A Deep Cry
Chapter 28
Rating: M - 16+ (violence, profanity)
Itachi was standing with Shisui on top of a high building. They both had cloaks and masks on, and seemed ready for something big. Itachi was gazing at the horizon when he said,
"I think Orochimaru left the city and moved to another hideout again."
Shisui was sitting on one knee, beside Itachi. He rubbed his chin and said,
"That snake senses danger from miles away. He even burned down their lab! He's so cautious. No wonder he's still alive."
"He's after Naruto. I don't know why he's letting him wander around though… I don't get it. What do you think about this, Shisui?"
"No clue. I hardly know the guy, but I know that he's one of those mad scientists. I'm sure he's running some kind of experiments on Naruto. But I can never guess it."
"I wonder if he's only interested in observing Naruto from a distance?"
"Possible. I mean, he turned him, fed him a human heart, then let him walk around freely, when he could easily capture and imprison him."
Itachi lowered his gaze and mumbled,
"Observing how he'd turn out…? But why Naruto?"
"Who knows what's in that freak's head."
"Naruto has to become strong fast to be able to, at least, escape Orochimaru…" Itachi added in a low tone,
"I'm worried about them, Shisui…"
"I know, but let's leave this to Anko and concentrate on Danzo for now. If we end Danzo, then we eliminate one threat."
Itachi nodded and said nothing. Shortly later, Obito appeared out of nowhere and said,
"It's time. Are you ready?"
"Yes, we are." Shisui said.
"Good. You two are the decoys. You will engage with them first. We will back you up after you succeed at pulling their attentions. We will ambush them and get done with this in one night. Let's go."
The three disappeared at a blink of an eye. They had a mission to clear. It was a mission to massacre a group of ghouls that Madara assumed belongs to Danzo's organization. The attack was to take place just outside the city, which is where Madara spotted few of them.
Itachi and Shisui appeared close to the ghouls gathering point. They made sure someone notices their presence. They succeeded at luring some ghouls out. They got engaged in fighting with their own kind. They had to slaughter those ghouls mercilessly to protect humanity. This is their life now. This is what they faked their own deaths for. This is what they threw everything they had for. Killing their own kind for the humans.
"Cruel… This life is so cruel …
Slaughtering those who think that they're serving humanity, by becoming ghouls who protects humanity…
What a life… what a harsh logic…
Becoming a ghoul. Train to fight and kill criminal humans and ghouls in the name of justice…
But at the same time… attack innocent humans and turn them into ghouls just to build an invincible army…
Using people against their own will. Make them unbeatable. Make them feed on, not only humans, but ghouls as well. Make them fight their own kind…
Cut any connections they have… kill every emotion they have… use them as tools… This is like using real beast as deadly weapons…
This has to end… the world can't go on like this… it's cruel… it's wrong..."
The plan was a success. The ghouls kept falling one after another. They screamed, cried and begged for mercy, but none of them was left alive.
"They had to go." is what Madara said.
"They are evil creatures. They're uncontrollable. They are nothing but deadly weapons. If such an army existed, then humanity will vanish little by little. The nasty ghouls will role and the moral humans will die… That's when the humans will lose the war of good and evil. That's when the darkness will cover the world, and kill every glance of hope… if that happens, then this world will lose everything and will turn into a real hell."
Itachi and Shisui fought back to back. They knew that this was the best way for them to survive this with fewer damages. They always knew that they're invincible that way.
When the battle ended, the two stood there with their backs to each other and panted. They were still shaking. This wasn't easy at all. Their souls were suffering from the feel of guilt.
"So many ghouls died. So much blood spilled. So many lives ended…
That's the worst price to pay to retrieve balance… This life… is cruel..."
Madara and Obito brought the fuel and lit the flames. They burned the dead bodies without showing any hint of regret or sympathy. They were used to these kind of things. It's as if they were dead inside. Itachi and Shisui didn't like it. They didn't want to lose their feelings. They didn't want to kill with cold blood. But this was the only way to fight this. This battle required great sacrifices, and they were aware of that.
"But I will gladly pay that price even if it meant completely losing my humanity…
I will keep your world safe…. Because… I love you, Sasuke."
...
Orochimaru and his team were hiding in a cave outside the city. His current team had five main people. Kabuto, a mad scientist that was turned to a ghoul based on his own desire. Kabuto is good with examination and analysis, and is Orochimaru's right hand. Jirobo, a strongly build ghoul that only feeds on male humans or ghouls. Kidomaru, a ghoul that feeds on living humans or dead ghouls. Sakon, a ghoul that only feeds on living humans by butchering them until they die in his arms. Tayuya, a ghoul that prefers to kill her own victims by sucking their blood dry, then feed on their flesh.
