It's All in Your Head
Disclaimor: They are mine, all mine, mwahaha...ok, maybe not...
Peeks fearfully out her window ... is it safe yet? Hehe, thanks for not killing me after the way I left that last chapter, and thank you all SO much for all the wonderful reviews I received, the input was great! As a reward, I wrote you guys an extra long chapter! (Well, it's longer than usual anyway). I tried my best to tie up all loose ends in this chapter and answer all questions, but if I miss any just ask! And now, without further ado...
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Three Years Ago…
Sasuke hit his knees, violently vomiting the contents of his stomach on the ground next to him before collapsing against the dimly lit passageway's wall. Sweat and tears soaked his white face, and his entire body was trembling uncontrollably, shivers viciously wracking his frame almost like convulsions. Blood soaked his hands, stained his clothes, speckled his face, but the teen barely noticed it.
Bringing his shaking hands to his face, a sob escaped the raven's throat as he sagged further against the cold wall, curling in on himself. What had he done? What had he done…
But this question only sent unbidden flashes of images searing through his mind, the horrible truth still too fresh to confront. As his mind's eye watched in horror, the Uchiha saw a body crumble before him, folding in on itself and collapsing soundlessly in a lifeless pile by his feet. He saw azure eyes stare blankly from half-open lids, twin tear trails running down scarred cheeks. He saw a light snuffed out before his very eyes, by his own hands.
Sasuke convulsed before leaning over to retch once again.
What had he done?
Time blurred and slowed, the edges of his vision fuzzy. After staring in terror at Naruto's limp body, the raven had suddenly been overtaken by inescapable panic. He had to get away, away from this nightmarish reality, this place, Itachi, Orochimaru, Kabuto…he just had to get out of here. Now.
Eyes swiveling to the only immediate obstacle impeding his flight, chest heaving as hyperventilating lungs cried out of oxygen, Sasuke suddenly lurched forward, and after that…Sasuke wasn't sure what happened after that. All he knew is that he ran: he ran through hallways, through twists and turns, up stairs and through rooms, away from everything.
Away from Naruto.
He had finally collapsed, his mind still screaming to escape this horrible dream, his legs unable to continue any further. Now he sat, surrounded by puddles of his own vomit, suppressed tears finally fighting their way to the surface. He lay there against the wall, helplessly sobbing like a child as his world unraveled around him.
'Oh God, what have I done!'
And in that split second, his mind made a decision to end it, right then and there. He had lost everything, everyone that had ever meant anything to him. For the past three years he had believed that Itachi was the force that had kept him going. But he was wrong: it had been someone else.
Hand darting down to his weapons pouch, Sasuke's fingers reached desperately for a kunai…and found nothing. The pouch was empty. Confusion seeping into his scrambled thoughts, the boy struggled to remember why.
Obsidian eyes came to rest on blood-soaked hands. An image snapped into focus in his mind, a memory seeming to belong to someone else. 'Kabuto's blood,' his inner voice supplied.
Oh.
Suddenly, the tears returned with a vengeance, and the Uchiha choked as the silent sobs prevented air from reaching his lungs. Orochimaru. Orochimaru had taken everything from him: his free will, his life, his precious person, and now even his way out.
Fury began to burn deep within his chest, and Sasuke's hand rose shakily to grasp at the cursed seal that stained the flesh of his shoulder and neck. As his fingers came into contact with the three ominous marks, disgust, rage, and anguish overflowed his senses, blinding him with their sheer force. Suddenly, his fingers clamped painfully around the seal, nails biting into the flesh hard enough to draw blood.
A cry of anguish and pain escaping his lips, and the raven tore at the flesh, reducing his shoulder to shreds. He no longer belonged to anyone or anything. Not to Orochimaru. Not to Itachi. Not even to revenge.
As darkness gathered at the edges of his vision, Sasuke gave in thankfully to blissful oblivion. Just before the sea of darkness swallowed him, a golden, smiling face flashed before him.
'Only to you.'
Present…
Gaara stood with his back to Kakashi, staring out his office's window without really seeing the view before him. His blood pounded in his temples, and deep inside, his heart clenched: something it seemed only capable of doing when Naruto was around.
"He betrayed him."
Kakashi sighed tiredly, studying the ceiling with feigned interest. "Naruto would never admit to it; he told Tsunade that he had overestimated his ability to resist Akatsuki's jutsu, and that Sasuke had arrived too late to do anything but watch." He paused for a moment, his voice growing very quiet. "But yes, yes he did."
Gaara digested the information slowly, his back still turned. "The Kyuubi still resides within him. How?"
