Author's note: There will be some, not necessarily spoilers, but information about the Shippuuden episodes up until Episode 45. I stopped watching after this point because I didn't want anything to persuade me to do my story differently. So know this! I'm sacrificing my viewing pleasure for your sake! (smiles)
Anyway. And I do want to point out. There is a three day gap between the fight with Naruto and Orochimaru and the meeting with Sasuke. I put it in there, there really isn't a 3 day gap but in my story there is. If that confused anyone I'm sorry.
I love all of your comments and I'm really grateful. I hope last chapter didn't deter anyone to stop reading my story. I just thought it was necessary.
Oh and one more comment. Updates will take longer now because I haven't written all of the chapters yet. So I apologize. I'm a lazy piece of crap since everyone keeps telling me that. Enjoy
Oh, and it's now Completely Shippuuden
Chapter 11--What Have You Done
Why? Why does fate make us suffer? There's a curse between us, Between me and you
-0--
The doors were open and they were one foot away from exiting Konoha. Sasuke traveled behind Naruto who gripped the four chakra strings that attached to his body. Naruto stalled and everyone else mimicked his movement. He glanced back past everyone and saw the Hokage wave just once before disappearing. Now it was all on his shoulders. This was his chance to make up for losing Sasuke in the first place. This was a mission he could not fail in. Not if it meant feeling the guilt all over again.
He caught Sakura's gaze and she gave him an encouraging smile. She understood like she always did. It was reassuring and he smiled brightly back. As long as she was here, he would not, could not fail. She wouldn't let him, he thought happily.
Naruto held up the strings. "Our distance fighters are going to be the ones standing guard of Sasuke. However, Sakura-chan. You should be part of that team."
"Nani? Why me?"
He smiled lopsidedly, "You're our medical supplies. You need to be kept safe."
Sakura narrowed her eyes with hands fisted at her side. Naruto flinched, a hand ready to defend himself and he quickly went on a stuttering rampage to keep himself from being knocked out.
She hated it. Even now, years of training and missions, and he still didn't see how strong she was. Was everyone so blind? Would Sasuke be? She didn't want to be protected. She wanted to prove herself. To be useful. She wanted to do the protecting! She wasn't weak, she wasn't pathetic anymore and Kami, she would prove that she was not annoying either! "Iie," She cut in his tirade. "I'm fighting. Get someone else." She turned on her foot, crossing her arms and stalked several feet away. Akamaru jotted over to her and sat against her comfortingly.
"I want to fight as well." TenTen added.
"I believe Naruto-san is correct." Lee hurried in reply, "Distance fighters are better to protect him. It keeps anyone from getting too close to him."
She rolled her eyes with a smile. "You say just so you won't be put on guard, Lee."
"That is not it at all, TenTen. It will be best for you."
TenTen shot her chocolate brown eyes to the man next to her. "Best for me, what does that mean?"
He put up a hand in quick defense. "I didn't mean anything by it, I'm just saying that a person like you--"
"Like me?"
"Shouldn't be fighting--"
"And why's that?"
"You're a girl?"
TenTen forced out a laugh, "Am I?"
"Aren't you?"
"Are you?"
"Iie."
"I can make you one."
"Please don't."
"Why can't I fight?"
"It's too dangerous?"
"For who?"
"Damere!" Naruto snapped, the quarreling couple flung their gazes to him with wide, frightened eyes. He panted with over exaggerated agitation. "TenTen, on guard. Lee, shut it." Both scoffed, crossing their arms and turning their backs to one another. Naruto snuck a glance to Sasuke finding a small smirk on the man's lips. He sighed heavily. So much for showing his new leadership status off. Naruto dropped the strings, to walk the several feet where Sakura stood. He scratched the back of his head nervously. "Oi, Sakura-chan?" She turned her green eyes on him. "You mad?"
She shook her head, turning her gaze back to the open land before them. "Iie, Naruto. I've been on several missions before that required me to stay behind. Kakashi told you to keep me safe." He nodded with a lopsided smile. "Well, I'm strong, Naruto-kun. No one needs to protect me now."
"I know that." He whispered, a bit disappointingly. Can't possibly be someone's knight in shining armor if they don't need one. But he was proud nonetheless. And to prove it, he was going to ask her to do something very important. "I need you to do me a favor, Sakura-chan."
She gazed him, "Anything."
"The bijuu inside me. Sometimes I get a little overboard."
"Yeah, I think I know, Naruto." Shivers ran up her spine as she recalled her last encounter with his bijuu. The power that had corrupted him, blinding him to anything that went on around him as he fought against Orochimaru at the Heaven and Earth Bridge. He had been uncontrollable and lost in darkness.
Sakura moved her eyes back to the group where Sasuke now stood. It was amazing to know that he had finally destroyed the real snake demon. Apparently right after they had fought him. She wondered briefly why Sasuke had done it, what had caused him to kill? But the realist inside her thought he didn't need a reason; He had become a monster.
"If it happens, take everyone and run, okay?"
"I can't leave you like that."
"I couldn't…I can't hurt you again, Sakura-chan. But when I'm like that, I can't see a friendly face. I can't tell difference between good and evil anymore. You must take everyone and leave. Please, Sakura-chan." The desperation that filled his blue eyes was too hard to ignore. She nodded against her better judgment and tightened her hold around the piece of paper that was in her pocket.
Their once Captain Yamato held it out for her. "If he gets too wrapped up in his power, Sakura, you must get close enough and slap this on him. It will seal it again but only up until the third tail. If it gets past that, get out as fast as you can."
Naruto smiled broadly, "Let's get going, huh." She watched him walk back to the group her brows knit but she filed back in line, Kiba giving her a questioning gaze but she just shook her head and smiled. Akamaru whined voicing Kiba's discontent about her lie. She placed a small hand on his head and he panted happily.
Naruto straightened grabbing the stings and holding them out. "TenTen, Ino, Shikamaru, and Shino, take the strings." The four snatched the string without further complaint. "Formation now." Feet shuffled across the dusty ground until all formed a square around the ignorant Egg. Neji in front and Hinata behind, their Byakugan decorated their temples. "No more games. Our lives are on the line and I refuse to lose any of you." They nodded in agreement and dashed out of the doorway.
--0--
Twenty minutes out, Naruto looked behind him; nervousness was getting the better of him. Something didn't feel right and from the expressions on everyone else, he wasn't alone in his over active imagination. No one, not a single rogue had they past in that entire time. It wasn't logical. Especially in late morning on a weekday, and perfect weather for traveling. Not even a single vender.
They jumped into the trees, their direction cut off from any path. Naruto put up a hand, slowing their pace. Sasuke was having a bit of trouble hopping from tree branch to tree branch blind folded. He watched almost ignoring his own jumps to make sure the young Uchiha didn't fall.
Naruto scolded himself, forcing his gaze back ahead of him. He had to stop being so damn protective of Sasuke. The man had been alone for three years and had survived, seemingly unharmed. There was no reason to act pathetic. Naruto peaked a glance again at Sasuke, seeing the man quickly adapt to the situation. Their speed increasing with his improving ability. Naruto smiled to himself proudly. See, he had no need to worry.
Immediately after that thought, Neji raised his hand and everyone stopped on the perspective branches. Kiba's nose was going searching desperately and the giant Akamaru lowered his head down with a sharp growl, his twelve inch fangs barred. "We're surrounded." Neji announced, cursing himself as he now noticed the several traps that had been set up. Their bodies were buried within the earth; some were walking the bottom of the river only five meters from where they now stood. "They were waiting." He had to give credit to their imagination despite his anger for not noticing it sooner.
"How could they have known we would move him?" Naruto questioned.
Shikamaru came up with a quick response, "They had spies watching the jail. I'm pretty sure the others are being attacked also."
"Spread out. TenTen, Ino, Shikamaru, and Shino, keep a close eye on him." Naruto instructed, holding out a quick hand seal in front of him. Fifty Narutos popped in place scattering among the branches.
