There's some stupid teenage angst ahead (lol). And this is a SUPER long chapter.

Driven to Extremes

"I should have stayed," Iruka said after a rather long pause.

Kakashi gave him time to digest all he'd just told his love, but at these words he shook his head. "You have students who need you at home. Sasuke's okay. Somehow, he's actually doing very well."

His partner's gentle face broke into a smile. "Don't tell me you don't know why."

Kakashi snorted. "Oh, I know why."

On the comm screen, Iruka leaned back in his chair. "The effect Naruto has on people is powerful. His optimism and conviction are contagious."

"Can't say I have any complaints," Kakashi agreed. "Sasuke seems happy. I'm a little jealous that a kid managed in a month what I couldn't do in four years."

Iruka chuckled. "You're Sasuke's father-figure. Of course he'll rebel against you and be a pain in the ass. It's a rite of passage. And from what I saw while I was there, Sasuke's beginning to develop new feelings which confuse and excite him. It's completely different than his emotions toward you, so don't be too hard on yourself."

With a sigh, Kakashi nodded. "Cerebrally, I know. But in my heart, I feel betrayed."

By the twitch of his kissable lips, Iruka was trying not to smile. "Poor thing. I'm sorry I'm not there to make it better."

Kakashi made a theatrical show of agreeing. "Yes, I could literally fuck my cares away. My ungrateful child has abandoned me at last."

Iruka snorted. "Back to the matter at hand, what have you and Tsunade-san decided to do?"

"She's still tracking Itachi, but so far the bastard's doing what he does best and eluding us," Kakashi replied. "She's waiting to nail Kabuto. We both think he might not be working alone, seeing as his role in The Academy isn't particularly important. He wouldn't have unlimited access to student schedules, and that's something our real rat would need. If he doesn't slip up and reveal his accomplice, we'll resort to more straightforward means."

Something Kakashi wished for. He would love to . . . extract information from Kabuto.

Judging by the expression on Iruka's face, his partner could guess his gruesome thoughts. The gentle Coordinator leaned forward a little. "Please don't do anything on your own," he said softly.

For a moment, Kakashi resisted making that promise. Refusing would hurt Iruka; he knew his somewhat unpredictable tendencies were a source of constant concern to his lover. So he yielded. "I won't."

His Coordinator relaxed, a tender smile blossoming. "Thank you. I'm going to take an extended leave of absence from school in two weeks, so wait until I'm there to go after Itachi. I should be with you; and I want to be there for Sasuke, as well."

To this, Kakashi had no protest. He nodded. "Of course. Sasuke's impatience has waned now that he's successfully accomplished the impossible. And wonder of wonders, he got Naruto to open up about the Kyuubi. Now he wants to link up with the kid and use his third form, so that's been his main focus."

Iruka shook his head. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I remember a certain someone agreeing to whatever I wanted so I'd bond with him at the end of our first year at The Academy."

Kakashi grinned. "And I agreed to a lot of stupid shit, too. You and I caused a fair amount of ruckus."

Another lip-twitch. "I wanted to see how far you'd go for me. You went too far."

"I always do when it comes to you," Kakashi said, unrepentant.

"I'm amazed how history's repeating itself with those two," Iruka murmured.

Kakashi couldn't disagree. During his and Iruka's first year, Kakashi had been the number one Controller. Every instructor gave him special attention, and there were three Coordinators from high-ranking military families they all but threw at him. He'd linked up with them and practiced with them, but he made no secret of a particular fact.

From the moment he clapped eyes on a certain kind-faced Coordinator, his mind and heart were set. Something about Iruka called to him so strongly he just couldn't ignore it. Didn't want to. So he made an absolute nuisance of himself until Iruka could no longer deny him.

The first time they linked, it was poetry. The first time they made out, it was music. The first time Kakashi fucked him senseless, it was a whole damn symphony. Seriously, the clouds parted and the angels sang.

But Kakashi's decision pissed a lot of people off. Controllers were so much more common their futures weren't normally watched with eagerness. Kakashi was the exception for his enormous power and flawless control. The Committee had actually forbidden him from bonding Iruka.