Orochimaru was the one who turned everyone in his Hebe team into a ghoul. He ran all kinds of experiments on them and got different results for each case. This made him grow more interest in ghouls, which is why he kept turning certain people into ghouls after observing them for a while.
Kabuto said while mixing come medicines together,
"Orochimaru-sama, what are we going to do about our test subject "Naruto"? He's under Itachi's watch now. It'll be dangerous to approach him recklessly."
Orochimaru sank back in his chair and said,
"Uchiha Itachi joined the ghouls' hunters and is now hunting not only Danzo, but us as well. That's a problem for my researches. I have to do something about this."
"What do you have in mind, Orochimaru-sama?"
"I'm thinking of Itachi's little brother, Uchiha Sasuke."
Kabuto blinked and said in worry,
"That's dangerous! Itachi won't let us near Naruto! You think he'd let us near Sasuke? No way!"
"Don't insult me, Kabuto. I'm not called a snake for nothing."
"Sorry…but…"
"The best bait to lure Naruto and Itachi out is Sasuke. Sasuke is a human. He's fragile and easy to capture. The only thing we need to do is, get him away from Itachi's watch."
"That's true… But… How?"
Orochimaru shut his eyes and relaxed back. He said,
"I don't need Naruto right now. I want him to grow a little bit more."
Kabuto stopped working and asked,
"What do you have in mind for Naruto, Orochimaru-sama? You still haven't told me…"
Orochimaru chuckled,
"I want him to get attached to his humanity to the point that he nearly forgets that he's a ghoul."
"W… why?" Kabuto shivered.
"Because I want him to fall deeply in love with a human and actually thinks that he could live a happy life with that human, ku ku ku."
Kabuto gasped,
"Fall in love with a human? Don't tell me...you…!?"
Orochimaru chortled,
"You're still soft, Kabuto."
Kabuto lowered his gaze. He was feeling nervous. His hands were shaking. He fixed his glasses and mumbled,
"I want to witness it."
"Hmm?"
"I want to see what happens with my own eyes. I can't miss it."
"You will see it. When the time comes."
"… Yeah…"
"I'm directing a play about real lovers! A real tragedy! It's going to be marvelous!"
Orochimaru's dry laugh echoed endlessly in the gloomy hideout, making everyone hearing it loses their calmness and shake in fear.
Naruto was sleeping on the couch when Sasuke walked into the living room. Sasuke leaned forward near Naruto and said,
"We're going to be late, dobe. Get up already."
"Ahh… Sasuke? What are you doing in my house?"
Sasuke sighed,
"I'm going to leave without you if you don't get up soon."
Naruto half opened his eyes. He looked around. He jumped,
"Whoa!"
"D…! Don't scream like that when you just woke up, usuratonkachi!"
"S… sorry." Naruto shyly scratched his head.
Sasuke frowned his eyebrows and shut his eyes,
"Hurry up and get ready. We don't have much time to waste."
"Right! Right! I'll be ready in five minutes!" he said while running to the toilet.
Sasuke looked at the room in irritation. Naruto's things were all over the place. His bag was dropped on the floor. It was open and some papers and books fell out of it. The tea table was also messy and had few coffee drops spilled on it. There were few things dropped here and there, like a notebook, a pen; some used napkins, and used cup with some coffee in it. As for Naruto's clothes, they were thrown carelessly on the floor and the couch.
Sasuke sighed,
"How can one cause all of this mess in one night?"
He walked to the window and stared outside in silence.
"Is he really okay with this? Or is he doing it for my sake? Is he pitying me…?"
Before they walked out of the house, Sasuke asked,
"Did you bring your breakfast, Naruto? I made you a sandwich while I was at it."
"Oh! Really? Thanks. I'll go get it."
Naruto smiled painfully when he found the breakfast Sasuke made him. He dropped a tear while picking it up. He wiped his tear and rushed out.
"It's painful… this is painful…"
Sasuke locked the door and walked with Naruto to the university. He was checking his phone in silence while Naruto was struggling with his emotions all the way.
"I want to eat it… I want to enjoy it… Sasuke made it for me… these little things... they're… priceless… I really missed them…"
"Are you okay?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
"Huh?" He gasped.
"You don't look well. What's wrong?"
"Ah... it's nothing. Really!" he said in a higher pitched tone.
