Rose with Thorns Chapter 9, a naruto fanfic

I don't own Naruto

Chapter 9

Sasuke had collected the scrolls they needed and handed Neji the ones he needed. Lee had become unconscious after opening five of the inner gates. Despite the long and bloody battle they had managed to win it. Sasuke was tired, his chakra exhausted but he knew that they actually had to get through the forest now. Sure they'd done the hard bit but he doubted it was called the forest of death for no reason. Looking to his team mates they were mourning Tenten. All Tenten's death did to him was serve as a reminder that he shouldn't get too close to people, else it can hurt someone like this.

Itachi's words rang in his head as he looked on. I won't betray my comrades Itachi. I don't care for the power it might give me; I can kill you without it. Sasuke did feel a certain amount of fear, should Naruto or Sakura have died he was sure he would have reacted in a similar manner to Lee.

"We should get going, we've only got four more days," Sasuke mentioned. He knew that they needed time to mourn but that time wasn't now. Sasuke supposed he was relatively desensitized to death, but then again he had seen his older brother murder his mother and father. "You should mourn later, when you can do it properly. Trust me; if there's someone who knows it's me."

"Sasuke's right," Sakura said as she wiped a tear out of her eye. "Neji can you seal her body, she deserves a proper funeral."

Neji simply nodded and grabbed one of Tenten's sealing scrolls and placed it inside. Naruto and Neji each took one of Lee's arms and began carrying him, walking in the direction of the tower. Having walked a mile, they could still smell the death that they had left behind.

That night they all managed to sleep but none dreamed. They were too exhausted to do anything but sleep. The Genin kept their minds off their comrades, it was like Sasuke said, and they'd grieve properly when they had the proper time to do so. Lee was awake by morning and they were able to move much more quickly. Their chakra had mostly replenished and they were getting much nearer the tower.

All of a sudden a giant snake got in the way splitting team 9 from team 7.

"Keep going we'll catch up," Sakura shouted over the snake. Sasuke and Naruto had already jumped into action, combining a wind style attack with a fire style one and increasing the strength of Sasuke's fireball. It got a bit out of control as they didn't balance perfectly but it had its desired effect as it scorched the snake alive.

"Sakura-chan, can you sense them," Naruto asked. Sakura was focusing hard but couldn't find anything.

"Nothing yet, wait, get down!"

All three members ducked as a head flew over them with a neck stretched. All three members of team 7 stabbed upwards with their kunai but their opponent was much too strong and fast.

His head had retracted back and yellow eyes stared back at theirs.

"Kukuku, this should be interesting," the ninja said with a lick of his lips.

"Who are you and what do you want," Sakura asked with a slight shake in her voice. The killing intent was even worse than Gaara's had been and Sakura did wander for a brief moment if it would just be better to be dead than to endue this before snapping out of it. Kakashi had trained them how to counter it but this was the worst amount that Sakura had ever faced.

"My name is Orochimaru and I want to test you three. All three of you are famous, I particularly want to test Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said whilst licking his lips.

"Shadow clone Jutsu," Naruto called out and 100 clones surrounded Orochimaru.

"So many? Well maybe the rumours aren't exaggerated, Naruto-kun."

The clones charged at Orochimaru and the snake sannin took a defensive stance before dispelling the clones to his pleasure. Naruto was no match for Orochimaru. However he had managed to get to Orochimaru's blind spot and create a Rasengan. The blonde genin charged forward.
"Rasengan," Naruto called out. He was too slow however and Orochimaru simply directed Naruto's arm into one of his clones, dispelling it. This irked Naruto but he didn't let up. Naruto through numerous kicks and punches at Orochimaru yet it seemed to be nothing but Childs play for the sannin. However the Namikaze managed to force Orochimaru into the position he'd been waiting for and one of his shadow clones unhenged from part of the tree branch and grabbed Orochimaru's legs, catching him off guard. This allowed Naruto to land a punch sending him back a few paces.

After this Sasuke sent a fireball his way and it nearly collided with him but Orochimaru managed to dodge at the last moment. Orochimaru jumped back far too close to the tree as hundreds of small branched came out of the tree and grabbed Orochimaru, trapping him against the tree.

"Wind style: Great breakthrough," Naruto called out.

"Fire style: fire ball jutsu," Sasuke did at the same time.

The Jutsu collided creating a fire storm around Orochimaru. As it went down they were horrified as Orochimaru appeared behind them.