He'd told them to fuck themselves and bonded Iruka in secret.

They almost expelled him, but the Hokage had stepped in and refused to let that happen. Kakashi, he'd reasoned, was too powerful to lose just because he'd pissed off the wrong people. So he'd been issued a severe reprimand (basically a slap on the wrist) and sent back to school.

The most satisfying part came when Iruka worked his cute ass off and shocked everyone by growing tremendously. By the time he graduated, he was fourth in their class instead of somewhere in the middle. And of course, the pair had had a brilliant military career.

So in no way was Kakashi opposed to Sasuke telling the Committee to fuck off and follow his heart. His concerns were less concrete.

Itachi's goal is to bond Sasuke. But Akatsuki has also gone after vessels of demons. Sasuke's interest in Naruto will eventually attract Itachi's notice, and he'll figure out he's got the Nine-Tail sealed inside him. He's a smart guy.

Now that Sasuke had successfully linked with two Controllers at once, Kakashi feared it would make Naruto an equally attractive target.

Itachi might force both himself and Naruto on Sasuke and be the one pulling all the strings. Forcing a bond was extremely difficult, but it wasn't impossible. Not for someone as powerful as Itachi, not for someone possessing a form of Sharingan that could make people do things without being aware of doing them.

He shuddered just to imagine such a horrible fate for the two boys.

"Stop it," Iruka said abruptly, voice low and hard.

Kakashi blinked. "Stop what?"

"Stop picturing whatever grim future you're picturing," Iruka instructed. "I can see it all over your face. It won't happen, so stop fretting."

Unable to help it, Kakashi chuckled. "Reading my mind over such long distances, hm?"

"I know you very well," Iruka said, frowning sternly. "Nothing bad will happen."

Kakashi felt a pang of love and grief both. "You don't know that, love," he said softly. "No one does."

Iruka shook his head. "Maybe not, but don't assume the worst will happen until it does. Until then, keep believing everything will be fine. We will protect them, Kakashi. Both of them. Believe that. Believe in us."

You do always know just the right thing to say. Though it was silly and sappy, he put his fingers to his lips before pressing them to the screen. "I've got to go. And think of me every time you fuck yourself."

Rolling his eyes even as he blushed, Iruka nonetheless returned the gesture before ending the call. Grinning, Kakashi pulled his mask back over nose, mouth, and scarred eye. He powered down his comm terminal and headed out of his office to the infirmary.

He was halfway there when one of Tsunade's oldest friends intercepted him. Orochimaru was a strange guy, no doubt about it. Kakashi nodded to him.

"I wonder if I might have a word," Orochimaru said when he neared.

"About Sasuke?" Kakashi said.

"Actually, no," Orochimaru said. "Not directly, at least. I was curious to hear your thoughts about Naruto's intentions to bond with him. I had cause to speak with the boy just earlier today."

Kakashi blinked. Weird he'd seek Naruto out. "I'm not opposed to it," he said. "I'm curious why you care."

Orochimaru gave a liquid shrug. "You are Sasuke's guardian. Your opinion will carry some weight with him, I'm sure. But I'll be strongly recommending the Committee stay out of it. Naruto may seem a peculiar match for Sasuke at first glance, and it can't be said they're perfect together. But I see something in Naruto, something I believe will help him accomplish whatever he sets his mind to. I like that spirit.

"And," he said with a cold smile that made his face look even more snakelike, "you must admit no one makes Sasuke work harder than Naruto. Adversity can be just the push an individual needs to go from impressiveness to brilliance."

This was just about the last thing Kakashi would've expected. Orochimaru hardly seemed to care about the students. "I'm surprised you think so," he had no trouble admitting. "You were rather vocal in your dislike of him during the last Committee meeting."

"And I'll be the first to say I was wrong," Orochimaru said smoothly. "There is no happy ending when the Committee decides on its own what's best for students. I believe you and your Coordinator are the perfect examples. All they can do is aid the students in whatever decisions they make. And I truly do not believe Sasuke and Naruto are the worst candidates for each other." He chuckled. "Perhaps not the best, but not the worst. And more importantly, teenage boys will do what they want. Best we support and not force."

