped back, the blow of the words hitting him hard – very hard.

Then came those eyes.

The eyes of the small boy glaring at him tearfully with a hate unlike anything he had experience before. Hate, that he had only witnessed once –

In the reflection of his own eyes.

And then he was back on the field, Itachi gone from the world once again. Looking up, his eyes widened at the sight of the blonde kunoichi, smiling at him so brightly that now she no longer made the sky jealous, but the sun as well. Yet too close, too close to be smiling so happily.

It was too perfect…

…Until cherry crimson dribbled from her mouth, down her chin, and onto the ground. Following the liquid, his eyes widened at the sight.

His own sword – the one he had held up against his brother moments before – was now impaled in the jinchuuriki from her stomach out. Looking back at her, his hands shacked tremendously, unable to understand why….

Why

"Naruto!" he growled, unable to hide a new emotion in his voice, something that he had not felt creep up his spin in what had seemed like ages ago.

The feeling of fear.

The feeling of losing someone so important, that your life would never be the same without them.

"Naruto why!" still no response, other than that same cheerful expression.

"Answer me dammit!"

She coughed, red beast eyes cracking over as she laughed. Yet because of the injury, her laugh was gargled – sounding more like painful coughs the playful chortles.

"Well," she started weakly, looking directly at the man she had come to adore so much.

"In case you haven't realized it yet Sasuke, I do everything for you". His eyes were sharp and accusing, searching her for something, anything.

"I do it because I love you," Life changing words slipped from her lips, causing the time around them to halt for what seemed like hours as words he could not believe left those bloodied lips over and over again. It was like watching a movie that would never end; repeating those same small words as if the world itself was to collapse.

...

Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou

...

She was falling into deep waters of the unknown all over again.

Harsh cold reality giving her its last cool kiss.

She was falling – falling hard like she had all her life.

Falling down to her knees for him like always.

Except this time,

She wasn't sure if she would be able to stand back up again to carry on.

...

Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou Iloveyou

...