"You're all good, much better than I expected. The real question now is which one I should choose," Orochimaru thought aloud. Team 7 didn't let up as Sasuke charged at Orochimaru with a chidori, the snake sannin seeing this coming and forcing Sasuke to hit the tree.

Naruto charged with another rasengan in hand and thought he had managed to hit it for a moment before the snake sannin slid away with his Jutsu.

"Wood style: wood spear," Sakura called out as a branch of wood shot out from her hand, its target Orochimaru. It was faster than Orochimaru expected and managed to cut him across his face, but not very deeply.

"Sasuke," Sakura called out as she fired another wood spear towards where Orochimaru was going to land.

"Fire style: Dragon flame jutsu," Sasuke called out and lit Sakura's wood spear on fire. Sakura than expanded it and made it splinter, each splinter on fire. These all rained down on Orochimaru who couldn't avoid them all and got a few burns.

"Well that decides it then Kukuku. I have to have you both," Orochimaru said as his neck began stretching out.

As he was about to bite Sasuke Naruto intervened. He punched the Sannin, causing Orochimaru to miss. Looking towards his attacker, Orochimaru saw Naruto's eyes were red.

"You touch them and I'll kill you," Naruto threatened seriously.

"Kukuku, how interesting. The Kyubi brat huh," Orochimaru chuckled to himself.

Naruto jumped across and appeared even quicker than Orochimaru expected. He felt a volley of attacks hit him as he was punched back into the tree before Naruto went to punch him again. Orochimaru just managed to dodge it before Naruto punched through the tree, snapping it in half. Naruto continued to swing at Orochimaru and a tail of red chakra appeared. As soon as this happened the snake sannin saw that it was a huge problem. Thinking quickly, Orochimaru used the five pronged seal on Naruto to lock the Kyubi up tighter. He then leaned down and bit into Naruto's neck, a seal appearing as Naruto fell out of the tree,

"NARUTO," Sakura cried as she jumped after him, catching the jinchuriki before he hit the ground. This however left Sasuke alone.

The Uchiha went to fight Orochimaru but was no match for him. Sasuke missed all of his attacks before being kicked backwards. Throwing his shuriken near Orochimaru, the Snake Sannin failed to notice that wires were attached to them. Sasuke managed to get Orochimaru caught against the tree again.

Sasuke rushed forward, lightning chakra covering his hand.

"CHIDORI"

Sasuke thrust his hand towards Orochimaru and just missed him, the snake sannin managing to replace his body with a log behind Sasuke.

"Impressive Sasuke-kun but this is where our fight ends." With that said Orochimaru stretched his neck out and bit on Sasuke's neck like he did Naruto's and left Sasuke's body collapsed on the branch.

"What did you do to them!?"

"I gave them a gift, the same gift that I am going to give you," Orochimaru answered.

Sakura didn't say anything but threw a projectile at Orochimaru, a pike of wood following. Orochimaru ducked, not realising what was going on. Sakura's pike connected with the halberd and she shortened the pike immediately, causing Orochimaru to have to dodge again. Not giving him a moment to think Sakura swung after him relentlessly. Orochimaru did nothing but dodge, wanting to see how Sakura handled her weapon. With her other hand Sakura shot another wood spear at Orochimaru and stabbed him through the shoulder, trapping him against a tree. Running up to him she swung the halberd with everything she had, intent on beheading him. Before she could Orochimaru shed his skin again and appeared behind Sakura.

"This team has the potential to become the strongest the ninja world has ever seen. And I will have all of you," Orochimaru exclaimed as he stretched his neck and bit Sakura on the neck as well, giving her his curse mark. Creating shadow clones, Orochimaru carried them all to the room where they would finish the exam and dumped them there before opening the two scrolls. His shadow clone was the one that did this and he dispersed it so that he couldn't be traced.

Ever since he'd been bitten Sasuke had an internal debate with himself. The curse mark was attempting to corrupt him.

"You're weak, you'll never kill your brother like this," dark Sasuke said. "Use me, I can give you the power you need to kill Itachi, use me and you'll be even stronger than him."

"No I don't need your strength, an Uchiha doesn't need help. I'll kill Itachi myself, now leave," Sasuke demanded. Who did this imposter think he was, telling him he wasn't strong enough? It couldn't be anyone other than himself; Sasuke had sworn to kill his older brother. The last thing he remembered before this was being bitten by that Orochimaru. They had won, defeated the Iwa ninja so who did this imposter think he was telling him he wasn't strong enough.