Kakashi found himself nodding, unable but to agree. And pleasantly surprised to hear support from such an unexpected quarter. Orochimaru was little more than an advisor on the Committee, just like Tsunade. But being a Program-Head, his voice carried a measure of influence.

"I'm glad you think so," he said. He headed around him. "I'll talk to you about it more later, if you want. I have a meeting with Shizune."

"Is Sasuke all right?" Orochimaru asked at once.

Kakashi waved the concern away without pausing. "Yes. Just going over some details with her about my kid's upcoming physical."

No other comments stalled him, and Kakashi continued on his way. Appreciate the unexpected support he may, but like Orochimaru he did not. Nor would he ever. He didn't like people whose eyes never showed warmth.

In the infirmary, Shizune was sitting in her office. Kabuto was nowhere in sight, which was good. Kakashi would forget his promises and murder the guy on the spot. He strode to Shizune, and she smiled up at him.

"No need to worry, Kakashi-san. I've taken over Sasuke's files and told Kabuto that his primary caregiver will see to his medical needs from now on."

Shizune smiled often, and her eyes could not lie. Kakashi leaned against the doorjamb. "What're you not telling me?"

Her smile faltered. "I'm not . . ."

"What is it?"

She sighed. "I don't want you to worry. Not when I'm not sure what it means. But Kabuto did an unscheduled blood draw and test that morning when Sasuke came by for his follow-up. It was unnecessary, he was simply supposed to take blood pressure and vitals and ask a few questions."

Kakashi felt his own blood pressure creep higher. "And?" he said tightly.

"Well," she hedged, "he didn't record the results. He made sure to erase them. I also found a syringe needle in that day's medical waste. I found trace amounts of . . . odd things."

"What?" Kakashi demanded, forcing himself not to charge into the room and throttle her for being cryptic.

"In a normal patient," she said, pulling up some readings on her holo screen, "nothing too worrying. Some hormones and vitamins, a mild steroid to increase appetite and boost hormone production, all things that are good for a growing boy suffering from mild malnourishment. However, I also found traces of an antibiotic. Again, not too alarming. But this particular antibiotic is aggressive and will cancel out the plasma treatments Sasuke is on. There's no way Kabuto could not know that."

Anger changed instantly to something more like alarm. "So he gave Sasuke something that could counteract Sasuke's anti-hemophilia medication?"

"Yes," Shizune said softly. "And he gave it to Sasuke days ago. It would well have worked through his system by now. It could mean nothing, but it could mean that Sasuke's plasma count is dangerously low now. His case is classified as severe enough, I don't think I need to stress how dire this could be."

She hesitated. "I didn't want to do anything without talking to you. And I really don't want to alarm Sasuke. What would you like to do now?"

For several moments, Kakashi's mind spun. It finally focused on one single thing. "Why would Kabuto give him hormones?" Unfortunately, he knew all too well the implications of that. During Sasuke's rehab, he'd been given frequent injections of hormones and hormone boosters to regulate the chaos drugs had done to his body.

By Shizune's expression, she was thinking the same thing. "I don't know. Kabuto erased all results of the blood test he did. There wasn't enough on the syringe needle to test, either. And Kabuto must have destroyed the sample he took."

Whirling, feeling a terrible mix of dread, fury, and grief, Kakashi paced. He desperately needed an outlet for this anger, and he didn't want it to be Sasuke. If he did a blood test and saw the kid's hormone levels all over the place, and he asked if Sasuke was using something again, then he'd have a legitimate reason to give Sasuke whatever would actually help him and sneak in that antibiotic with Sasuke never questioning.

But why would Kabuto give him an antibiotic?

"I'll bring Sasuke in here," Kakashi said, mind made up. "If his plasma count is down, that can't be ignored."

She nodded. "I'll get the test ready, but if his count is low enough, I'll have to do a transfusion."

"Fine," he said, stalking to the door.

If Kabuto has caused him any real harm, I don't care what you say, Tsunade. I will fucking kill him.

