Desire is a State of Mind
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I'm sorry that this one took so long to update. Real life and my other stories got in the way. Feel free to check out my profile for information about updates. Anyway, I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Kyuubi talking to Naruto or anyone else in bold Italics.
Naruto talking to Kyuubi in bold font.
Chapter Notation: Naruto underwent at least hours of Genjutsus here. His mind has been warped. There will still be a happy ending, but there might be a few curveballs along the way before we get there. Happy reading.
Chapter 12
Naruto wasn't sure how long he had been with the man who called himself Madara. He just knew that it felt like an eternity. The man just wouldn't shut up and unfortunately, the blonde had to listen to it all.
"Patience, look for an opening." Kurama wouldn't do anything about it either.
This guy might be like Suki and be able to dispel the Nine Tails for awhile. Then Naruto would truly be alone with this bastard. This bastard that was making entirely too much sense for his liking.
Madara shakes his head. "She's likely on her way here now." Suki? Did he mean Suki? "I left her a note, you know?"
He'd actually left Suki a note to find them. This guy was completely crazy and yet, everything he said about the Massacre made sense in a twisted way. And as much as Naruto hated to say it, he didn't think the man was lying. Those images felt so real.
Blood. There was so much of it. It was all over the Uchiha District. Bodies were being left in their houses and the street was eerily silent for what was taking place.
"The Soundproofing Jutsu is rather useful." Madara smirked at Itachi from behind his orange mask.
Itachi was younger now. Much younger. That made sense. He had committed the Massacre when he was about thirteen, if Naruto had his math right.
Itachi said nothing as he divided up the houses with Madara. There was a lot of blood on their weapons, but Naruto never actually saw the kills. Madara didn't seem to deem them 'important' enough to do that.
"I imagine that you can finish up from here." What was likely hours later, Madara looked at Itachi.
Itachi said nothing, but entered Suki's house. It didn't take a genius to realize what had happened. Itachi Uchiha had just killed his parents and a short while later, a young Suki raced through the deadly silent streets of the Uchiha District and into her house.
"You lack hatred." Itachi looked down at her. "Nurse your hatred and maybe, one day you'll be worthy of fighting. We do share the same blood after all."
She was a child and had curled up into a little ball as she looked up at him demanding answers. "Why?! Why did you do this?!" Yeah. That's what Naruto had been wondering.
"To test my limits." Damn him!
He was such a liar. Itachi hadn't been alone that night. That much was obvious.
Suki started yelling at him. "To test your limits?! That's the reason why you butchered every single member of our family?!" Again and again she screamed at him. "They loved you! I loved you!"
Itachi left her a sobbing mess in the District. Naruto wasn't really sure what happened next though because that's when Madara released that particular memory.
"I'm going to kill him." That was a promise.
Madara smiles at Naruto. "In case you're curious as to how I gained that particular memory, I extracted it from Itachi." He tilts his head to the side. "I had to be sure of his loyalty. It wasn't something that I particularly enjoyed, but it was necessary for a better world."
This man was out of his mind. "Just think of it." His smile never wavers. "You could have your parents back, Suki's family would be alive, and you could be together." Nevermind. The smile was definitely wavering now. "And she wouldn't leave you in a cave under a Genjutsu to protect you." The bastard actually had the gall to smirk at him.
"Just shut up!" Naruto was screaming at him now.
He had been chakra cuffed and tied up though. At the moment, he was completely helpless. Maybe, Kurama could get him out of the bindings and burn through the cuffs, but then he'd have to fight this freak. Which was looking pretty tempting.
"Kurama, do it!" It was their best shot.
The Nine Tails hesitates for a moment. "Make the shot count." With that being said, Kurama 'lends' his chakra to the blonde.
It was powerful enough that it burned straight through the cuffs. "That's better." This guy was going to pay for everything that he had done now.
For killing his killing, for kidnapping Naruto, and for making him see Suki like that. It was kinda amazing, really. Naruto might have found someone he hated more than Orochimaru!
Suki and Itachi were rushing towards the Valley of the End. "Itachi, send word to my teammates about what we're doing." The elder Uchiha nods in agreement as he summons some crows to do exactly that.
They stop only long enough for Suki to write a note on a scroll and to attach it to a crow's leg. "It's done." His Summon ascends to the sky rapidly and they continue on their way.
He wasn't entirely sure how long it would take them to reach the Valley of the End at this rate. Itachi wished that they had been able to exchange eyes before going after Obito, but there was no help for it.