Sasuke bent his head slightly and said,
"It's clear that something is bothering you. But it's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
"Ah… it's… really nothing…"
"I understand."
Sasuke shifted his gaze away and walked in silence. Naruto felt even more hurt now that he couldn't tell Sasuke, the closest person to him, any of his secrets. He couldn't share his pain. He couldn't even show that he's in pain.
"This is what being a ghoul is like… it is hell…
I want to share everything with you, Sasuke…
I want to tell you all of my secrets… I don't want to lie to you…
I… I want you to know how much I appreciate this food you prepare for me… I… I really... miss it…."
Sasuke suddenly stopped before they walked in to the university hall. Naruto was behind him. He blinked. Sasuke muttered without turning his face towards Naruto,
"You know where to find me... Naruto."
Naruto gasped softly. He felt the air hitting his face and whooshes his hair. He remembered the last time he heard Sasuke say that line. It was in that night, just shortly after he pushed him away and made him fall off the doorsteps, causing his arm to bleed. That night, Sasuke patted Naruto's door gently and murmured that same line he just muttered now, then left with a broken heart.
Sasuke walked inside without looking back, while Naruto watched him with wide-open eyes and drifted mind. His chest hurts again. He grasped and clenched his teeth in both pain and anger.
"He's hurt! This hurts him as well…! We both are in pain… I'm not the only one…"
For some reason, Itachi's image popped in Naruto's mind. He lowered his eyebrows and bit his lips,
"It's true… Having someone like Sasuke in a ghoul's life is not easy… I… I hate this… It's painful…
I don't want to lie to his eyes… I don't want to break his heart… I don't want to cause him pain…"
Naruto wasn't in the same class as Sasuke. Sasuke was taking advanced courses, while Naruto was still struggling with the basics. He knew he didn't fit in that field but he wanted to try his luck.
After two month of struggling, Naruto decided to change his track to an easier one. He chose to concentrate on hardware installation and maintenance instead of dealing with codes and ciphers. It wasn't as easy as he expected, but his grades got better and he could finally keep up with some effort.
When the next semester begun, Naruto had to attend his classes at the workshops, while Sasuke attend his classes at the new laboratories, which he and his team set shortly before the end of the past semester.
Naruto stood there for a moment and watched Sasuke leave to his class, then walked to his own class as well in wide paces. He had a sad look on his face. When he entered the class, he sat in his chair and leaned his head on his desk.
"Why? Why did this happen to me? Why me? Dammit! I… I can't take it! I don't want this! I'd… rather… die…."
The tears he was holding back fell down on his lap. He bit his lips and tried to stop himself from crying in public. He shut his teary eyes and blew softly to calm himself.
"I shouldn't be crying… Not here. Not now. Calm down…
Everything happens for a reason… just… stop think about this for now… please, give me strength, Sasuke."
Sasuke and Naruto would almost always meet at break time in the yard, but that day, Naruto didn't show up. Sasuke was sitting alone on that bench and staring at the calm water patiently. He then checked his phone, hoping to find some note from Naruto, but he was disappointed. He put the phone down, shut his eyes and leaned back.
"What the hell is wrong with you? What are you keeping from me?
Did you know that you're a lousy liar, Naruto?"
At that time, Naruto was sitting alone on the roof and letting the tears he kept holding since so long out. He was leaning at the wall and just crying painfully. He was holding the small box Sasuke prepared for him. The more he looked at it, the more his chest hurt, the more he cried.
He opened the box and grabbed the sandwich. He brought it close to his mouth and tried to force himself on eating it, but his body was rejecting it so bad only from its smell. He cried. He opened his mouth and took a bite forcefully. He couldn't even chew it. He covered his mouth with his hand and forced himself to swallow that bite.
"It taste awful… it's awful, Sasuke… I'm sorry… but... it's really awful… It's...really… really… really… awful…"
He dropped his arm and cried. His body was rejecting what he just had. He couldn't stop himself from throwing up. He bowed in sorrow and hit the floor with his fists so hard.
"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"
"Why couldn't I have that croissant you brought me?
Why couldn't I have that cup of ramen you bought me?
Why can't I have these little things?"
He raised his head and looked at the sky with his tears washing his cheeks,
"Why are you doing this to me!?
Why are you torturing me?
Why did you have to think of me?
Why did you prepare this for me?
Why? Why are you making this harder than it already is?
You're… hurting me… STOP HURTING ME!
This isn't what I want! You clueless... monster!
I… I don't want this food… I can't eat this food!