The Sound-nins sprung their attack, more then twenty-five showed their faces, screaming obsenties as they attacked. TenTen watched with folded arms as the fight commenced. Every now and again her body twitched in desire to attack but the string that was attached to her, kept her steady. She glared at Lee who fought in front of her and she rolled her eyes. She was pretty sure if Lee hadn't fought against it, she would be fighting with the rest of them at the moment. She sighed, her eyes shutting wondering when this moment was going to be over. Normal Sound-nins just weren't exciting anymore, they were all so predictable.
Sakura turned her gaze to the group of five that was in the center, checking to make sure none were attacking the ones protecting Sasuke. Her eyes widened however. Sasuke had just rammed his shoulder in the back of TenTen. He spun a kick into Shikamaru's chest, knocking him off the branch as well. Before Ino or Shino could react he jumped to the next tree, the strings of Chakra had been forgotten and bounded after him. "Naruto! Sasuke!" She called over to the blonds and they all screamed his name just as the young Uchiha was grabbed by two Sound Nins and directed out of sight.
Lee flung his body off the branch, catching the falling TenTen in mid-air and crashed roughly on his back. TenTen didn't even acknowledge his protective hold, for the moment they hit the ground her fist smashed into the dirt, "Son of a bitch!" She growled, yanking out her scrolls from her pockets and going straight after their captive.
"TenTen." Lee hollered but he was unable to follow as another set of Sounds piled on him.
Neji turned his head from the ninja's attacking him, his hits still stricking the area necessary and his activated gaze saw TenTen going after Sasuke. But he turned his attention back to concentrate on the fight at hand.
"Damn that man." Ino screamed. She quickly glanced down at Shikamaru, making sure he had landed all right. He was currenly fighting back two Sound-nins. Choji jumped beside her, also checking on Shikamaru. "I'm gonna smack some sense into him." She jumped in the direction Sasuke had gone, following several Narutos but she was instantly accousted by three Sound-nins. She punched and kicked her way through, with the help of Choji's giant hand and Shino's bugs.
The three guardians, Choji, and Narutos were going away from the group. Sakura's heart thumped wildily in her chest. She didn't know which one was the right Naruto but many were popping from existence. "Go after Sasuke!" She screamed to the people that surrounded her.
Kiba jumped upon Akamaru, his arm reaching out and grasping Sakura's to pull her up as Akamaru kicked and batted away any that came near his form. They bounced on the branches, diving and dodging those that were coming after him however a Sound-nin jumped from a branch above just in time to gripped the dog's tail, and all three tumbled to the ground harshly.
Sakura growled violently, she needed time to think and none of these damn ninjas were allowing that. With grit teeth, she smashed her glowing fist in the ground. The forest was demolished within ten seconds as the ground beneath shook and broke apart.
The six remaining Konoha ninja's jumped on the same tree, the only one in a hundred feet diameter that hadn't been swallowed up. The dust was clearing, revealing the retreating forms of their opponents. "Let them go." Shikamaru ordered. There was a fifty percent probability they were backing up in hopes to lead them into a trap. But when they disappeared all together he questioned Neji.
"They are retreating."
The six relaxed in relief but it only made them realize they were still missing the rest of their group. "Kuso." Shikamaru bit shaking his left leg to get the blood out of his foot. "Neji can you see them?" The Hyuuga glanced around. He bounded along the demolished ground before jumping in the trees; the rest quickly on his heals as they raced to the opening not too far ahead.
Naruto's last copy popped out of sight as it took down the final Sound-nin, just as they arrived to reveal an empty field. Naruto's real self at the moment, had a hold of Sasuke's shirt, keeping his body upright as he punched his counterpart in the face. His screams echoed the meadow, "We're trying to help you! And all you want to do is runaway! We're your friends, damn it! We're not, going, to, hurt, you!" He managed that last part with each punch to the blind Uchiha.
