Here we go the next exciting installment! I like this chapter :D I wonder how much you've figured out so far... Shit is going to go down folks! (Unedited I will update this chapter when I've given it a quick read thru...)

12 – Blurred Vision

Buzz… Buzz…

"Sasuke… your phone just beeped." The raven's eyelids fluttered open as spicy breath blew softly against his cheek. For a moment, he was blinded as the sun was caught in the fox's golden hair, but the glare quickly melted away and he found himself nose to nose with a smiling face. Exhaling deeply as his heart started to fill his chest, Sasuke reached out an affectionate hand to stroke Naruto's whisker-marked cheek.

"Hn." Last night's events… they can't have just been a dream. How many times had he woken up his bed, wishing that the blond would be there too? Now he could all the time, take it for granted, and never feel embarrassed for wanting to be with the fox again. "Yeah, I'd better get that. Sorry."

"Okay. We need to get up before Dad gets back anyway," the blond replied, sliding off the snake's body and reaching across for the buzzing phone.

"Thanks," the raven sighed blearily as the device was pushed into his cheek. If it was Orochimaru, he didn't want to miss it. Ever since that medallion stopped feeding him strength his hunger only seemed to be growing.

You need to come home now. See you in the next ten minutes. Sasuke threw a quick glance to Naruto, who was smiling swoonily back.

"I kind of have to go right now. Itachi's orders," he grumbled, tearing away the bedcovers and throwing his feet down to the floor. Breathing out gently, the fox crawled across the bed and draped his arms around the pale shoulders.

"Not before I give you your present," he said, laying a soft kiss on the exposed neck. The raven snorted, but leaned into the lips regardless.

"Ts. Why the hell would you bother to get me a present?" he scoffed, even as his cheeks began to heat up.

"Hey, I didn't know that this was going to happen! Really, I'm not going to withdraw your present just because of last night. I thought you were straight anyway," the blond replied, frowning up at the little he could see of his lover's face. "Most people are, you know."

"Usuratonkachi." Ignoring the snide comment completely, Naruto moved to the edge of the bed and felt underneath. The snake decided to ignore him back, and started to put on his jeans and shirt.

"Here it is! If you don't like it, I'll kill you, teme." Shooting the blond a cynical sneer, he grabbed the tiny box wrapped in orange paper out of his hands.

"I'd like to see you try. You know it only takes forty minutes for my venom to kill," he said, licking his lips and sliding his finger under the paper. The fox watched with excited eyes as Sasuke levered away the paper and revealed the gift inside. "Where did you get this?" Cold eyes were fixed on the tiny frame in shock.

"We've had this photo for ages," the blond laughed, a grin splitting across his face. "I know it's tiny, but I figure that you don't need more money." A spark of warmth buzzed in his freezing chest as the raven looked down at the two soft faces beaming up at him.

"It's pretty cheesy, dobe," he mumbled, still staring blankly the picture of the two of them just before they went up the super scary roller coaster. "When did we do that, again?"

"Uh… I was seven, I think. Our family took you there for your eighth birthday." For a second, the snake tapped it against his hand; before he thrust it in his pocket and bent down to pick up his socks.

"Best present I've ever had. Thanks," he muttered, as soon as his shoes were on his feet. "I'll just be going, then. Tell Minato I said thanks for dinner, too." Without even bothering to look back, he made his way to the stairs with his eyes fixed on the screen of his phone. If he locked eyes with the blond he might be able to leave.

"Ne, Sasuke!" Naruto called, dashing to the edge of the stairs and grabbing the boy's waist.

"What?" snapped Sasuke, as he fought his instincts to jump over the fox and kiss him silly.

"Happy Birthday. I love you. Goodbye. That is all."

"Hn," he smiled, breathing in the boy's scent. "Sorry that I have to go. I'll see you again as soon as possible." The raven didn't want to say those things back, but that was okay. Of course, the blond already knew how much the snake hated that crap. It didn't mean he didn't have feelings.

Sasuke blinked.

"Happy Birthday!" they chorused, as Sakura grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside.

"What the fuck is this?" he hissed, tearing himself away and glaring venomously at the four people he was quickly losing respect for. "If this is a fucking surprise party… I hate birthday parties!"

"Yeah, yeah, we know," Shikamaru sighed, rolling his eyes. "We just wanted to give you a birthday card. Every time anyone gets you a present you yell at them, so it's a compromise. Come on." Steam pouring out of his ears, he was practically frog marched up the stairs behind the others by Itachi.

"I was at Naruto's house! I thought this would be something important," he barked, as they dragged him into his bedroom and tossed him onto his bed.

"This is something important," the cherry-blossom whined, moving to sit with him.

"No it's not. I don't need you to remind me that we're friends just because I was born exactly eighteen years ago," the snake spat.

"Man up, Sasuke," said the dog. "As you said, you're turning eighteen – not five. So quit making such a fuss. Besides, you left me hanging yesterday so you could hang out with a complete moron." Panting softly in quiet fury, the raven's eyes narrowed dangerously and his hands clenched into fists.