"They were Genin from the hidden stone, not Itachi Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha was a Chunin by the age of 10 and managed to massacre the entire Uchiha clan by the time he was thirteen. You're 13 and are a Genin, when Itachi was 13 he was in Anbu. Don't kid yourself if you think you've caught up. You're not even close to Itachi's power, but I can help you."

"Enough! I don't need your power, I'll kill Itachi myself," Sasuke responded bitterly.

"Well it'll be a long conversation then won't it," dark Sasuke spoke back.

Naruto had woken up in his own mindscape but it was strange. He stood in the middle of two doors. Going through one of them he came face to face with another version of himself.

"Who're you," Naruto asked. It looked exactly like he did; black sandals and trousers with a blue jacket, but it couldn't be could it.

"I'm who you're looking for. I offer you power, power to accomplish everything you dream for. Use my power Naruto; and you can take your revenge," dark Naruto spoke.

"Revenge," asked Naruto.

"Revenge against the village and its villagers. Together, you and me, we can exert our revenge that is rightfully ours."

"I don't want revenge," Naruto tried to explain but was cut off before he could finish.

"Do you not? Well let me see about that," dark Naruto began. The next thing that happened shocked Naruto immensely. He was looking at his memories. A younger version of him sat there on the swing just outside of the academy as the adults of the village glared at Naruto with hate in their eyes.

"Remember that Naruto," dark Naruto asked. The real Naruto could do nothing but nod in response. "Well there's a lot more from where that came from."

For the next hours that passed Naruto saw similar experiences of the villager's treatment of him. The worst thing for Naruto was that no two memories were the same, which meant he had literal hours' worth of memories of his mistreatment of the village.

"You want revenge against them don't you, you hate them don't you, you want them to burn don't you," dark Naruto taunted Naruto.

"Stop, StOP, STOP!" Naruto had had enough. Is it true? Do I hate the villagers? Do I secretly wish for the villagers to burn?

I will become the Hokage and earn the acknowledgement from the villagers.

"You don't truly believe that they'll let you, the Kyubi become the Hokage do you? You're not that naïve are you Naruto?"

"I'm not naïve! I will become the Hokage dattebayo!"

"Oh, well I suppose of course you will," dark Naruto suddenly said, changing his tone. "Of course the son of the fourth Hokage would be a Hokage himself. It's practically an inherited trait is it not?"

"Wha-what do you mean," Naruto asked.

"Well look at this. This is how the villagers acted to you after it was revealed that you are the son of the yondaime."

Appearing before Naruto was looks of awe and smiles. Naruto clenched his fist.

"See this. You've already inherited your acknowledgment. With the way they act around you there's no doubt in my mind you'll become Hokage, perhaps even the youngest ever," dark Naruto said as if it were a fact.

"I DON'T WANT THAT," Naruto responded.

"What do you want then," Dark Naruto asked.

"I wanted to earn being acknowledged by the villagers," Naruto began.

"Yes," dark Naruto spoke as they began to merge.

"I wanted to earn being the Hokage," Naruto continued.

"Yes," dark Naruto continued merging with Naruto. "How do you feel about them, Naruto?"

"I hate them," Naruto continued, he was furious.

"Go on," dark Naruto encouraged. He had merged over half way with Naruto.

"I want to destroy them! To watch them burn!" Naruto's voice sounded like dark Naruto's.

All of a sudden red chakra exploded from within Naruto. Across Naruto's body it began attacking the dark Naruto that had been taking over.

"NO. KYUBI HOW DARE YOU. I NEARLY HAD HIM," Dark Naruto screamed in despair. Dark Naruto died and disappeared leading to Naruto jumping up, waking up.

"NO!"

"Naruto-kun what's wrong," the Hokage asked. Naruto simply looked at the old man before jumping up into an embrace with him.

"I'm sorry Jiji, I'm so sorry," Naruto said and tears were flowing down his face.

"It's okay Naruto-kun, what's wrong?"

"I almost wanted to destroy the village. I'm not fit to be Hokage, I'm not even fit to be a ninja," Naruto's voice became little more than a whisper at the end.

"I see, was it the Kyubi or Orochimaru," Hiruzen asked Naruto.

"It was the snake man, he bit me and then there was someone trying to turn me against the village."