What I want is… What you could give me is… is…
I want you… Sasuke! I…. want you…."
Naruto bowed and cried his eyes out in pain. He mumbled,
"I'm not a monster… You… you're the real monster…. You… The way you act… This food!
You're the one who makes me miss being human the most…
I... really… h... ha…. Hate…!
Dammit...!
I can't even say it… I can't even hate you…
You… heartless monster…"
That day, Naruto felt a new type of impulses that he've never experienced before. He felt more drawn to Sasuke than before. He wanted to not only touch Sasuke's body and kiss his tender lips, but also suck his blood dry.
Every nerve in his body was suddenly yearning for Sasuke's blood and flesh. He didn't know why he got that way suddenly, but he knew that he must stop his crazy urges somehow before he sees Sasuke or even senses his presence.
"No... Not this! Not now! Why is this happening to me?
STOP! STOP IT! STOP!
... Sasuke... I really... want... you...!"
He mumbled uncontrollably,
"What the Hell Am I feeling? This is wrong…! I... need to feed… I'm hungry… That's it… I… haven't fed for days…! I can't do this! I can't feel hunger…! Help me! Anyone… I… just want…"
Naruto's ghoul nose captured the scant he's in love with. He opened his eyes widely and trembled. He wrapped his chest with his arms and mumbled in total panic,
"No! No don't! Go… go away! Leave! Don't do this! Don't do this to me! Please! Just go! Run! Just Fucking Run!"
He gasped and his breaths got shorter and heavier. He grabbed his head and shook it hard in rejection. His urges overwhelmed him and he was losing his mind slowly. He made two fists and started hitting his leg as hard as he could with his hands! He was trying to break his leg so he won't be able to move for a while! He kept hitting his own flesh again and again until he got himself injured. His injury was healing almost instantly. He roared and grabbed his leg then bent it forcefully while biting his shirt in pain! He took his shirt off and folded it carelessly then bit it to hide his screams. He screamed from the horrible pain he was feeling, but his screams didn't pass the folded shirt. He broke his leg then gasped deeply. He then reached out to his phone with his shaky hands.
"Anko-san… she… she can be… trusted…. I… need to call her…"
The phone fell off his shaky hands. He shouted,
"Dammit! I can't… please…! Just…let me... call her..."
He leaned and picked the phone again. He scrolled through the contacts list with his shaky fingers and was finally able to find Anko's number. He finally pressed the call button. Anko answered almost immediately,
"Naruto! I've been expecting—
Naruto said in a gasping breaths,
"Help! Help me! Get Sasuke... out of here! Now! Hurry! I… I can't… I can't stop this! Do something! NOW!"
"Where the hell are you? Where is Sasuke?"
"Kon—…. Konoha Unive—… UUHHH… Please… Hurry… get… Sasu…ke…! HURRY!"
"Okay! Okay! Just try to stay where you are! I'm coming! Keep talking to me! Keep your mind of him!"
"I… can't! ... I can feel him! I know…. I know where he is… I know exactly where he is...!"
Naruto heard Anko speak with someone else while still talking to him,
"It's an emergency! Call Uchiha Sasuke! Take him away from Naruto! He's at the University! Hurry, Jugo! GET THAT BOY OUT OF THERE FAST!"
Anko ended her other call and returned to Naruto. She said,
"Count numbers!"
"What?"
"Start counting! Do it NOW!"
"… What are… you…?"
"Start Fucking Counting Out Loud! JUST DO IT! It will help you calm your urges a little!"
"O… one…. t… two…."
"Good! Good! Keep counting! I'll be there before you reach ten."
"Th… three…"
At the same time, Jugo called Sasuke, who blinked in surprise, then answered,
"Jugo?"
"Sasuke! Come to the main gate! It's an emergency!"
Sasuke gasped softly and asked,
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Yeah! Just please hurry! I'm waiting outside. Hurry!"
"Okay, okay. I'm coming."
"What's going on? Why is Jugo here? Why do I feel really bad about this?"
When Anko reached the university, she asked Naruto, who was still counting,
"Where are you, Naruto?"
"The roof!"
"Stay there. Keep counting. I'm coming."
At that moment, Anko and Sasuke crossed paths. Sasuke was rushing outside the gate while Anko was rushing inside. She glanced at Sasuke then smirked.
"Discriminating taste."
Anko entered the hall and moved to where her senses led her. She went behind the building and climbed up, after she made sure no one was there. When she reached the roof, she bent one arm against her wiste. She smirked and said with squinted eyes,
"Gourmet."