"Why don't you say that again?" he slurred. Slowly standing up off the bed, he tried to stare the brunet down, although the raven was shorter.

"Relax. I'm entitled to my opinion," Shikamaru told him with tired eyes. Somewhere beside them, Gaara and Itachi exchanged worried glances. "Hell, Sasuke, if you want him then you know I'm here to help."

"Oh is that so, Shikamaru? Like hell I'd want your help. You'd probably think it's all just too 'troublesome'," Sasuke bit out, reaching out and shoving the brunet away.

"Ugh," gasped the boy as he stumbled backward. "Sasuke?" As the furious raven suddenly flinched and his face went a little pale, Gaara darted forward a little and shook his friend's shoulder.

"Wh-what… am I doing? Are you okay, Shikamaru?" the wide-eyed snake spluttered as he backed onto his bed.

"He's fine. Are you?" the redhead asked, his brow furrowed.

"Yeah," Sakura agreed, putting her arm around the raven's shaking shoulders. "That really is the more pressing question here. It's your birthday, and you've just spent the night with Naruto. Did something happen?"

"Ngh…" Rubbing his forehead gently, Sasuke waited for his mind to clear up. Why did everything keep going out of focus? It was like his mind kept having moments of complete incoherency. "Naruto… Naruto and I had sex last night," he whispered. He could've shouted it. Still staring down into his lap, all he could do was wait for someone to break the deafening silence. But no one had the guts to, with one look at Itachi's face. It wasn't that his expression had changed; so much as it was that his expression hadn't changed. Sakura had gasped, Shikamaru's jaw all but fell off his face, and Gaara's eyes shot open, the grip on the snake's shoulder tightened. As for the older Uchiha, his eyes only seemed to ice over as he stared darkly at his not-so-innocent baby brother. The room froze as soon as he opened his mouth to speak.

"Does that make Gaara the only one left to find someone for?" All that escaped the others lips were short gasps of something between surprise and relief.

"I prefer solitude," the redhead replied, looking at Sasuke with a spark of curiosity.

"You prefer solitude plus Neji," laughed Sakura, in an unsuccessful attempt to raise the temperature in the room.

"I'm not sure how I feel about Neji," the lizard said, fixing her with an intense gaze.

"Excuse me," huffed the raven, flicking his hair out of his face. "I don't really feel like talking at the moment. Can we make this quick?" All he wanted to do was eat some breakfast, and then lie down somewhere for a very long time. His whole body was aching from one day and one night of serious exercise – especially his butt.

"Wait, wait," the mouse started, shaking her head. "You and Naruto are… an item now?" Exhaling deeply, the snake gently rubbed the sore muscles in the back of his neck with one hand.

"Hn." Suddenly, two arms flew around his shoulders and he found himself in a bear hug.

"That's just wonderful, Sasuke!"

"Yeah! You must be so happy," agreed the brunet, stepping forward to ruffle the boy's dark hair. Gaara and Itachi both had small smiles tugging at their lips. "It's like… the best birthday present ever."

"Hn. I still don't feel like talking," grumbled Sasuke. Finally, a hand carrying an envelope was waved in front of his face and he nabbed it.

"There you go, you asshole. Happy Birthday," Shikamaru teased, as the scowling boy flipped the envelope around in his fingers.

"I'm not opening it now. I need to mull some things over first."

"Hey Sasuke," the girl burst out, tapping her friend's shoulder. "Do you feel like making the slightest bit of sense anytime soon?" The snake's lips seemed to stiffen, and his cold eyes fell on her with deepest loathing.

"Do you feel like leaving?" he drawled, his eyes narrowing. "I don't have time for you." Almost straight away, Sakura's sweet face began to snarl.

"We noticed!" she snapped. "You don't have time for any of us anymore, do you?"

"Yeah!" Shikamaru burst out, throwing his arm toward the girl. "She's right. It's not as though you have to decide between Naruto and us."

"We've always supported you, Sasuke," Gaara added, his brow furrowing, "so stop getting shitty with us." Only taking a moment to glance between his three friends, the raven could see the intense frustration that they were feeling. They were all angry and upset because of him, and the way he'd been treating them. His mouth fell open slightly as his dark eyes stopped at the redhead – his best friend. As he watched the confusion and fury swimming in the lizard's blue eyes, Sasuke's mouth slowly closed and his lips stretched into a smirk.

"There's no use trying to cover it. My contempt toward you will always leak out, won't it?" he slurred, his smile broadening in satisfaction at his friend's widening eyes. "I suggest that you leave."

"Sasuke," Gaara sighed, his eyes and the corners of his mouth trembling slightly. The girl's hands were trembling as she watched the redhead search for words, and the brunet held his breath. As for the raven, he simply lifted himself off the bed and brushed past the dog to place the envelope on his dresser. "You need help."

"Get out of my house, and get out of my life." It was cold, but he had no need to explain himself to them.