"Do you still feel that way now?"

"What? Of course I don't, I'd never want to do something so dark," Naruto responded.

"Okay that's fine then. Naruto-kun, one a trait a ninja must have is resilience and you've showed it here. Even against temptation you managed to stay a true ninja. I'm proud of you."

"Jiji, the Kyubi, I think he did something."

"What do you mean Naruto," the Hokage asked sharply, without the 'kun' honorific at the end.

Naruto shivered slightly before answering. "Well as the dark me was merging with me suddenly loads of red chakra started surrounding me and it fought it off. Jiji, I think the Kyubi helped me."

The Hokage sighed in relief. "It didn't help you Naruto-kun, but it healed you of the curse mark placed by Orochimaru. It's probably still there and holds the same power but the nine tails dominated it and thus caused it to lose its hold of power over you. You need to be careful though, should you wish to call upon its power you likely have the capabilities to do so," Hiruzen explained.

"I won't use its power Jiji, ever."

Suddenly Sakura came running into Naruto's hospital room. "Naruto you're alright," Sakura said. "I'm so relieved."

"Did he get you as well Sakura-chan," Naruto asked.

"Yeah he did and it was horrible. There was another version of me and it tried to turn me against the leaf village and team 7. It was trying to tempt me against the village, show me my childhood."

"I'm glad you're okay Sakura-chan," Naruto smiled at her.

"Naruto, Hokage-jisan, I want to say thank you. I used my bond with you as well as Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei to fight back the bad me."

"Wait, Sasuke, is he alright," Naruto panicked.

At this Sakura looked down. "He still hasn't woken up and he isn't showing any sign of getting better yet."

"But he'll be alright right," Naruto asked but it sounded more like a plea.

Receiving no response Naruto felt horrified. If he and Sakura had been able to fight it off then surely Sasuke could as well.

"He'll be fine no doubt," Naruto began. Sakura looked up at Naruto with slight awe in her eyes. How could Naruto have so much faith after what they went through? "Sasuke won't be manipulated by someone like Orochimaru. Trust me Sasuke will be fine," Naruto finished confidently.

"Thank you Naruto," Sakura said, he'd installed confidence in her that Sasuke would be okay.

The Hokage had been quiet through this, thankful that his surrogate grandchildren were okay and happy to just watch them talk.

At that moment the door opened. "Senju-san, you need to return to your room we're still unsure if it's okay for you to be out here. Ah Naruto-kun, you're awake," a man with white hair and glasses said.

"Kabuto-kun, thank you for your worry but I'm sure we'll be fine," Hiruzen told Kabuto.

"Of course Hokage-sama," Kabuto said with a bow before walking out.

"Hey Jiji, what happened about the exams," Naruto asked. He saw the Hokage frown at this and hesitate before he began to respond.

"Only one member of Iwagakure passed. Five members of Konoha passed. Three members from Sunagakure passed. Everyone else was killed in the forest," Hiruzen finished with a sigh. "The match-ups were decided whilst you were unconscious. Naruto-kun, you're fight is with Kurotsuchi from Iwa."

"Kurotsuchi huh," Naruto said quietly, thinking about his opponent. "I suppose that'll be good a place as any."

"What do you mean Naruto-kun," Hiruzen asked.

"We've fought twice now but this time it'll be one on one, just me and just her. We can finally settle it," Naruto explained the situation to Hiruzen.

"Naruto I have to tell you something," Sakura stated. The blonde could feel that she'd been waiting to say something for a while.

"What is it Sakura-chan," hesitantly Naruto asked.

"I'm facing Gaara," Sakura said quietly.

"WHAT," Naruto exclaimed in shock. What do you mean Sakura's fighting Gaara Naruto thought? "You're joking right?"

"No and don't make it any worse than it already is! I can beat him," Sakura tried to be confident. However everyone in the room could sense Sakura's doubt.

"Sakura-chan, I might be able to find some of Tobirama-senseis jutsu for you, if that'd help," Hiruzen offered.

"Really Hokage-jisan," Sakura said in relief. "That'd be a really big help."

At that moment Naruto began to move and get out of his hospital bed. However he got up too quickly, giving him a head rush and causing him to pass out. Sakura and Hiruzen both looked on as this happened; there was a brief panic before they heard Naruto's shallow breaths and both started laughing. It had released the tension in the room and Sakura was grateful.