Sakura smiled ironically since his words were contradicting each punch he gave. She shook her head. "Naruto." Sakura came up beside him, his eyes red with power of his Bijuu. He snapped his gaze to her, barring his long fangs. "Naruto." She whispered softly and placed a small unafraid hand on his shoulder, calming him instantly.
Naruto's red eyes faded and his blue ones slowly filled in his orbs while his fangs and whiskers also became less pronounced. He looked down at the man in his grasp and sighed angrily, shoving Sasuke harshly to the floor and backing away. Sasuke spit blood and wiped it from his mouth on his shoulder. He glared with covered eyes in the man's direction.
Silence and his ten teammates gazed at him uneasy, unsure what had happened to Naruto's appearance earlier, but fearing it just the same. Naruto broke the nerve-racking calm, "Well, at least we now know we have the real one." Naruto forced out a smile and looked to Sakura, who shook her head at his flip of attitude.
"Which might have been their objective." Shikamaru stuffed his hands in his pockets, rolling his eyes in aggravation, leaning on his good leg while the other throbbed.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.
"They wanted to know who had him. They probably figured the fake ones wouldn't want to go willingly with Oto. He basically told them all by fighting against us. I bet they all have a meeting place to team up and attack us later." Sakura glanced down at the man knelling on the floor. She was discouraged when she saw a barely traceable smirk on his bloody lips.
"Kuso." Naruto cursed turning to gaze down at the Uchiha. "Teme, you're really pissing me off." He grasped all four of the Chakra strings, tugging harshly on them, making Sasuke unwillingly stand or else be dragged.
Lee scanned the area, giving a concerned look to Neji but the Hyuuga was already in the process of searching for the missing weapon's mistress. "Where's TenTen?" Lee forced everyone's attention to this disturbing fact and when Neji ran to the trees again, they quickly followed fearing she might be injured somewhere.
Relief was not an easy feeling to deal with but the moment he saw her stand, Neji let out a breath he had not known he had been holding. He landed soundlessly on the branch in front of her while the rest of the group came to a stop on the ground. "I'm going to kill him." She swore, standing on shaking legs, tightening her gloves and trying fruitlessly to wipe the blood that poured from a large wound on her forehead even as it dripped into her eye and down her cheek.
Sakura smiled stalling the female before she went to jump in the trees "We got him." She reassured. "Let me heal that."
"Its fine," She shrugged, batting the hand away. Neji jumped down in the back of the group and she caught his gaze from the distance. She sighed heavily, "Fine." She surrendered, sitting down.
"Is anyone else hurt?"
"Aa." Shikamaru yawned, sitting beside the female, holding out his leg that was gushing blood and quickly forming a puddle beneath him.
"That's gross." Ino commented her and Choji looking down at him reproachfully.
"If you both hadn't taken off it wouldn't have happened." He bit. "Mendokuse." He mumbled, glaring.
"Ahh, were you worried." Ino smiled sarcastically, poking his cheek, which he swatted away angrily.
Naruto walked with Sasuke behind him and he smiled brightly, getting everyone's attention. "Let's not let that happen again. You guys have to pay attention. Just because you're not fighting does not mean you can lack off."
"When did he become so damned bossy?" Ino mumbled to her two boys.
"Since I became leader." He responded with a smirk. He swung his hand behind his head, "Either way, I think it went well. My plan worked. Sort of."
--.
Naruto double checked the cooking fish, biting his lip to keep himself from grabbing one to eat, caring not that it wasn't fully cooked yet. Ino slapped his hand, glaring daggers at him as he ran for safety.
It was their break and so far nothing had attacked. His clones were setting up traps around them so Hinata and Neji could rest their eyes. He winced as another one of his clones screamed after getting caught in the same traps they were setting up. Ino cursed at him again and he quickly dodged behind a tree.
His eyes widened in surprise but softened with a smile upon seeing Sakura sitting at her own campsite. There were two, one for the resting team and one for the alert. He knit his brows as to why she was still up. Only an hour and a half was left before they all left again. She stared at the fire, lost in thought it seemed, and he could only imagine what she was thinking of. His eyes drifted to the tent that held Sasuke.