"Good." Suki glances at Itachi as they race along, side by side. "What exactly are we dealing with?"
She didn't need to elaborate as they barrel forwards. The trees surrounding them were nothing more than a blur. That's how fast they were going, but would it be fast enough.
"He's very powerful." There was a reason why he had gotten away with impersonating Madara for so long. "Don't underestimate him."
Itachi doubted that he would torture or kill Naruto. Well at least not physically. Mentally was another matter. Obito could be a master of manipulation when the mood struck him. That much he knew for damn sure.
Suki sighs and runs even faster. When she had gotten this swift of foot was beyond Itachi. The elder Uchiha had always known that she was quick, but this was new. It probably had something to do with Orochimaru's training. That thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, but that didn't make it any less true.
His foolish little sister's eyes were full of terror as she looks at him. "What do you think he'll do with him?" That was difficult to say.
"He'll likely try to manipulate Naruto." There was no reason to lie to her. "Using his love for you to gain compliance." Not anymore. "He's working on creating the ultimate Genjutsu. He needs Naruto to make that happen."
He sees Suki's confusion and sighs. "Why does Obito need Naruto for that?" Oh boy. Suki wasn't going to like this, he thinks to himself.
"He needs the Tailed Beasts to use the Genjutsu." Such a Jutsu required a lot of power. "Naruto has the Nine Tails." It was simple math.
Suki gasps at that and runs even faster. Itachi could barely keep up with her, especially after his long battle with illness. He would though. He owed Suki this much.
He probably should have seen this coming. Naruto was now coming at him fast and furious. That was fine though.
The boy was lunging at him in a blind rage. Obito could dodge. Besides, it gave him so many chances to cast his Genjutsus at him. This ninja seemed to be motivated purely by his emotions and that made him an easy target.
"Despite what you think, I am not your enemy." Obito smirks at him as he hurls a fireball at the other ninja. "The Leaf is. It was the Leaf who ordered the Massacre and the Leaf who ostracized you for something that wasn't your fault."
"Kill him." Obito couldn't see it, but the Nine Tails was out for blood.
Naruto was as well. "Stop talking!" The boy was now charging up an all too familiar attack.
The Rasengan. It had been a Jutsu that his own Sensei had used. Idly, Obito wonders where Naruto had learned it, but he manages to dodge all the same.
His plan was too important to die this way. The brat could take his best shots, but he would fail. This was fate. This was destiny. It would not be denied.
"You wish me to stop talking because you know that I'm right." Deep down, Naruto knew that.
He just wanted to deny reality. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" It was no matter though.
The blonde could make as many clones as he wanted. It would not change the reality of the situation. A Coercion Sharingan would go a long way towards giving Obito what he wanted.
So that's exactly what he did. He smacked him with Genjutsu after Genjutsu. Naruto was clearly getting better at dispelling them, but each one left their mark.
Obito made sure to hit him with the most painful ones possible. Memories of his loneliness as a child. Suki leaving him in that cave. Everything that he knew about the blonde, he used against him..
All for the sake of turning Naruto against his village. Once that happened, the Nine Tails would willingly come with him and Naruot would help him complete the Eye of Moon Plan willingly. It would be perfect.
That's when Suigetsu blinks when a crow comes flying at Jugo. "Um I guess it's for you." They had been looking for the Ice Princess, when something clearly had happened.
According to Jugo's birds, Suki killed Danzo and was working with Itachi and Kisame now. The Hozuki was starting to wonder if the chick was bipolar or something. That or maybe, Itachi put some sort of Jutsu on her. In which case, he felt kidna guilty.
That guy did love to mess with people's head. "Yeah." Jugo agrees as the violet eyed ninja continues his internal musings.
Still, they needed to find Kisame. He wanted that sword. Once, he had that he was so going to leave these crazy people far behind him. There was no way he was sticking around for this.
Suki clearly wasn't thinking logically. She'd actually gone straight tin the Leaf Village, after being declared a Missing Nin. Yeah. It was romantic that she wanted to be with her boy toy, but it was also stupid. She could have gotten them all killed.
"What's it say?" Karin looks at Jugo.
She was worried about Suki and the Banshee was probably smart to do so. Their 'fearless leader' became a 'reckless leader' whenever her blonde or brother was involved.
Jugo blinks as he reads it. "She's gone to the Valley of the End with Itachi." That didn't sound good.
Places that had 'end' in their name, usually were called that for a reason. It was kinda like the Forest of Death. Seriously, who named these places?
"Does it say why?" The Sensory Ninja gapes at that information.