"We arrived at the scene shortly after. Kabuto was lying dead on the floor with a kunai through his neck. It had obviously been a surprise attack: we found out later that Sasuke was responsible. The Uchiha was nowhere to be found. And Naruto…"
Kakashi trailed off, unwilling or perhaps unable to describe the boy's condition in any more detail. "When Tsunade and Jiraiya spotted him…well, the true power of the Legendary Sennin has been grossly underestimated in the past. Naruto is very precious to both of them, and to see him in such a state...together they almost single-handedly crushed all of Akatsuki in one fell swoop. The forbidden jutsu separating Kyuubi was ended along with their lives, incomplete and thus leaving the seal intact. Only a few of their members escaped, Itachi being one of them."
"And the other Uchiha?"
"We found him in one of the tunnels of the base, sitting against a wall and unconscious. His left shoulder was a mess; Tsunade thinks he was trying to rip Orochimaru's cursed seal off with his bare hands."
"He woke up on the return trip, and followed us back to Konoha willingly. Once we got there, he wouldn't budge from Naruto's side, even after reaching the hospital, and after three ANBU escorts were lying unconscious on the floor, Tsunade decided to let him be. He stood guard over Naruto for days, refusing to eat or speak. The moment Naruto opened his eyes, he marched straight into Tsunade's office and told her everything, including what he had done and where Orochimaru's was currently located. Jiraiya was dispatched several hours later."
Kakashi repressed a shiver as he remembered the look on the white-haired Sennin's face as he left the village. Never had he felt such a deadly aura radiate off a human being, even Orochimaru, and it was something he hoped to never experience again. He hadn't been surprised in the slightest when the frog hermit returned exactly one month later, walked straight into Tsunade's office, and told her the matter was settled. The bonds of old friendships are strong, but evidently the bonds with certain young apprentices are stronger (1).
His story complete, the jounin straightened slowly, rolling the kinks from his shoulders as he opened the door that led into the hallway. Before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder at the rigid figure by the window, his exposed eye narrowing slightly. "Kazekage-sama," he spoke respectfully, returning to the formal conduct usually used during missions of this nature, "if I may leave you with one final point to consider?"
The redheaded leader of Sand turned slowly, almost regally, to face Kakashi, and after studying the older man for a moment, he nodded once in agreement.
Kakashi spoke over his shoulder, his words emotionless and calm. "I am aware that you dislike the Uchiha, but you of all people should understand the pain of one's past sins, as well as the possibility for redemption. Sasuke has repented, and no one condemns his actions with more passion and loathing than he himself does. If you truly wish to help Naruto, you will bear this in mind."
"Naruto?" The knocking on the door increased a fraction in its urgency. "Naruto, you haven't eaten or spoken once in the past twenty four hours. You have to come out some time."
The bundle of blankets on the bed did not respond or even stir.
The knocking got even louder, causing the door to rattle slightly. "Naruto, I mean it! You can't sulk in there forever." No answer. "You open this door right now or I'll knock it down!"
Sakura swiped at a strand of hair on her face, tucking it behind an ear as her frustration and worry grew. Still receiving no answer, the medical kunoichi puffed out her chest indignantly and pulled a fist back, fully intending to make good on her threat.
"Morning, Sakura," the cheery voice of her sensei greeted her from behind. Sparing the man an exasperated look over her shoulder, the girl rolled her eyes endearingly at the sight of him with his nose buried in a copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
"Ohayo, Sensei!" The response was reflexive, and she couldn't quite repress the smile that pulled at her mouth.
"Problems?" There was a twinkle of merriment in his one exposed eye.
Sakura finally allowed the smile to spread fully across her face, an overly innocent and toothy grin flashing. "Oh no, Sensei, everything is just fine. I'm just wishing Naruto a good morning." She paused, a slightly evil and terrifying aura flashing around her that reminded Kakashi strongly of Tsunade. "Everything is under control."
"Glad to hear it," the jounin nodded as he continued his morning stroll, still intently focused on his book. As he rounded the corner, he had to stifle a chuckle as the crash of a door being broken-in followed by a startled yell reached his ears.
'Kids.'
"Come on sleepy head. Get dressed, we are going on a walk." Sakura squinted through the inky darkness of Naruto's room, his initial indignant shout her only clue to his location.
A lump on the bed grunted, staring at her suspiciously from a makeshift cloak of blankets. "…don't wanna" it mumbled grumpily.
Her patience running thin, Sakura drew on what she believed to be the most useful skills learned through training with Tsunade. Gathering an atmosphere of impending doom around her, the kunoichi took several steps forward, ripping off the blonde's cocoon of blankets with a flourish. "Funny," her voice dripped dangerously with sarcasm, "I don't remember that being a request."