~o0o~

"Man, you're the talk of the damn school," Suigetsu whined. "None of the other Controllers are even looking at me now."

Sasuke gave him a flat look. "It's because you can't link up right now, not because of me."

The platinum blonde looked down at his arm, still resting in its sling. "Oh, you think?"

Sitting altogether too close to Sasuke on his immediate left, Naruto snorted. "Dude, seriously. Could your shit be any less together?"

"Oh, if it makes you feel better, raven," Suigetsu totally ignored the blonde Controller, "Neji apologized to me." He leaned over and smooched Sasuke on the cheek. "So don't be mad at him anymore."

Sasuke jerked back with a glare. "I'm not. Idiot."

Naruto snorted. "I'm glad he calls someone besides me 'idiot'."

"I came here because you said you wanted to practice some meditation exercises Tsunade taught you," Gaara said, voice very even and toneless.

Which Sasuke knew to mean he was pissed off. He couldn't find it in himself to feel the same. Normally he thought he would be, but this comfortable atmosphere was just so . . . nice. He was a little too aware of Naruto's nearness and warmth, but he didn't feel awkward having him there. Gaara and Suigetsu were largely responsible for that, their body language stating loud and clear they accepted Naruto as part of the group.

The blonde Controller leaned back and stretched, quite deliberately brushing his fingers over the back of Sasuke's neck. "Yeah, yeah. But a few of our friends heard about this and wanted to join in, so I'm waiting for them."

Suigetsu straightened. "Ino and Sakura? I love those two. Please say they're coming."

"Yeah, they're coming."

"Oh, and Kiba?" Suigetsu added. "Damn I've missed sparring with him!"

"Him, too," Naruto confirmed, now leaning forward and pressing his nose into Sasuke's neck. "Mm, you smell so nice."

Abandoning all attempts at subtlety, apparently. Sasuke felt himself blush a little, and he gave a half-hearted shrug that didn't do much to dislodge the touchy-feely blonde. Suigetsu nodded. He immediately grinned and did the exact same thing on Sasuke's other side.

"Yeah, he does. He always smells nice."

A shudder raced up Sasuke's spine at the ticklish sensation. With a growl, he jumped to his feet and relocated to Gaara's side. Which made both blondes pout. Fortunately, the private sparring room's door opened just then. Sakura and Ino came in, followed by Kiba and Hinata. Which was quite a crowd.

Sasuke, however, found himself zeroing in on Hinata. Her pale eyes went right to Naruto. She immediately blushed and placed herself at his side. Right in the spot Sasuke had vacated, if not quite as close. Naruto, the oblivious idiot, draped his arm around her shoulders.

"Hi, Hinata!" he chirped. "How you been doing?"

"Me and her have kind of gotten pretty good together," Kiba piped up, "though we haven't practiced as much since I been working with Sasuke and Sakura." He winked at Sasuke.

Too angry to feel the normal pleased sort of embarrassment, Sasuke glared at Naruto. Who didn't notice at all.

"You're gonna be pretty awesome," the blonde said. "I see you creeping up the ranks. You better watch out, Gaara, she'll kick you out of the number one slot if you keep being lazy."

Hinata looked like an overcooked lobster by now, and Gaara's expression went impossibly blanker.

"Can we get started, please?" Ino demanded. "Some of us want to get in some more sparring before the end of the night."

As the friends settled in to work, Hinata leaned a little closer to Naruto. Sasuke just barely heard her whisper,

"Could I talk to you?"

The blonde gave her a surprised look before nodding and standing up. Without so much as a backward glance, Naruto followed her out of the room. Aware of Gaara's eyes on him, Sasuke managed to last about two seconds before he got up and left, too. No one else paid any attention.

He didn't have to go far. Hinata and Naruto were right around the corner, so Sasuke ducked out of sight just in time to hear Hinata stammer,

"I-I really li-ike you, Naruto-kun. Not many people have believed in me, but you . . ." she trailed off and blushed impossibly brighter. "I hope you-you'll consider -"

A resurgence of jealousy flared up in Sasuke, ugly and hot. Naruto, however, just smiled as he cut Hinata off by putting his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm flattered," he said, calm and gentle, "and I like you, too. As a friend."