Not that Suigetsu could blame her. It only made sense to gape at something like that. After all, Suki had talked of little else besides killing Itachi and now, she was going on a fieldtrip with him? It didn't make sense.
Jugo rereads the message a couple times. "Naruto has been kidnapped and they're going to rescue him." Right. Naturally.
Of course, her lover would get kidnapped. Not only that, but Suki was running off with her serial killer of a brother to go and save her boyfriend. That made perfect sense, Suigetsu thinks to himself sarcastically.
"So are we going to the Valley of the End to save her crazy ass?" Suigetsu didn't really sign up for that.
On the other hand, Kisame might have gone with them and where there was Kisame, there was the Samehada. In that case, Suigetsu could go and save Suki. Yeah.
Karin reads over Jugo's shoulder and sighs. "It says that we're not supposed to follow." Right. Suki had definitely lost it.
"We're following." He smirks. "I'm getting that sword and Jugo is always claiming that he's her shield or something. Well, now is the perfect time to prove that."
Jugo frowns as the gentle giant internally debates the matter. "She'd be safer, if we were there." True. True. "Karin?" Great. Now, Karin was going to be the tiebreaker.
This wouldn't end well. Karin never did what he wanted to do. It was like the red head had it out for him.
"I say we go." She takes a deep breath and braces herself. "They might need me to heal them anyway."
Really? "Who are you and what have you done with Karin?" Suigetsu raises an eyebrow. "Because the Banshee never does what I want to do." To which Karin smacks him and Jugo breaks them apart before the rest of Taka heads off for the Valley of the End.
Suki wasn't sure how long they ran. She had lost track of time. All she knew was that by the time she and Itachi had reached the Valley of the End, it was already the dead of night on day (she didn't know which day) and she needed to find Naruto.
Preferably, before she passed out. Running that long, even for a ninja and at full speed wasn't something that was accomplished easily. Her lungs were definitely protesting.
"Are you alright?" Her eyes trail over her brother's form.
Itachi nods at Suki and points towards the other side of the valley. "I see them." Wonderful.
Of course, it had been hyperbole. She wasn't actually going to pass out. Still, Suki was a bit wary about the prospect of fighting Obito. Well, at least it was currently two against one and once she freed Naruto, it would be three against one.
That's when she feels a chakra flare and Obito appears a few feet away from them with Naruto in tow. The man had Flickered right over to them! What was his game and why wasn't Naruto tied up?
"Suki, don't go near Naruto." Itachi knew something was wrong as well.
Why was Naruto in Sage Mode? She recognized those orange markings around his eyes. Had they gotten there too late?
Beautiful. She looked beautiful. There was no denying that. Suki had always been that way though.
Now though, that had taken on another meaning. Tragically beautiful. That's what she was and so was Itachi in a way. They had both suffered so much and for no reason. It wasn't fair.
"He's warped your mind." Kurama needed to shut up though.
She also looked well terrified. "It's alright." Naruto sighs as he wraps his arms around her. "I didn't know what the village was really like before." Naruto sees her gulp and he knew that she knew. "They're not going to hurt you or Itachi anymore."
He meant that. Naruto would unleash Kurama on them before he allowed such a thing to happen again or he'd just level the place in Sage Mode.
That or at least Danzo. He had given the order after all. He was the one who deserved to suffer the most.
"You're right." Suki nods at him. "They're not. Come on. Let's kill him and go home."
Kill him? Naruto certainly didn't like Madara, but the blonde wasn't sure that he wanted to kill him. Madara had told him the truth. He'd opened Naruto's eyes.
Naruto shakes his head. "No. We're not going back to that village." They had already killed most of the Uchiha Clan. He was definitely not letting them get their hands on Suki. "Danzo still wants you dead." Which was yet another reason for them not going back there.
"Doesn't matter." Suki smiles at him. "Danzo is dead."
That was wonderful news. Naruto was again reminded of just one of the many reasons why he loved Suki. She was a powerful ninja, but she was also one in severe need of a spanking.
More than that really. She'd been an evil tease in that cave with that Genjutsu. It was more than enough to get his imagination going. Once Naruto knew that she was safe and they could continue where they left off. After that, well the Eye of Moon Plan actually sounded like a good idea.
"Good. I'm glad." Naruto smiles and kisses her forehead.
Itachi watches the Nine Tails warily. He was in Sage Mode. He recognized Jiraiya's influence there. Naruto was also calm for now, but he didn't know for how long. This might not end well.