Naruto knew he had to cheer her up knowing that her thoughts were not of the pleasant kind. He took a step only to stall as Kiba stepped behind her, hugging her around the shoulders and neck. Her features instantly lightened and a smile came to her lips as she rested a hand on his forearms, rubbing them gently. He must have whispered something because she giggled.
Naruto's eyes dropped after he watched them go hand in hand to their tent, Akamaru whined but panted happily when he was granted entry. Naruto moved his gaze to Sasuke's tent. He past by the fish again and grabbed two before running as Ino came after him.
Naruto entered the tent, the flap closing behind him as he stood, unsure what to say or do. But he held up the fish, "I brought you some food." He mumbled stepping closer and plopping on his butt, holding the stick out. But Sasuke made no move to grab for it.
Sasuke sat with his tied hands in front of him, the chakra stings wrapped around his waist keeping him tied against the tree that the tent had been set up to. His head was bowed; his long black bangs covered his features.
"So umm." Naruto scratched the back of his head after putting the fish in Sasuke's reach. "How's it going?" He berated himself for his stupidity. Naruto bit the side of his cheek, leaning his head down to try and get a good look at Sasuke's face. The blind fold was still around his eyes; Naruto had to keep himself from pulling it off. "So…"
"Go away."
"Sasuke…don't be mad, come on. I had to." Naruto stopped himself from pleading any further. Pleading would make him sound pathetic. He couldn't let Sasuke see him like that. "So you killed Orochimaru huh? That's really awesome. Kind of wish I could have done it myself. I almost had my chance, but I…I screwed it up, I guess. It was right before you. He told me where to find you. I was kind of thankful. Baka, I know. But I found you. I told you I would, Sasuke. I trained really hard for the past two and half years, to fight whoever had you. Jiraiya was a crazy guy too. Ecchi really. We went all around the world it felt like. Met so many people. I learned a cool jutsu, a few of them actually." Naruto stalled himself, finally noticing he was rambling. His eyes squinted sorrowfully, "Will you talk to me?"
Sasuke shifted, his head slowly rising, his blind sight resting on his form. "What do you want me to say? Thank you?" He scoffed. "I left on my own free will and the moment you underestimate me I will leave again. But not without killing you."
Naruto smirked, sadly, ironically, "I look forward to it." He whispered. "Don't forget to eat." He turned on his heel, hesitantly, his back now facing his once best friend and rival. He fisted his hands before he walked out.
Sasuke listened as Naruto left his tent. His head fell down, his strength waning. The smell of fish was very enticing but he denied himself the welcomed meal. Things were becoming a bit worse then he expected. He had not planned to be within their hold for so long. Four days now and he still had not gotten what he came to get.
He had not thought they would use such precautions on him. They were certainly not underestimating him like he had planned. But none of it would stop him. It would just take a bit longer.
Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to conjure enough chakra to perform the experiment he had been waiting for. He needed information, and this was the only way he knew how to get it with the limited resources available to him. And if things go the way he planned, then there would be no reason to stay here any longer and escaping would be all too easy. The sooner he could get away from them the better.
--
Sakura snapped awake. She felt it, something wasn't right. She flung up, searching around for Kiba or even Akamaru but she was alone, not even his side of the mat was existing. Her heart beat erratically in her chest as she quickly put her boots on, grabbing her kunai and ran with lightening speed from her tent.
But, she stalled.
The world she now stood in was only a reflection of what had been beautiful once in its long life. The trees were bare of all leaves, the ground cracked and muddy; the tents that surrounded her were ripped and decaying. This world was devoid of all color, even the sky was grey with dark clouds, no sun shined, no birds chirped and no wind blew.
Sakura walked, numbly all around the campsite, her gaze filtering through the dead trees to find the Naruto's base. It was upon spotting not one single face that sent panic in her heart.