She had to hand it to the kid; she had seen many reactions to the Fifth's power of intimidation, ranging anywhere from terror to embarrassment, but the boy before her didn't seem to even be fazed. He glanced up her, calculating the easiest way to rid himself of her nagging, and finally settled on a childish pout.
"I'm tired, Sakura-chan, and I'm not feeling well. Maybe some other time." He reached forward to reclaim his blankets from his pink haired friend, but she refused to relinquish her grip.
"Naruto, seriously, I'm worried about you. I think we should talk about this."
All childishness and humor left the blonde's face, replaced by an annoyed and weary shadow. "Sakura," he spoke lowly, and the medical nin was struck by how odd her name sounded from his mouth when no playful "chan" was attached, "Seriously, I think you should mind your own damn business. You don't understand, and I don't want to discuss it. Not now, not ever."
The coldness and bitterness of his words cut Sakura deeply, and she backed away towards the door as if her face had been slapped. Turning away from her friend, she tried to repress her rising tears.
"Alright," she whispered softly, "I'm sorry. I'll just leave you alone."
Naruto watched as she started to leave, guilt pulling at his heart as his angry words echoed through his mind. He had regretted them the moment they left his mouth, and now, seeing Sakura so hurt and upset…
"Sakura," he called suddenly, a level of desperation and apology ringing clearly in his plea, "Sakura-chan, wait. I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean that. Give me a minute to change; I could use some fresh air, and a walk sounds great."
As she heard the mattress creak and the blond begin to shuffle around in search of a clean shirt, Sakura hid a small smile as she sniffled delicately and wiped at a fake tear. 'Ha! Works every time…'
Naruto joined her in the hall several minutes later, clad in his usual orange pants and a black tank top. Seeing her questioning look at the lack of his usual jacket, he raised an eyebrow challengingly. "What? It's hot out here."
The childhood friends strolled lazily through the village in comfortable silence, taking in the bustling atmosphere of the bazaar and perusing several stands of various goods. The sun was shining bright and hot, but not unpleasantly so, and a cool breeze pulled playfully at their hair.
While examining at a mysterious clump of dried medicinal herbs, Sakura studied the boy beside her out of the corner of her eye. Naruto was looking to the sky, his gold curls gleaming in the desert sun. His calloused fingers played gently with the necklace around his neck, and his look was pensive. Suddenly noticing he was being watched, he glanced down and met Sakura's gaze, smiling sheepishly and putting one arm behind his head. For an instant Sakura was reminded of the innocent boy from her childhood, and was struck by a sudden sadness at how much Naruto had grown up.
Returning his smile easily, Sakura paid the vender for the leaves and tucked them securely away in her pouch for further inspection before turning fully to Naruto. "I'm getting hungry, what do you say we find someplace to eat?"
Laughing cheerfully, the blond threw an arm around her shoulders, eyes dancing happily. "I thought you'd never ask! Come on," he began steering her down a side street, "I know a really good sushi place right down the street..."
An hour later, Naruto finally put his chopsticks down with a contented sigh, appreciatively surveying the large stack of bowls before him. Sakura sat beside him, shaking her head in disbelief at how much her friend could eat.
Rolling her eyes, she twirled her own chopsticks lazily in the remaining ramen broth of her bowl. As it turned out, the "sushi place right down the street" Naruto remembered from his last visit had been nowhere to be found. The blonde had vehemently insisted that the allusive shop must be "just around the corner", and then "only one block over there". In the end, her hopeless tour guide had been sidetracked from his search by a brightly colored stand with a large banner bragging that it was the house of the best ramen ever. Quick to defend the reputation of his beloved Ichiraku ramen, the blonde insisted they go in…for research's sake. Watching her friend happily rub his ridiculously bloated stomach, Sakura began to suspect that he had planned this detour all along.
"See, Sakura-chan?" Naruto chirped happily, suppressing a burp, "I told you it wasn't possible. There is just no point in trying to compete with Ichiraku." He glared at the offending banner, tsking softly to himself as his hand trailed unconsciously towards his kunai pouch.
"Don't even think about it," Sakura scolded, her own hand darting out to smack his away. "It's not hurting anyone, and I am not about to sit here and watch as you merrily cut down innocent people's decorations."