Hinata's entire posture crumpled. "I-Is there someone else?" she all but whispered.

Still with that surprisingly gentle smile, Naruto nodded. "Yeah, there is. He's kind of jerk and real fussy and sorta high maintenance."

It took nearly more self-control than Sasuke possessed not to fly around the corner and lay Naruto flat with a kick to the gut.

"But I'm crazy about him," Naruto said, low and tender and filled with utter conviction. "He's the only one for me. We'll be bonding at the end of this year."

An altogether different emotion now flooded up into Sasuke. A more confusing one. Something embarrassed, anxious, and weirdly fluttery. He felt himself blushing like mad.

"So I can't consider anyone else," Naruto concluded, squeezing her shoulders before lowering his hands. "I'm sorry. But don't you dare feel defeated, you hear? You're a fucking amazing Coordinator. Any Controller would be crazy lucky to have you. And I know more than one who feel that way." He winked.

Hinata's blush had faded, but this made it return with a vengeance. However, the despair about her countenance seemed to have lifted a bit. She gave him a shy smile before suddenly throwing her arms around him. He didn't hear her whisper, "Thank you," so much as see her lips move.

Then she let go of him and whirled. Sasuke saw the tears shining, but they didn't fall as she jogged down the hall. To his consternation, he felt a deep stirring of sympathy toward her. What the hell. Just two seconds ago I was mad, and now I'm feeling sorry? It's not my fault Naruto chose me.

"Poor girl," Naruto abruptly said. "Never had a chance. Ne, Sasu~ke?"

Sasuke froze. His whole body went both cold and numb, and he watched in a kind of horrified stupor as Naruto slowly turned and faced him. His lips stretched wide in a shit-eating grin, and he stalked toward the raven with predatory intent oozing from every pore.

The impulse to back away was so powerful Sasuke found himself obeying without further thought. He only made it three steps before his back softly collided with the wall behind him. In moments, Naruto had him caged between it and his own body, one arm on either side of the slightly shorter teen.

Naruto made a tsking sound, shaking his head. "Listening to her put her heart on the line confessing her feelings to me," he said, voice low and resonant, "knowing I'd turn her down because of you. What a mean thing to do."

"Ho-ow was I supposed to know she'd confess something like that?" Sasuke demanded, hating the hitch in his voice.

The blonde took odd little half-step made Sasuke's knees bend in response, and this allowed Naruto to loom over him. "Then why did you follow me?" Naruto purred, so close their noses were almost touching.

Quickly becoming the question of the year. Sasuke couldn't begin to explain his nervousness, but it was making his pulse race with excitement. His jaw seemed to be sealed closed, and he couldn't find his voice.

Naruto's face came even closer, but he turned it a bit to the side so his cheek slid alongside Sasuke's. It put his lips right on Sasuke's ear. "Did you just want to hear me say it?"

"If you knew I was there, why did you say those things about me?" Sasuke snapped, pleased to rediscover speech.

A low chuckle, warm and deep. "How could I not? I almost laughed, picturing your indignation."

Mind spinning, Sasuke felt his knees buckle further when Naruto took another half-step forward. It upset his balance, and his hands flew up to grasp Naruto's arms to keep from falling. What was this? Where had this dominant, confident, sexy Naruto come from? Where was the obnoxious, loud idiot?

The blonde swept him upright into a tight embrace. His mouth had never lost contact with Sasuke's ear, and he nipped around the shell. "You're so cute, Sasuke. You have no idea how cute you are. I just can't fucking resist you." Those last words came out almost a growl, dark and animalistic.

It set Sasuke's skin alight with shivers, and his mouth opened to spill a faint moan of excitement, arousal, and nerves. He vaguely heard Naruto mutter a faint, "Fuck," then that mouth was on his. Biting. Sucking. Demanding. A single long stride forward had Sasuke pinned against the wall with a knee between his thighs. His balance well and truly deserted him, and he had to struggle to find it again.