"Sasuke," the girl whimpered, as his cruel words pierced her heart. "How could you?" She'd been told over and over that this was the true face of that jet-black reptile, but she couldn't believe it. They all loved him, so how could he do this to them?

"That's enough, Sakura. We should just go," Shikamaru muttered, putting an arm around her and helping the poor girl off the bed. "True friends don't just disappear, Sasuke, so this isn't over." Suddenly, he paused, and glanced quickly at the grave-faced redhead. "No. You aren't really Sasuke, are you? Not anymore." Sniggering slightly, the snake turned back to smirk at the brunet. Trying hard to keep his volume below shouting, the lizard tried again.

"We're leaving. Don't do this to yourself," he growled, his voice shaking. That look of contempt made him want to punch it right out of the bastard's system, but he couldn't do that. It wasn't as if that would work. What made it even more frustrating was that the brunet was wrong. Of course it was Sasuke. Heart like a terrible weight in his chest, Gaara broke the burning eye contact with the boy who was once his closest friend and lead Sakura and the dog across the room and out the door. It was humiliating, feeling that nasty, familiar smile burning into the backs of their heads. Wait. Familiar? The lizard paused. Suddenly, he shot back around to the snake with wide eyes. "You-?" Tilting his head slightly and narrowing his eyes, the raven waited for the lizard to continue, but he didn't. Instead, the blue eyes turned to scrutiny and his lips tightened, and he swept away with the others at his tail.

"You are more of a moron than your boyfriend." As his face quickly twisted into a sneer, Sasuke whipped around to his brother and let out a long hiss. Even as the taller brother approached him, his face hard and emotionless, the stubborn raven didn't allow himself to become intimidated. If anything, he hissed louder. "More than that though – you're a parasite, feeding off other people like a leech. It's disgusting."

"Hn. It's interesting that this is how you'd describe me, when that's exactly how I see you," the snake droned. "Feeding off father's appreciation and support, while being too weak to do anything to help save our family."

"Oh yes, of course," simpered Itachi, his dark eyes cutting into his brother like a knife. "And killing father and crippling me will make everything better, won't it?" A small gasp escaped the young raven's lips as his eyes narrowed in surprise. The older snake smiled. "I thought so."

"Kill him? I don't want to kill anyone!" he cried, stumbling backward. "Is this what you think? That I'm some kind of psycho killer?" Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his throat as his brother flew toward him and pinned him to the wall, his forearm pinning the boy's neck and his other arm holding his arms above his head. It happened so fast that the raven barely even saw Itachi as he was slammed roughly against the wall.

"You have no idea what you're going up against, and no idea why. Watch yourself, Sasuke. Don't let obsession stop you from doing the right thing." Struggling against the strong arms, the snake glared viciously at his brother.

"Ts. You've said that before, I recall. And I get it now, nii-san: you're covering your own ass," he spat. "You know I'm not weak anymore. I can do anything." A snarl written lightly on his straight face, Itachi leaned in to his brother.

"You're half right. I am covering my ass. But you're wrong about your so-called strength. All you are is how others see you, and as long as inspire anger and as long as you continue to be a slave to power people will always defy you. That is why you are weak."

"And I will control those who defy me. That is strength! I will never fear or allow myself to be controlled by anyone again – including you and including father," growled Sasuke. If he transformed now, he could beat his brother to the ground. But it was too soon – if he stuffed it up it'd be over and the older raven would never let his guard down again.

"Yes, but does that include Orochimaru?"

"Hn," gasped the snake, his eyes narrowing even more. "How did you know about that?" A smirk seemed to dance on the edges of Itachi's lips, but only just.

"I am the chairman's firstborn, after all." The boy snorted, rolling his eyes away.

"Ts. There is nothing that I do for him that I don't want to do. Orochimaru is powerful, but when I have taken everything I can from him, then I'll leave."

"And that is why you are a parasite," he whispered, finally releasing his brother's hands and throat. Tearing himself away, the young raven clenched his teeth and stared at his older sibling with hatred ripping through his body almost harder than he could bear. Itachi turned away and strode directly for the door, his shoulders as stiff as boards. He only paused for a moment as he stepped out and into the hall. "Happy Birthday, nii-chan. Father wishes to speak with you now that your friends have left."

"Wonderful," the boy barked, stomping across the room and barging past his brother. "Do you think he'll be glad to hear I'm finally in a relationship?"

"What? No, Sasuke! He'll kick you out if he knows about that!" the distraught young man called after the raging boy, but it was too late, as he practically bounded up the stairs leading to their father's study. There was no need to worry about being kicked out anymore, though. Naruto would take care of him. The only person left that he loved and felt loved by would be his salvation and would provide him sanctuary if he needed it. Brimming with confidence, the snake traipsed toward a small, elegant desk across the ornate yet lifeless corridor, before snatching up the bell from its cushion and shaking it impatiently. The sound it made was not beautiful. It was too sharp, and too cold.