The Kyuubi's container sputtered indignantly, drawing himself up with a righteous air. "Not hurting anyone? These are blatant lies! False advertisements! The people of this village have to know! The truth must be…" He trailed off as he noticed the vein throbbing on his friend's forehead. Gulping nervously, he raised his hands in surrender, backing down meekly. "T-then again, I supposed the truth can sometimes be…overrated…"
Crossing her arms, Sakura maintained her death glare until she was positive Naruto wasn't actually going to make a break for it and lunge at the banner (after all, it wouldn't be the first time it had happened…). Finally satisfied, she took a deep breath and decided to broach the subject she had been steadily working up to for the past hour.
"Speaking of the truth, wha-"
"Naruto!" Sakura shut her mouth with a snap, eyes narrowing at the intruder. The blonde in question spun on his stool to face the newcomer, his face breaking into a huge grin when he saw who it was. Jumping up, he stepped forward to wrap the Sand ninja in a warm hug.
"Temari!" He playfully picked up the fan-wielding kunoichi and spun her in a circle, ignoring her indignant yell of protest, before setting her carefully back down and wincing as her fist hit his arm hard enough to bruise.
"Listen runt, just because you're buddy-buddy with my brother doesn't mean we are best friends." The tall girl towered over him, a scowl on her face and a large fan slung over one shoulder, before the corner of her mouth quirked upward and her tough-guy act dissolved. "But I did miss you. Kankuro did too. How's Konoha?"
"Oh you know, same old same old. Everything is going good," he returned lazily, hooking his thumbs in his belt loop. As an afterthought, he grinned and waggled his eyebrows suggestively at her. "Shikamaru has been doing really good, too. Lazy bastard said he might be taking a trip out here soon."
"Oh wonderful, we'll get to listen to Konoha's finest complain about everything under the sun." The older shinobi rolled her eyes in disgust, but Naruto could tell the news secretly pleased her.
"Right, right, like I said, lazy bastard." He smiled cheekily at her almost unnoticeable blush. "So, what brings you out into town anyway?"
Temari tried to hide her scowl at his grin: he was quite the perceptive little brat…shaking her head she focused on his question. "Actually, you are what brings me out here. Gaara sent me out to find you, says he has something to talk to you about."
"Ah, well, can't keep old raccoon eyes waiting, now can we?" He lowered his voice to an exaggerated whisper, bringing one hand to his mouth conspiratorially, "I hear he gets cranky." Sniggering gleefully to himself, Naruto turned to Sakura, who had watched the whole exchange impassively.
"Well, gotta go Sakura-chan." He gave her a friendly peck on the cheek before running off into the crowd, tossing a cheerful, "thanks for lunch," over his shoulder.
Naruto weaved carefully throughout the crowd until he could no longer feel them watching his back worriedly, heaving a sigh of relief. Thank Kami for Temari: Sakura was good at making him open up about things he normally didn't share, but this was one matter he didn't want to discuss with her. She just couldn't understand. Shaking his head, he continued towards the Kazekage's tower.
Meanwhile, Sakura sighed in frustration as she put some money on the counter to pay for the ramen. Heading back towards the bazaar, she looked over her shoulder at Temari, trying not to glare. "Impeccable timing, Temari."
The blonde kunoichi snorted in amusement as she fell into step with the other girl, reflecting on her interruption. "Well how was I supposed to know?"
"Well honestly Temari, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come at all."
The pink-haired young woman shook her head in disgust: she wasn't upset that the Sand kunoichi had interrupted her just as she was about to interrogate Naruto (after all, that had been part of the master plan all along.) No, what was causing the med nin to angrily grind her teeth was the fact that Temari had waited so long to give the signal: ramen was expensive damnit!
"Like I said, how was I supposed to know he could eat that much? I was just waiting until you were two were done."
"Naruto is never done," Sakura groused, quickening her pace in irritation, "It's going to take my wallet weeks to recover.
"Hey, don't complain to me: it was your idea. You should have foreseen the consequences of luring him out to lunch."
Green eyes narrowed momentarily, before a mischievous grin crept over Sakura's delicate features. "You're right Temari," she crooned sweetly. "After all, we can't all be strategic geniuses like your secret lover."
To her immense satisfaction, the other kunoichi choked, sputtered, and finally lost her hopeless battle with the blush that was flaming across her cheeks.
Kakashi's midmorning stroll came to a halt as he finally reached his destination. Snapping his trashy novel closed with a twinge of disappointment, the jounin squared his shoulders (well, as square as his shoulders went…Kakashi wasn't one to stand up straight, regardless of the circumstances) and examined the door before him knowingly.
'There's one…' he smirked to himself, 'two…' his eyes dipped to the lowest hinge of the door 'and three. Really Sasuke, I was suspecting a little more creativity from a man of your caliber.' The older shinobi shook his head in disappointment as he counted off the traps he had spotted on the door, reaching to test the doorknob.