Completely unable to help the impulse, Sasuke opened up a flow of chakra. An invitation to the Controller to link with him. Red, red, red washed over him, invasive and intrusive. It had never felt more so. Naruto nearly sounded angry with the incoherent growling, and Sasuke wondered if more than just the Kyuubi's chakra had merged with Naruto.

Are parts of its personality mixed in, too?

It was a strangely frightening and exciting thought.

Gathering a little chakra into his left hand, Sasuke drove his fist into Naruto's gut. The older teen let out an incredibly satisfying 'Oomph!' and staggered backward, doubling over. Sasuke straightened and wiped the blonde's saliva off his lips, lifting his chin.

"I told you," he said frostily, "not until you spar with me using your third form."

Naruto gave him a wounded glare. "You never said I couldn't kiss you," he grunted, sounding winded.

"If you want to kiss me," Sasuke said, brushing past him to go back to the private sparring room, "then ask. I'm not a chew toy."

Arms wrapped around him from behind, dragging him against Naruto's chest. Seriously, he was only sixteen, so why did he already have the body of a man?

"I'm sorry," Naruto murmured, burying his nose in Sasuke's hair. "I was kinda being a jerk. I'm sorry, Sasu~ke."

"Kind of?" Sasuke repeated, pushing half-heartedly at the strong arms caging him. Naruto actually released him, and Sasuke turned to give him a long look. "I don't like it when you treat me like that. Not where anyone could see." The words brought a slight blush. Behind closed doors, he had no problem with it at all. But in a public place, it made him feel . . .

Like a possession. There was a time and a place, and this was neither.

Naruto had the decency to look contrite. He slowly reached over and took Sasuke's hand, lifting it to his lips and kissing over each knuckle. "You're right. I'm sorry."

Mollified, Sasuke felt his temper subside. He didn't make Naruto let go of his hand, instead using the hold to tug the other toward the private room. "Come on."

They only got a few steps. "Sasuke," Kakashi's voice called.

The raven halted, looking up to see his guardian striding toward him. Realizing he was still holding Naruto's hand, Sasuke felt yet another blush, but he didn't let go. "Yeah?"

Kakashi's unmasked eye smile down at Naruto. "Go ahead and join your friends. I need to talk to my kid about something for a while."

Hopefully about Itachi, Sasuke thought with a measure of anxiety. Naruto squeezed his hand, looking reluctant to let go.

"See you soon," he said as he trotted back to the room.

Kakashi put an arm around Sasuke's shoulders and steered him down the hall. "This is about Itachi," he said, "if a little indirectly. The team looking for him hasn't been able to discern his location, but something has been brought to light. Something you need to know."

Sasuke's heart leaped, and he didn't shrug out of the hold as he followed his guardian. The man, however, didn't go on. Trying to be patient, figuring Kakashi wanted a private place to talk, he held his tongue. Presently, their destination became plain; and only now did Sasuke resist. He immediately tried to pull free, but Kakashi's arm tightened and wouldn't allow it.

"Why are we going to the infirmary?" Sasuke demanded, only barely managing not to drag his feet like a protesting child.

Once inside, Kakashi took Sasuke into a private exam room. Shizune was waiting, and she closed and locked the door. Sasuke's irritation switched instantly to panic, and he knew his face probably went sheet-white. His hands went ice cold, and he looked up at Kakashi.

Who pulled his mask down. Dread welled up in the raven when he saw his guardian's face. Kakashi's expression said it all. He knows.

"Shizune's going to do a blood draw," Kakashi said, voice strangely gentle. As soon as Sasuke opened his mouth, he shook his head. "Not to test for drugs. I already know you're still using."

Mouth snapping shut without a sound, Sasuke tried to breathe deeply and normally as he waited for the man to continue. Nausea, sudden and unpleasant, churned so quickly and fiercely he thought he might puke.

"I'm not angry," Kakashi said as Shizune prepared a syringe. "Not really, not in light of what happened."

"We know you were trying to quit," Shizune piped up, "which is why Kabuto gave you a little cocktail to fight withdrawal symptoms."

Sasuke ignored her, desperately peering into Kakashi's face. Why was this time so much worse than the first time Kakashi had learned of his nasty habit? "I'm sorry, Kakashi," he choked out, lungs suddenly feeling too small. "I tried to stop so many times, but it . . . and the nightmares . . . and I just kept . . ."

Two long steps had Kakashi in his space, and the man pulled him into a tight embrace. "I know, kiddo," his guardian said softly. "I know."

Sasuke buried his face in Kakashi's chest and squeezed his eyes tightly closed to keep the tears at bay. Why is he being so understanding? This is worse than anger. He clung to Kakashi with all his strength, feeling for all the world like he was drowning. It felt like an eternity of barely managing not to cry before Kakashi gently pushed him back.

"Sit down," he instructed, still gentle, gesturing to the bed.

Shaking and weak, Sasuke obeyed. His eyes watched Shizune's progress, and he saw her coat the syringe in a coagulant. He frowned. A glance back up at Kakashi showed the man watching him closely.

He elucidated without prompting. "Kabuto put an antibiotic in the cocktail he gave you. One that potentially counteracted your anti-hemophilia treatment. She'll be testing your plasma count."

That explained why his anger was on hold, Sasuke thought dimly. "Why?" he asked faintly.

"We're not sure," Kakashi replied as Shizune did the draw, "but it looks like he's been reporting to Itachi."

Sasuke kept his eyes on Kakashi as Shizune ran the sample through a digital reader, the emotions tangling up growing more complicated by the second. Anger joined the party.

Shizune made a vexed sound. "Your plasma count is well below safe levels," she said. "I'm going to have to do a transfusion." She looked at them both. "I'll be back with the equipment."

Leaving Sasuke alone with his guardian. He clasped his hands tightly in his lap to keep from fidgeting, and he forced himself to meet Kakashi's gaze. The man made him wait a long time before finally he spoke again.

"I understand why you turn to substance abuse," he said quietly. "But this is the last time, Sasuke. We're not going through this again."

For some reason, the compassion pushed him over the edge. Anger he could handle. Compassion was too much. He swallowed thickly, and a single tear spilled past his defenses. Finally, he uttered the promise he'd always refused to make before.

"I won't use again."

Kakashi kept him waiting for another long moment. Then his whole countenance seemed to relent, and he reached out to enfold Sasuke into his arms. Then the raven couldn't hold back anymore. A single tear turned into many, though it may be unbecoming of a teenage boy to cry. He hid it in that strong, safe embrace, and it all poured out of him.

It was weirdly cathartic. Through it all Kakashi made not a sound, one of his warm hands rubbing in soothing patterns across Sasuke's upper back and shoulders. It was a worst-case scenario turn of events, but part of Sasuke just felt relieved. He wouldn't have to lie anymore, and Kakashi's reaction reassured him the man wouldn't just throw in the towel and consider him a lost cause. And give up and abandon him.

Probably, Sasuke thought distantly, the thing that scared him most was being alone. "I-I'm sorry, Kakashi," he half hiccupped, half sobbed.

The arms tightened. "I know," the man murmured, and Sasuke felt him drop a kiss to the top of his head. "I'm partly to blame. I should have recognized the warning signs and tried harder to help you."

Sasuke shook his head vigorously, and he noticed the front of the man's shirt was rather damp. "You have. Just . . . don't . . ."

Throw me away.

He couldn't get the words past his teeth, but Kakashi seemed to understand anyway. "Dumb kid," he whispered, and in moments he was on the bed beside Sasuke dragging him fully against him and rocking back and forth.

Tomorrow, Sasuke would be back to normal and be incredibly mortified by his behavior today. But right now, he clung to his guardian and felt overwhelmed by the implications of this discovery, the worry over how Kakashi would punish him, the anger toward his brother he had to go through this at all, and fury at his own stupidity.

But mostly, he loved this man so much it hurt. I told Neji I wouldn't have survived without him, Gaara, and Suigetsu, he remembered. In truth, only one person could take credit for saving Sasuke. For being an unwavering source of strength, comfort, and safety.

For making Sasuke believe that even now, in the face of something so terrible, everything would be all right.