"Enter," came a deep voice from behind the heavy wooden door. As usual, the boy was shivering all over as he reached for the knob. But this time, it was completely different. For the first time, he wanted to be the one the power. There would be nothing that his father could say to make him back down. With a grunt and a shove, the door clicked open and he was flooded in the freezing grey light of Fugaku's office.

"Hello Father. Was there something you needed?" he asked coldly, his eyes flicking around the dusty room, past the large bookcases and corporate windows to settle on the stern man standing by the pane, smoking his pipe. Fugaku's rigid gaze was set out across the garden to the old ginko tree, whose branches stretched high into the blue spring sky. Shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, Sasuke let the door click shut behind him. If his father ever ignored a question it was usually because the lecture to follow was not to be taken lightly. Finally, the dark haired man took a deep suck from his pipe and brought his eyes to meet those of his son. Smoke blew out his nostrils heavily as the man let out a sigh and his brow creased with dissatisfaction at what he saw before him.

"You're eighteen years old today. Congratulations on making it this far in your insignificant little life." Almost biting down on his tongue to stop himself from losing his temper, the snake moved further into the room to stand closer to his father. He needed to be able to look the man in the eye when he told him the truth.

"Thank-you, Father." Fugaku's black eyes seemed to narrow slightly, as though he was struggling to focus on the young man waiting patiently before him.

"And so you should be thanking me. A waste of air like yourself should be grateful that I'm kind enough to keep you. However, if you really want to thank me, you'll get your act together," his father told him, each word creating a tiny cloud of grey smoke.

"I have been 'getting my act together', father. I'm with someone – in a relationship," the raven said, fighting back the smirk threatening to anger the volatile man. Instead, the smirk found itself to his father, as he took another great suck of his pipe. It was quite an ugly pipe, Sasuke thought, as his father's face disappeared into another twisting mess of grey. The bowl was patterned with ring-shaped grooves all the way down the black wood making it look like a microphone, and the stem seemed far too thin compared to the rest of the implement. While a lot of people smoked at Uchiha academy, the raven had always refused to take it up no matter how drunk he might get. It was really just a matter of principle. He didn't want to be anything even resembling his father.

"Is that so?" the man said with a gentle nod. Sasuke could at least be thankful that he looked considerably more like his mother than he looked like Fugaku. Itachi was the one who took after him. "Since when?"

"Last night."

"Is that so?" his father repeated, not breaking the eye contact he had with the solemn boy. "Something I can rely on you for. Who is she? Somebody? Or is she nobody?" Face straight and deficit of emotion, the young man held the man's gaze for just a moment longer, before finally letting the dark smile slip silently across his lips. Right away, the man with dusty black hair's lips stiffened at the defiance in his son's placid eyes.

"Who he is has nothing to do with you," he began slowly, as the rush of standing up to the tyrant pounded through his body. It was ecstacy. "And yes, to me he is somebody." As he sucked in his father's changing expression, he felt himself shiver in satiation. The eyes watching him went rapidly from discontent to so much more than Sasuke had ever seen before, and it almost drove him wild.

"What do you mean 'he'?" the man barked, as his down turned lips began to snarl and his eyes found something like horror. "Are you a male? Or are you a faggot?" he roared, slamming his pipe down onto the windowpane.

"I'm homosexual, and I'm a man, father," the raven flawlessly told the enraged man, barely batting an eyelid as the considerably taller adult advanced upon him, his face red with anger. Before he could control it, the adrenaline helping the words flow from his mouth pushed him to continue. "There really is nothing quite like having another man inside your ass. I wasn't going to suggest it, but being married has never really stopped you trying out all sorts of things with all sorts of people, has it?" Every word seemed to make the man flinch terribly, but he still managed to make his way close enough to grab his son's collar and pull him forward.

"Say all you want, you fool!" Fugaku spat, disgusted at the snake's broadening smile. "Say all you want, but you have no idea what this is going to mean for us! No matter what you might prefer, you must marry a woman! You must!"

"I don't think so," coughed the raven, as the smell of smoke reached his nostrils. "This one is out of your hands."

"No, Sasuke. You don't understand," his father growled. At the sound of his own name leaving his father's lips, not the oh-so familiar 'boy', the snake frowned. Suddenly, the man's eyes seemed desperate, and even afraid. "If you don't marry and produce legitimate children, then the name of Uchiha will be buried forever." What? Tearing himself away from the man's grasp and stumbling back, he stared at his father, his pupils lost in the whites of his eyes.

"What are you talking about? Itachi is with someone too. He's in love with my friend Haruno Sakura," he pressed, searching his father's tired face for some kind of answer. This wasn't what he'd been expecting at all. What was this?

"I know. Haruno would make Itachi the perfect wife too, and they'd be happier than your mother and I ever were. Partnership isn't an issue for one as intelligent as him," rasped Fugaku, running his hand down his forehead. "You faggot. You'll ruin us, won't you? I thought I had this figured out."

"You make no sense," the boy growled, clenching his fists. But something cold and sharp in the back of his mind knew that there was a way that this could make sense. It terrified him.

"It makes sense when you know the truth, but you must swear to keep quiet!" his father ordered, pointing the raven.

"I'm not promising anything," he snorted, "but if necessary I won't tell anyone." Glancing around him in case there was a servant lurking in the corners, the corporate man took another step toward his son.

"Eight years ago, your mother and I were concerned that a family disease from my side of the family had been passed on to you or your brother and we had you both tested for it. We didn't tell either of you what it was at the time, even when Itachi tested positive." Finally breaking the gaze between them, Fugaku shook his head at the ground. "He has ogliospermia, which means that he cannot have children. Only you can continue the family line, and now you tell me you're a fucking faggot."

"You never told him?" Sasuke burst out, as his pupils suddenly narrowed to slits. "You never-? My brother deserves to know about this! Why are you hiding it?"

"For his own good! It's best if he figures it out on his own, so that he can worry about it when he's old enough to cope and still get on with his work." Of course. And perhaps his brother was right about him, because the snake's urge to rip out his own father's throat was beginning to manifest inside of him. "The last thing we need is another mopey teenager like you."

"So what?" the raven hissed, his fists trembling with rage. "You're going to force me to have kids, is that it? Itachi's the family man, not me! Who cares about blood – he can adopt."

"You will continue our family line, you damn selfish boy!" the man shouted, spit flying from his mouth and eyes wide with anger. Never in his life had he had to deal with such defiance from his own son, and it couldn't come in a worse form.

"How am I selfish? I'm not the one lying to Itachi just to make sure he stays in check!" This was getting to be too much. The words kept coming back and hitting him in the chest, making him want to double over in sickening shock. In a way his father was right – the truth would be painful for Itachi. For as long as Sasuke had known his brother he'd valued family over anything, and wanted to try and father children better than Fugaku ever could. But leaving it for him to find out? When he'd perhaps be hoping to have children it would be so much worse, even if he could still show up for work and keep his father happy. This was just ridiculous. "If you had just told him he would've figured himself out."

"It's a complicated situation. You can't expect to just understand – and your mind has always been exceptionally weak." All the pleasure of infuriating his father was gone. The fury was still there, as the man began to pace back and forth, shooting him looks of disgust every so often. Shivering, the raven took a small step away. "I thought that perhaps having two sons could be advantageous, but you aren't a man, are you? You shouldn't have been born."

"If you haven't got anything else to say, Dad, there's a school assignment that I need to be finishing right now, and a birthday celebration that I need to be avoiding," said the snake, his voice nearly as deep as Fugaku's.

"Then get out." So he left. As resentful as he felt toward his father for lying to Itachi, he held onto the secret. There was no need for him to help his enemy. Removing his brother wasn't personal, but it was necessary. As for the tyrant, well getting rid of him was definitely a personal issue, and suddenly killing him didn't sound like such a bad idea after all. It'd serve him right for turning their family into a business and their business into a rat race.

"Where are we going, master?" the raven grumbled, after twenty minutes of sitting blindfolded in the back of a vehicle. "Is this work for you, or is it going to help me achieve my goal?"

"Your goal is my goal," came the slurred voice of the demon, as the car rolled smoothly around a bend in the road. "All work I have you do is only to help you to achieve it. However, the leader of our little organisation is counting my word that you will become powerful enough to be a valuable asset."

"In other words, in exchange for helping me become patriarch of the Uchihas, we have to become affiliated." Even though all he could see was black, he could still feel a prickle as Orochimaru smiled darkly at him.

"As a master of magic, I have wanted an apprentice for a long time. The organisation sees you as an investment, and showing them some loyalty will go a long way to help you. Emeralds are one thing, but there is a step you must take that will allow you to unlock even more power, and this ritual also happens to be the initiation into the group." There was a pause where only the sound of the car engine could be heard, when the snake's heart suddenly leapt up in his chest.

"Join the group?" Sasuke spluttered, sitting right up in his seat. "Helping them is one thing, but joining them?"

"Just being able to transform doesn't make you impervious to the law, or gunfire, or criminals like your father. I'm not just training you to use your powers and your body – I'm also showing you how to use your brain, and giving you access to the resources that you can't compromise." Biting down on his lip, he turned this over in his mind. This goal, or this destiny was bigger than he'd first anticipated. Maybe he hadn't thought it through properly, but even it was going to monopolise his time, he had to let it.

"Hn. I understand. I need to disappear for a while, don't I?" he asked, already certain of the answer. He didn't want this to affect his relationship with Naruto. Since his birthday a week ago they didn't spend much time together. Sasuke was alone at school, just left brooding and wandering. It wasn't as though he wanted to be anywhere near Naruto's friends, or his own for that matter. They had met secretly once, but that was when the raven's phone went off and Orochimaru told him that he'd planned 'a little outing'. So with a quick apology he had to leave the fox and meet the demon outskirts of the city, where he was blindfolded and driven away. As a result of being dragged away, he was in a foul mood. More to the point, he was missing the blond. Sometimes just talking on the phone wasn't enough.