He had to suppress a most undignified yelp of pain and surprise when a surge of electricity went racing up his arm, leaving it tingling and slightly numb. Wincing, Kakashi rolled his abused appendage, grinning despite himself in appreciation of his old apprentice's handiwork. 'Now that's more like it.'
Always eager for a challenge, the silver haired man launched his attack, locating the door's weak point (being extra careful to avoid all metallic or current-carrying surfaces) and applied pressure, pleased as the door swung easily and silently open. Not everyone could be as flashy as Sakura, after all.
Taking a cautious step into the dark room, Kakashi lazily ducked down and to the right, easily avoiding a barrage of kunai, only to find himself having to jump as a wave of precision-aimed shuriken imbedded themselves into the space he had just been occupying. The last throwing star was accompanied by a hastily scrawled note.
"DO NOT DISTRUB."
Kakashi snorted at this, taking another step forward while simultaneously catching yet another kunai aimed at his head. Calmly untangling the second message from the exploding tag, the jounin carelessly tossed the kunai out a nearby window, ignoring the ground-shaking explosion that followed shortly after as he squinted to read the note in the dim light.
"KAKASHI, THIS MEANS YOU."
Rolling his eyes, the jounin pulled out his orange romance novel again, strolling over to lean against the bed. As he carelessly flipped a page, he repressed an amused smile as murderous eyes bore holes into his body, easily picturing the blood red fury swirling in their depths.
After flipping two more pages, the sliver haired shinobi sensed that his student's patience had reached its limit. Purposefully closing the novel with a snap, marking his page with one of the raven's angry notes, he tucked it securely away in a pocket before finally turning to face the room's other inhabitant, his face a mask of surprise.
"Why Sasuke, this is a surprise. I hadn't the faintest idea you were here." He smiled sweetly, though he knew the boy couldn't see it through his mask. "What can I do for you?"
The figure before him seemed to slowly materialize from the shadows, a murderous intent flowing from his very being. First crimson eyes glared out, followed closely by a black outline and a pale face, a dangerous scowl clearly visible on its features.
"Leave," an icy voice ground out, barely contained rage simmering underneath.
"Leave? But I just got here." Kakashi placed his thumbs in his pockets, slouching back and giving the raven an innocent glance.
"DAMN IT KAKASHI, I SAID LEAVE!" The older man had to work hard not to wince as the last strand of restraint inside the Uchiha snapped, unleashing his furious temper. Sasuke was like a wild predator: normally he was calm and collect, but when backed into a corner, he became vicious and deadly. The brunette did not enjoy people prying into his personal feelings, and Kakashi could sense that behind that violent anger lurked several stronger, desperate emotions.
With this in mind, the man felt his eyes soften a bit, and his voice remained calm and soothing. "Alright, I'll leave." He gave the boy a hard look, "But you're coming with me."
Murderous eyes narrowed further. "The hell I am. I have nothing to say to you or anyone else, and I don't want to hear anything you have to say."
"Oh you'll listen," Kakashi straightened up and walked over to the boy, his eyes strong and challenging, his voice finally serious, "or I will send a top priority message to Tsunade requesting she remove you from this mission on the grounds that you are emotionally unstable."
"You'd resort to lying?"
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry Sasuke, would you prefer I tell her the truth of the situation? Either way, you'll be ordered to return home so fast your head will spin." Kakashi gave a moment for the truth of this threat to sink in before continuing. "More importantly, if you aren't listening, then I guess I can't tell you about the fact that your boyfriend, whose emotions are at present extremely vulnerable, is currently having a private meeting with Gaara." Obsidian eyes narrowed and a stoic jaw muscle twitched. "I also won't be able to help you figure out how to intervene."
The Uchiha went completely still, and after a full minute Kakashi began to worry that the boy had stopped breathing. Suddenly, the raven marched to his bed, picked up his kunai holster and fastened its securely to his leg, and stalked purposefully out of the room into the hall. Looking over his shoulder impatiently, his eyes locked with Kakashi's.
"Well, are we going or what?"
(1) I briefly considered letting Naruto or Sasuke kill Orochimaru, but I decided that having Jiraiya end it was probably the most fitting due to their past friendship.
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(1) I briefly considered letting Naruto or Sasuke kill Orochimaru, but I decided that having Jiraiya end it was probably the most fitting due to their past friendship.
End of chapter, phew! I tried my best to lighten the mood a bit and to not leave it on such a cliff hanger this time! The next chapter will probably be up around Christmas time, so keep an eye out. Looking forward to hearing what you guys thought of this one!