She ran back the way she had come, screaming the names of her team members. But no one exited from any tent. She hurried over to them, flipping them open, one by one, by one, but they were all empty. She was alone. Completely and utterly alone.
Her eyes widened. How the hell did she get caught in a genjutsu? Her hands flew to her face, "Kai!" She screamed, her eyes shut tight in concentration. When she opened her eyes, she found herself still stuck in the void but now she was no longer alone. Sasuke stood before her, unbound, wearing his white kimono and giant purple robe. The symbol that marked him as Orochimaru's, with his chokuto(1) in his hand held by his side. "How?" The shadow that covered his face slowly lifted revealing only smirking lips making it apparent that he wasn't going to reveal his technique.
Sakura took out a kunai and with unbridled fear stabbed her thigh. But his soft laughter caught her eyes again. "You can't get out until I let you out." The humor was intentionally cold, and it caused shivers to roll down her spine.
"They will figure out what's going on with me. They will save me."
"You can't get out," He repeated, his eyes lifted out of the darkness and her breath caught in her throat. The Mangekyo Sharingan stared back at her, "Until I let you out."
"That's not true." Fear quivered in her voice but she knew better then to an enemy, no matter who they were on the outside, "Naruto, we saved him from your brother."
His eyes visibly narrowed and his voice was lower then normal. "Even he, cannot perform this." His teeth grit in his hatred. Naruto and her had met up with his brother, and he himself is still unable to locate the betrayer.
"So what is this then?" Her eyes were going all around her. "How can you do this without making eye contact."
"I did." She narrowed her gaze, shaking her head. His eyes have been covered since they had left Konoha. There was no way to do a genjutsu without making eye contact. "Back in the cell block." Her heart stalled. That was almost four days ago. Had all of this been a lie, everything that's happened up till now, was all of it fake? "It was all real." He answered her silent questions. "I was waiting for the proper time."
Her heart was beating faster but, as she stared back into the eyes of the man she once knew, she strengthened her resolve. She wouldn't do this. She wouldn't be weak. She would show him, just what she can do. "To do what, Sasuke, kill me? Let's go then." She ripped the knife from her leg, it dripped with blood but she was careless of it. Her other hand moved over the wound and quickly healed it without once taking her eyes from his.
Suddenly, her fist smashed into the ground, the earth cracked beneath them, the camp site crumbled and disappeared beneath the rocks. She followed him in the air, throwing her knife but he didn't even have to dodge it, it went straight through. Her eyes widened. "You're an illusion?"
He shook his head slowly with a smile still on his lips. "You are nothing, Sakura, nothing compared to what I have become."
"You're right." She smiled brightly, "I am so much better." She vanished and appeared behind him but he swung his body around and caught her fist. Her smile still present. "I guess it will only be tai-jutsus, huh, Sasuke." She pulled back and waited. His hand was still raised in the air to block her but now it shook, and he found himself unable to move his fingers.
But he shrugged. "Naïve." He closed his fist tight, ignoring the shooting pain that came with it. She had shut off his nerves in his hand and for a moment, he had been unable to move it. But all he had to do was turn it back on which was simple enough for someone like him.
Sasuke took in her wide eyes, her unsure stance, but it wasn't fear that she emitted. She was calculating, figuring this all out. It was impressive. He could hear her thoughts, for this was his world he created. He saw everything, and knew her movements before she put any thought into acting out on them.
He was surprised. She was so far proving to be a bit tougher then what he remembered. And even though she was prepared to give him a fight, a fight had not been his intention. He had simply wanted information. Despite being disappointed that what he wanted she did not know, a fight would be entertaining enough.
He seethed his sword, his Mangekyo decreasing to his three comma Sharingan. He would take his time, twenty minutes should be enough to learn all the skills she possesses. And after, she exploits all her weaknesses and strengths, and when she has nothing more to give, and no more he can take from her, he'll kill her.
Hope you enjoyed this new turn of events!
I like the number thingy so I'm going to do it now too
1) Chokuto-- Sasuke's sword obviously, Long, straight, and single-edged sword