"Not straight away, but yes. In order to stay safe from the law and carry out your revenge perfectly, it is best that you disappear." It wasn't what he wanted to hear, but it was a sacrifice that needed to be made if it was to free his family from Fugaku, the tyrant. With a heavy sigh, he rested his head against the window. It won't be forever, Naruto. I can only hope that you won't hate me for what I have to do, but I don't want to be this anymore. I'm sick of being treated like a disgusting reptile by a snake like my father. "We're here, Uchiha-san. You're welcome to remove the blindfold." Grateful to remove the rough fabric from around his eyes, the snake quickly reached around the back of his head and fumbled with the knot, before giving up and pulling it straight off his head.

"This is your headquarters?" he scoffed, as his sore eyes adjusted the sunlight suddenly pouring over his face. As the glare cleared away he spotted a rusty tin shed nestled in a grove a short walk up a hill from the road. It was covered in holes and rotting timber, and it had seared patches as though it had been on fire. "It sticks out like a sore thumb, and it's a piece of crap."

"It's one of many safe houses, and despite being somewhat unkempt and highly visible from the road, it has never been subject to any form of investigation, as it has been disguised as a hermit's house," the demon told him, giving the driver a brief nod and stepping out of the vehicle and onto the dirt road.

"Ts. A hermit's house?" muttered the raven, climbing out after him. Another factor contributing to his negative mood was the fact that since telling his father about his sexuality and learning that Itachi was infertile, they hadn't spoken at all. Not one meeting had been called, and if he saw Fugaku in the house, all he would receive would be a discontented sniff and a raised eyebrow. As the wind whipped back the pale man's hair, Sasuke slowed down. He didn't want to be hit in the face as he trudged after his master up the tiny path to the 'hermit's house'. Why couldn't the tyrant at least acknowledge the fact that the raven was rejecting his control? Things were supposed to be improving for him, and yet he felt as though he'd never had so many worries in his life.

"Pein!" the snake-like man called, as they approached the burnt out hut.

"Pain?" It was a word he was familiar with from learning English at school. He shuddered. In joining a criminal group he would probably meet all kinds of people; possibly even deranged psychopaths.

"Who is it?" a deep voice called back.

"Just Orochimaru and my new apprentice." Looking over his shoulder, the creature snarled as he saw the snake hesitate. "Don't be a weakling. If your resolve is strong then you must take this path and never look back."

"Very good," the voice came again. Sasuke swallowed deeply, before nodding to his master and continuing to the door. He already knew that as soon as he went in there was no turning back. There was little doubt – if he entered the safe house and then decided not to help them, he'd be killed. However, he had no wish to turn them down. Grabbing the loose handle on the wooden door, Orochimaru gave it a shake and pulled it open, knocking a family of spiders to the dusty earth below. At first glance, the snake couldn't see anyone inside the room. There were filthy chairs and an old kerosene stove, but that was about all. It was only as they stepped inside the dank little room that he spotted the boy standing beside a decrepit bunk bed in the corner of the room. As soon as his eyes fell on the young man he froze. This person could hardly be any older than the raven, with spiked orange hair, swirl-like eyes and a grotesque amount of piercings covering his face – all down the bridge of his nose, around his earlobes and under his lips, even having rods going straight through the tops of his ears. His face was so cold and flat, that even the terrifying Uchiha felt intimidated.

"Uchiha-san, this is Pein," the demon told him, creating a small cloud of dust as he sat down in one of the seats in the centre of the room. "He is the leader of the organisation, or at least the wing of the organisation concerned with people who can transform."

"But he's just a boy, like me. How can he be the 'leader'?" asked the raven. His feet seemed to be fixed to the floor as hard as his eyes were glued to the boy.

"I'm a lot older than I look," he replied, returning Sasuke's gaze with an equally solid stare. "He's a lot nicer looking than your current, Orochimaru."

"I'm lucky to have him." Frowning slightly at this, the snake finally moved to sit with his master. Moving from one creepy gaze to another, Sasuke found himself pinned by those amber eyes. "Pein is even more powerful than I am, just by killing. When you take another's life you take their power, and the more significant the person killed, the more fulfilling the power. You have some growing to do yet, but to reach your potential you must spill the blood of your father."

"Hn. I'd be more than happy to kill that man," the raven said with a smirk. What he wanted to learn to do first though was transform into the titanic beast he'd seen Orochimaru change into. Having that sort of ability would make him very happy.

"I have the blood of so many on my hands that the creature I can become is large enough to rip up this hillside," the strange boy stated, his empty eyes shifting to the door. "And I also control my abilities perfectly – there is nothing I can't do within my own field. I will show you." Watching in fascination, the snake leaned forward in his seat. Whatever Pein's power was, he wanted to see it. Maybe he changed into an animal he'd never seen before. For a moment nothing happened – there were no subtle changes in his shape and he didn't waver. Suddenly, Pein was gone. Only a split second of broken eye contact was long enough for the boy to shift into a muscled, misshapen creature. It snarled and frothed ferociously at the mouth, its cruel eyes bulging madly from their sockets, and it looked curled forward and bent like something between an extremely muscular human being and…

"A fox? Like Naruto," he gasped, slipping back in his chair. "And you say you can replicate this power to something the size of-"

"Of anything, as long as I don't break through the atmosphere," the beast growled. "And I can replicate any form as many times as I like. If I wanted I could completely destroy Tokyo and the rest of Japan. Not that I'd ever do something so outrageously pointless." Then in a flash, the werefox was gone and Pein was leaning against the bedpost once again. "But I have unlimited power. Not something I wanted, mind you. I'd rather just be left alone. So will you join us?"

"I…" Sasuke bit his lip. Of course he was going to say yes. He didn't want to be torn to pieces – that was probably the most rabid, insane monster he'd ever seen. But mostly, the thought of having unlimited power, and control over anything he wanted could've made him go rabid and insane himself. "Yes. I'll join you, and do anything you want. All I want in return is to be given the means to unseat Uchiha Fugaku." He couldn't tear the image of the monster from his mind, with its dripping teeth and red, bristling fur… "Pein-san, are you related the Uzumakis?" Hearing this, the redheaded boy raised an eyebrow as the demon beside him let out an irritated snort.

"Not directly, but I am loosely related to their family. Don't become confused, though. People can be completely unrelated and still have the same powers, as in you and Orochimaru." At first he nodded, but as a freezing, bony hand suddenly gripped his shoulder he whipped around. The demon was glaring at him, his thin lips twisted into a snarl and his soulless eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Curious how you should bring up that boy from your classes at school," he slurred, blowing icy breath into Sasuke's pale face.

"We are very close," the raven replied simply. But this statement didn't seem to appease the suddenly unsettled man in the slightest.

"I know all about that. But you cannot take him down this path with you, or anyone else you have emotional bonds with. Either they'll distract you from your goal or the actions that you must take will hurt them. Leave them – leave him behind." I've never been apart from him… How do I even do that?

"If it is necessary, I'll do it," he murmured, unable to stop his bottom lip from jutting out or his eyes fall to the floor. "I'll leave him behind and… he can catch me up later." It was unlikely that Naruto could ever accept what the snake knew he had to do. And even though the fox knew how it felt having a mother that could die any day as well as he did, the fox had no idea of how much it ached knowing that Sasuke's own father was the reason for that. Mikoto's sickness was very different to Kushima's. The blond could be with his mother until her time eventually came, but for the raven, it felt as though she was already gone. For her sake, Sasuke could give him up. He could bring her back from the clutches of death, if only he could banish her sickness – Uchiha Fugaku.

"Then it's time. We will initiate you into the organisation, and you will leave everything behind," Pein told him, standing up off from the bedpost and raising his chin. "The process is a ritual that will give you the power to transform into an enormous serpent with the strength to crush vehicles and even destroy buildings. Use that power wisely." Nodding sadly, his mind still on the depressing thoughts of leaving the fox, he stood up slowly from his seat, jumping as Orochimaru suddenly kicked it out of the way.

"Kneel," his master ordered, hitting the backs of the raven's knees. "Hurry up." It would be best if the ritual went quickly so that the snake couldn't predict what would happen. They couldn't have him backing out or panicking. Shooting a quick glare at the demon, Sasuke obeyed and sank down to the dusty floor, wondering what they were going to do to him. Perhaps he'd have to make an oath. Stepping right forward, Pein's fingers lengthened into sharp, curved claws. "Accept this power, given to you by the spirits of the dead and the blood of the living…" The snake blinked. Incantations?

"Ah-!" he gasped, as suddenly a claw slipped down the back on his shirt and ripped it to shreds, and it fell in tatters to the ground.

"There is no good and no evil, only the organisation…" Maybe it was a slightly unusual incantation. But nevertheless, it was going to give him the ability he'd been so desperate for in the first place. He heard Pein step away somewhere behind him, as Orochimaru moved forward and began to paint something dusty onto his back. In sand-like powder the demon decorated the pale skin with a serpent stemming from his lower back, before it split apart into three writhing bodies crawling up his back. On each of the heads the creature drew terrible fangs and lashing forked tongues, and as he stepped back to admire the work, Pein stepped forward once again.

"To brandish our mark is to brandish power, and to brandish either is to know pain…" he drawled, running his eyes over the snakes covering the boy's ghostly back.

"What is that?" the raven asked quickly, trying to look at the markings over his shoulder. He couldn't quite see the patterns reaching just below his neck and spilling over his shoulder blades, but he caught the glint in his master's eye as a smirk rolled across his lips. Then he saw the flint in Pein's hand.