"There." Obito smiles. "You see? She's fine and so is Itachi." He looks them over. "Perhaps an eye exchange would be in their best interest. Otherwise, they'll both eventually go blind from overusing their Mangekyo Sharingans."
Itachi glares at his relative. There was no way in Hell that he was going to undergo such an operation at the hands of Obito and the same applied to Suki.
"They can go blind from that?" Naruto looks at Suki with concern.
"Naruto, we can get the eye transplant later." Suki sighs as she stares up at him. "Right now, we have to kill Obito and Zetsu."
Judging by the panicked expression on Obito's face, he hadn't told Naruto his true name. "You'll see in time that I'm right." He smirks at them. "I shall see you out all later. Naruto, bring them to the old Uchiha Fortress when you're ready. I shall be waiting." With that being said, Obito just disappears into thin air.
That was so damn frustrating. He was here one moment and gone the next. Damn him!
"Suki, lead the way to the fortress." He glances at Itachi. "Or you could. I'm sure you know the way as well."
Her almost Genjutsu lover had to be kidding. There was no way that she was going to go anywhere with Obito. What had that freak done to him?
"Naruto, we're not going." Her eyes narrow. "His plan is crazy and you know it."
That's when Suki realizes something. Obito was also an Uchiha. If she could use her Sharingan to pleasantly distract Naruto, her Clansman was capable of doing something similar. Though obviously, in a less erotic fashion.
There was no telling what had happened while she and Itachi had been fighting Danzo. There was no telling when exactly Obito had grabbed Naruto. It didn't matter she supposed. She'd just have to knock some sense into him, if worse came to worst.
"Yes, we are." He actually had the audacity to scoop her up Bridal Style in front of Itachi. "I'll carry you, if I have to. They ordered Itachi to kill your entire family." That was true. She couldn't deny that. "What's to stop them from doing the same to you, even with Danzo gone?"
Sadly, that was another good point. Naruto was thinking so logically and yet, he wasn't. Something had to be done. She looks at Itachi pleadingly.
"Put my foolish little sister down." Itachi was now glaring daggers at Naruto and had activated his Mangekyo Sharingan. "I do not want to fight you, but I will if it's necessary. If you truly want Suki to be safe, going along with his foolish plan is not the way to do it."
Naruto immediately sets Suki down. Though the raven haired woman doubted that would be the end of it. No Nothing with Naruto was ever that easy. She had learned that long ago.
Naruto glares right back at Itachi. "Why are you defending that village?" Naruto was radiating a righteous fury in the form of demonic chakra. "I get that you had to do the Massacre to prevent a war, but why would you still defend it? We can put an end to this." Naruto's sapphire blue eyes were now cold as ice. "We can bring your family back and we can all be happy in a better version of the Leaf."
"Naruto, it'd be a Genjutsu." Suki sighs at him. "None of it would be real." Didn't he understand that?
It was an appealing idea in theory. The raven haired woman couldn't lie about that much. The thought of seeing her mother and father again brought tears to her eyes, but it wouldn't be real.
All of it was just a trick. Just a beautiful trick like the one she had pulled on Naruto. Leaving him alone in that cave had been the biggest mistake of her life. What had she been thinking?
She hadn't been thinking. "It would feel real though." All Suki had wanted was to know the truth and keep Naruto safe.
Well now, she knew the truth. Naruto wasn't safe though. That much was obvious. Obito had done something to his mind.
True to form, the blonde still wanted to protect her. Even now, when Naruto wasn't in control of himself…he still thought of her. Of her happiness. Of their future together.
She didn't deserve him. Suki knew that much, but she damn sure wasn't going to allow Obito take advantage of Naruto. One way or another, the other Uchiha was going to pay for what he had done. Suki would make sure of it.
"Maybe, but it'd still be a lie." Itachi gives Naruto a pointed look. "I know that you love my sister and she doesn't want to use this Jutsu. That should tell you something."
"I know that it's kinda a scary idea at first." Naruto nods at Suki. "It took me awhile to wrap my mind around it, but you'll see that it's better this way."
Suki bites her lower lip. This wasn't what she wanted. She didn't want to have to fight Naruto, but she would. She would for the sake of the world and for their future. Maybe, she could end this quickly and knock him out.
Once that was one, she and Itachi could find Zetsu and Obito. They could end this and things could go back to normal. Eventually. After, they cleared Itachi's name.
"It's not better this way." She charges up a Chidori. "And if I have to beat some sense into you to prove it, I guess that's what I'll do."