Naruto shifted his popped out eyes to look at her. She threw a small portion of human flesh near Naruto and mumbled,
"Hope you like my cheap treat. I'll give you more when you get a little better."
Naruto grabbed the flesh with shaky hands and eat it greedily. He was gasping and panting while eating. When he finished eating that small portion, he gasped deeply. He mumbled,
"T... thanks…"
"Don't mention it. Come with me. We need to clean you up."
"… Yeah… Where is Sasuke?"
"Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! It's still too early for you to learn where he went. You're stuck with me for now."
Naruto lowered his eyes and murmured in pain,
"I… wanted... to…"
"Hush. Not now. Let it go for now. Get up, we must leave."
Anko grabbed Naruto and covered him with her cloak. She noticed that his leg was already healing, she remarked,
"Your healing ability is amazing! It trumps mine! Are you into sports or something?"
"… Yeah… I… I'm a swimmer…"
"Oh! How cool. You have a strong body already. I envy you."
"…..."
"Sorry, not a good time. Anyway, we'll jump now, so hang on tightly."
Anko grabbed Naruto, jumped with him of the roof and sneak out with him to her small truck. She put him in the back while she drove the truck away fast.
Naruto was surrounded with corpses. He didn't wait for a signal from Anko to start eating. He grabbed a corps and dug his teeth into it and started eating gluttonously. He hated the state he reached so suddenly, but he hated the treatment even more. He kept eating and eating with tears in his eyes. His face and body were covers with blood. He gasped and screamed painfully in that truck!
"This is horrible! I'm hideous! I'm a real monster! I'm feeding on dead humans! Damn you! Damn you! I'll fucking kill you! YOU MADE ME THIS WAY! You fucking made me this way! I hate you!"
Anko was quite. She was listening to Naruto's scream in pain. She couldn't say anything to calm him down, for she was also suffering from the same pain.
"It never gets better… it only gets worse… I'm sorry…"
When Sasuke reached Jugo in his car, he leaned and asked in worry before he got in the car,
"What's wrong, Jugo?"
"Get in the car. I'll tell you in the way."
The moment Sasuke got in the car; Jugo drove away, before Sasuke's door is completely shut. Sasuke crooked his eyebrows and asked,
"What is it? You're freaking me out!"
"I… I just missed a really important folder up… I don't know what to do… I don't want to get fired… I... I had to bring you since you're the one who worked on those papers… I… I'm out of options…"
Sasuke sank back in his seat and exhaled with his eyes shut then said,
"You almost gave a heat attack over some papers…! I can't believe you."
"I'm sorry! I… It's because the managers asked for them today! They need them for a meeting that will take place within two hours from now! I was supposed to bring them to the conferences room… but… I accidently spilled some water on them… I don't know how it happened! It just happened!"
"Oh, I see. Still… I thought someone died. You don't show these kinds of emotions usually unless something very disturbing is going on, Jugo. That's why I got so worried."
"Sorry… I didn't mean to worry you like that, Sasuke."
"It's alright. Um… I still have about 30 minutes until my next class. I hope it's enough to fix that folder. I'm sure I have a backup copy in my computer."
"Yeah, please do your best. I'm hanging on a thin thread here."
Sasuke tilted his head slightly and said,
"You're fine. You're making a big deal out of this."
"Really? I really thought that this was the end of my career…!"
Sasuke gazed at Jugo and said in a calm voice,
"Jugo, you're in my team, which means no one can kick you out without talking to me first."
"Oh! I… I don't know that!"
"Now you know. So, relax."
"Thanks! I feel at ease."
"Yeah…"
Sasuke titled his head and gazed outside the window. For some reason, Jugo felt uneasy about the gaze Sasuke had on his eyes. He wondered if Sasuke really bought that entire fake act. To Jugo's eyes, Sasuke seemed a little worried.
The folder Jugo talked about was soaked in water as he explained. Sasuke dealt with the issue and reprinted the papers without a moment of delay. He even helped Jugo organize the papers in a new folder and label it properly.
Jugo finally placed the folder in the conferences room and smiled,
"Thanks, Sasuke. I really appreciate this."
Sasuke wasn't even looking at Jugo's face. He seemed troubled about something else. He said,
"Yeah, it's nothing."
He then shifted his eyes to look at Jugo and said,
"I need a ride back. Can y—
"Sure! It's the least I could do."
"Thanks."
By the time Sasuke returned to the University, Naruto was already so far away from there. He was out in nowhere, screaming his pains to no one, and crying his tears over his lost humanity.
To be Continued