"Gunpowder." Before he could even process what was going to happen to him, a flashing light tore up his spine, hissing loudly and sending sparks and blood splattering around the room. Suddenly he felt as though he'd been plunged into molten lead, his muscles tensing right up in agony. His blood was like an orchestra pounding in his head so loud that he couldn't even hear himself screaming, as warm fluid began to flow freely down his back.

"It burns!" he cried, as his vision began to swarm. It was like he'd been branded. He had been branded. All the flesh on his back where the gunpowder had exploded and was spattered across the room. Arms hooked under his armpits and hauled the shaking, bleeding raven to his feet.

"Quick – wash the wound," came the voice of his master, as he struggled to make himself heard over Sasuke's screams of pain. Out of nowhere, something sloshed against the snake's trembling lips. "Drink this." Still groaning into the cup as the fluid was forced into his mouth, he coughed as he was hit by its bitter taste. "You'll feel better. Swallow it down." Most of it dribbled down his chin, but the stuff he managed to drink he also managed not to puke back up, despite the convulsions of pain tearing through him.

"Hn… Ah!" he yelled, whipping around as the pain ripping through his abused nerve endings suddenly became sharper. Pein had a cloth, probably soaked in disinfectant, and was washing away the excessive amounts of blood pouring from the grotesque wounds. But as the red pouring down his back began to thin and he could see properly, he could see the three-headed snake seared and bleeding on his back. "W-what is that?" he managed, trying hard not to let the dizziness make him collapse.

"This mark will help you to channel your power. Once we bandage the wound it'll heal to a leave a scar that'll need to remain hidden from the police," he replied flatly, tossing the blood soaked flannel away.

"Hn… great." Smirking slightly, he let his weight on Orochimaru lessen as he tried to stand himself. "You have my allegiance, then. I'll leave the Academy as soon as I can." It wasn't that it didn't hurt having half his back blown apart – though the medicine was helping a little, and he could feel it numbing as the white roll of fabric began to wrap around him from his waist. It was still absolute agony. But he could feel the power of the mark flowing into his body more readily than blood was flowing out, enough that his knees didn't shake.

"For someone who just had their body mutilated, you seem quite chipper, Uchiha-san." The raven chuckled darkly, lifting his arms so that Pein had easier access to his upper back. He shot a look to his master with glistening black eyes, like pools of ink.

"Ts. I'm alright, aren't I master? And soon I'll be able to kill that bastard," he mumbled, his body still feeling to shivery and weak from blood loss to speak much louder. Every second that passed he felt a little stronger. It was the mark – he was sure of it.

"You really have the perfect mindset. If there's anything that you desire, you can achieve it," slurred the demon. Don't be manipulative with me… It was pretty clear by now to the snake. His brow furrowed. As much as he enjoyed the praise, he understood that the creature probably only said it to secure his loyalty. It really was just a manipulation, and the raven wasn't buying into it anymore. He had his own reasons for helping them now. Besides, as soon as he could become strong enough to go off on his own he would. Itachi was absolutely right – but if it meant he had to be a parasite to make things right, then he'd do it. He took a deep breath as Pein finally reached his shoulders and pinned him up nice and tight. The pain was only just bearable, and it was probably going to remain only just bearable for a long time.

"This room is too small," he growled, close to hissing. His body was itching to try the transformation, and his teeth were already beginning to form into fangs.

"You want to try it out now?" Pein asked, stepping around him and taking his arm. Guiding Sasuke slowly to the door and pushing it open, they stepped out into the light afternoon breeze.

"Let me go. I'm fine," he hissed. His pupils had already narrowed to slits and his tongue was thinning in his mouth. Despite the pain, he felt fearless and invincible with this symbol brandishing him along his spine. This was going to work. Stepping over fallen branches and through the damp grass, he made his way around the small tin house with his master and the strange boy following.

"We're downhill a little here, Uchiha-san. It should be safe to transform." No sooner had the words left Orochimaru's lips did the raven freeze, before turning to them with a twisted smile, and wide, red eyes.

"I'll show you what I can do!" he cried, dropping back his leg and falling into his defensive stance. Closing his eyes, he concentrated his energy into his body. Usually, he pulled it in and he could shrink down into a tiny reptile, but this time it was different. He pushed the energy outward, expanding its field as far as he could handle. As he felt his arms disappear into his sides and his body stretch and grow cold, he smiled to himself in satisfaction. Slowly, his eyes were forced open as his eyelids receded, and to his amazement the boulder he'd been standing next to only a moment ago seemed no larger than a basketball on the ground beside him. "Yessss! Sssso much power!" he hissed, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Now do you see the power that magic allows us to harness?" called the demon, who was now small enough for the gigantic serpent to snap up in his mouth. Never in his life had he felt so alleviated – not even when he was with Naruto. He could transform into a godlike monster. His father was within his clutches. It'd all be over soon.

There you go! Back to normalish writing speed now, as these parts are easier to write. I know this chapter skips over quite a few days but the pace is going to change for a bit.