"Okay Jisan, if you can get those scrolls for me that'd be great. In the meantime I'm gonna go check on Sasuke," Sakura said as she left the room.

"Do you understand yet," dark Sasuke asked. "You're useless on your own, embrace my power and we'll kill Itachi."

Sasuke was silent as he pondered these words. He didn't know how long it had been but for the however long it had been Sasuke had had to listen to himself be compared to Itachi. He re-watched the massacre of his clan and yet his will had not broken. It was wavering however and Sasuke wasn't sure how much more he could take.

"What about Team 7, you're useless to them. Even on your own team you're an outcast. Kakashi trains you because of your sharingan eye, they don't care about you."

Sasuke activated his sharingan in anger, he'd do nearly anything to make this stop.

"Naruto doesn't care about you, doesn't understand you. No one cares about you, anyone who did is already dead."

Sasuke clenched his fist. Why, why is this happening?

"Sakura would throw you away for Naruto in a moment's notice, you know this is true. You've got a team who doesn't care for you, a village who outcasts you. The only true bond you possess is your one with Itachi. Take my power and break your bond with Itachi," dark Sasuke said, he was now smiling manically.

Is that the truth? Is that how my team sees me? It makes sense after all, why would they care about me. Sasuke thought back to when Naruto and Sakura would talk in what seemed like a foreign language to him. They don't care about me. Sasuke thought back to Sakura taking Naruto's side over his when they had their fight. She likes Naruto better huh?

"Fine, I'll ace-"

It's not true. What about training together, the three of us together? We managed to get stronger together. Sasuke's thoughts flooded with memories from what he'd done with team 7. The second Genin exam, training, their first mission. Fighting against Iwa in the land of earth, fighting against them in the Chunin exam. They make me stronger.

That was when it hit Sasuke.

"Okay I've got a serious confession to you two," Sakura said, her voice slightly slurred.

"Wha isit," was Naruto's response, the blonde was half asleep but this had maybe been the most fun night of his life. No one looked down on him and everyone was having fun.

"I think you two are the bestest friends I've ever had," Sakura said honestly.

"the bestest friends"

That's what Sakura thinks about me.

"Course Sakura-chan, you and Sasuke-teme. You're my closest people," Naruto said.

"You're my closest people"

That's what Naruto thinks about me.

"Sasuke, use me and you'll have all the power that you'll ever need."

"NO"

Dark Sasuke seemed stunned for a moment, where had this fight come from. Looking towards the real Sasuke his eyes started spinning, a second tomoe appearing in each eye.

"I'M NOT ALONE ANYMORE. I'VE GOT TEAM 7 AND MY BONDS WITH THEM. YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY, NO ONE CAN. I WON'T ALLOW IT, NOT YOU NOT ANYONE. IT TOOK A LONG TIME BUT I FINALLY FORGED BONDS WITH THOSE CLOSEST TO ME. NARUTO, SAKURA, THEY ARE MY TWO MOST PRECIOUS PEOPLE. I'LL PROTECT THEM AGAINST EVERYONE, NO MATTER WHAT."

Sasuke started going through hand signs and lightning began lighting up his hand.

"This is the way it must be," Dark Sasuke said with recognition in his voice as his actions mirrored Sasuke's.

One tomoe sharingan stared into a two tomoe sharingan. There was a brief moment of silence, neither Sasuke moving an inch.

Then they charged. I can see it, like it's in slow motion. They got nearer, each Sasuke preparing to strike. He's going there, I'm stronger than him.

The dark Sasuke lunged at the real one. "It's over for you Uchiha."

All of a sudden Sasuke twisted his body ever so slightly so that the dark version would miss.

"WHAT"

Sasuke thrust his fist through his counterpart, taking out the dark halves heart.

"Well done Uchiha," dark Sasuke said with his final words as he faded from existence.

Opening his eyes Sasuke looked at the ceiling. I'm alive. Turning to his right, at his bedside sat Naruto and Sakura, fast asleep. They were there for me after all.

Sasuke sat there in silence, a smile gracing his lips. Finally, after such a long time, I'm not alone anymore.

Thank you for reading again. Please may you review and tell me what you think of my story as a whole, I'd really like some feedback. As it stands right now it is unlikely that anyone will go bad (from team 7) as that was generally what people wanted to see.

If anyone has changed their mind then this can still be changed. Please tell me where you think the story should go from here, I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks.