AN: AncientHistory posted this as a different fic, but really, it's another
chapter to this. ^^ Anyway, please read and review. Thanks to all who
reviewed for the first chapter. You input is greatly appreciated!
Personally, I see this as SasuNaru as well, but, hey, it's up to her.
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Silence of the Woods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A gentle breeze picked up and rustled the leaves of the trees. The sun was just creeping over the hills of the Go-Gou woods; its rays dancing happily over the tops of the evergreens, turning them a golden hue. It was a perfectly serene setting, except Sasuke knew better. The exuberant chirping of morning birds was nowhere to be heard, as if in a course of an hour someone had either frightened them away, or killed them.
Faking ignorance, Sasuke purposely turned their backs towards the enemy. He chided Naruto all the while as they walked away. Sure enough, as he had suspected, five daggers came flying in their direction. Sasuke pushed them down just in time as the daggers sliced the air above their heads and went launching into a tree truck, which fell with a thundering crash. Dust blew forth from the fallen tree in great gushes and it was only seconds later that the area cleared, but by then Naruto and Sasuke were nowhere to be found.
A masked figure draped in a black cloak slowly emerged from the woods. He stepped boldly into the center of the clearing and scanned the area in one glance. But no signs of life were detected; the woods were void of any sounds. In the distance a twig snapped and the man whirled sharply around. Just then a dark shadow flashed above him, blocking out the light of the sun. In one sweeping motion, faster than the eyes could see, a shower of flying daggers fell from the sky. The masked figure merely smiled, as his hands reached into his breast pocket. The knives flew sharply onto the ground where the man stood, but he had long since disappeared, only to remerge a hundred meters away, his hand still in his breast pocket. From behind him where the daggers had fallen the sound of metal shattering into a million fragments could be heard. A chuckle escaped the masked figure and he removed his hand, which was gleaming with five sharp arrow points. From their tips dripped human blood.
"What a pathetic, little stunt you tried to pull," he whispered, "I'm not called The Wind Master for no reason. Did you think your slow movements escaped my eyes?! Well, now you'll pay the ultimate prize: your life!"
Sasuke lied on the ground writhing with pain, blood flowing from the many slices to his chest, legs and arms.
"Why?" he whispered.
The man rasped in an inaudible voice: "Why didn't I kill you? You think I don't have the power? I just wanted to prolong your death, make you fully understand what it means to die a million times over, but never truly die. I hear a little suffering builds character. You really should be thanking me."
He stepped towards the injured Sasuke and kneeled. He stretched out a gloved hand and caressed Sasuke's cut cheek.
"I did not do this. What a pity. Such a lovely face you once had. I would have enjoyed ripping it to shreds. But, I see someone's beaten me to it." Sasuke shivered involuntarily from his touch. Although the air around them was humid, his fingers had felt like ice.
"Oh, poor Sasuke is frightened. To think, the last surviving member of the Uchida clan should be such a coward!" The man laughed wildly.
"Normally I would stretch out this moment and savor it, but you disgust me in ways I can't explain. I think.I'LL END IT HERE!" He thrust his clawed hand deep into Sasuke's stomach.
"Don't close your eyes, Sasuke. I want to see death remove the light from them."
The seconds slowly ticked by as Sasuke died in his arms. At last the man laid Sasuke's body onto the ground and, leaning over him, kissed Sasuke softly on the lips.
"Thank-you, sweet Sasuke. I live only to see my victim's eyes dim and you've given me this. Thank you." He stood up then and began to walk away, but the sound of Sasuke's voice stopped him.
"You sick bastard."
The Wind Master turned around and threw the arrows in his hand at Sasuke's body only to have them strike a log. With an angry cry The Wind Master frantically whirled about, attempting to locate the hidden Sasuke. But when Sasuke refused to challenge him, he calmed his shaking nerves and slowly rearmed both hands. The Wind Master now stood composed, patiently waiting for the attack that he knew would come.
"That was a pretty good trick you pulled there, Sasuke. I was so certain you were dead. I've always thought it was impossible to fake death: the stillness of limbs, the ceasing of breath and, of course, the most beautiful sight of all: the lusterless eyes. These are the signs I've studied all my life. I could never recreate their lovely image unless I killed. Perhaps that's why I've always thought it was impossible to obtain it any other way. But, apparently, I've underestimated you. You have the incredible ability to mimic death. Perhaps if we were not enemies we would have been friends, because we both know what it means to die without having to die. But enough of this talk. Show me, Sasuke. Show me what you've got."
"I was wondering when you'd shut up and ask me that."
In a split second flashing shadows appeared from every side. There were dozens, perhaps even hundreds of them, all leaping forward with daggers in their hands. They crisscrossed over The Wind Master's head and surrounded him from every corner, firing rounds after rounds of daggers. The Wind Master laughed crazily and hacked with his hands, turning the daggers and their masters into cut pieces of metal and flesh.
"I am The Wind Master! I am The Wind Master! Nothing escapes my eyes! Sasuke, I will find you, even if it means hacking through all these replications!"
His eyes darted about in his sockets in a mad frenzy, until the black of the pupils seemed too merged with the white. Concentrating solely on the figures flying about him, The Wind Master failed to notice the ground tremble ever so slightly beneath him. Just when he thought he was on the verge of destroying all of the remaining shadows, the ground exploded from where he stood and up flew Sasuke with a dozen daggers grasped in both hands. Skidding up The Wind Master's body he slashed right and left, slicing only at the joints until he had reduced the ninja into a crippled man. Jumping backwards to avoid any counterattack, Sasuke aimed his daggers at the still figure, who now lied in a mass of fallen leaves and splintered wood, the evident remains of the many Sasukes he had killed. Blood was streaming from his wounds, covering the sight of exposed bones and severed tendons.
"Now," said Sasuke shakily, "tell me who sent you."
The man released a weak laugh. "You of all people should know how fruitless that question is."
"You don't have a choice. If you don't tell me these daggers will cut off that laughing head of yours."
"Do you think I fear death? The reason why I kill is not only to create death, but.I want to experience it myself. I was sure I would find someone strong enough to kill me. Well it seems Fate has decided this 'someone' to be a little boy. Ha, ha, ha!"
"Stop laughing!" cried Sasuke.
"Ah death, exquisite death, at last I'll know what you taste like. I'm sure it'll be very sweet, very sweet indeed. Thank-you Sasuke for this last gift. See, I told you we could have been friends if things had been different."
"You're no friend of mine."
"Oh, really? Nevertheless, I consider you as a friend of mine and as a parting gift I have this to tell you: that blond-haired friend of yours is not going to live for more than a day. The poison I brew are deadly, so be prepared to see him go."
"You bastard!" cried Sasuke, as he ran towards him and dragged him to his knees. "Give me the antidote!" he screamed at the unmoving Wind Master.
"Ha, ha, ha! You fool! Do you think I kill simply to revive? There is no antidote, none whatsoever! Ha, ha, ha!"
"Then you're one man I will not weep to see go." Sasuke's clenched fist swiped over The Wind Master's neck, the daggers it held slid easily through the flesh. The Wind Master smiled contently as his limbs grew limp, his breath ceased and his eyes grew dim. Sasuke let his body crumple to the ground without regret.
Although the grass prickled his skin uncomfortably, Naruto barely felt it. He had long since lost the feelings in his arms and legs. What little that he could feel only helped to relax his mind, confirming that he hasn't completely lost all sense of touch. However this little comfort did nothing to ease the fear swelling in his heart. He feared for Sasuke and wondered how he was faring. He wondered if Sasuke was hurt and wished that Sasuke hadn't placed him so far away from the action. He was dying to know what was happening. As he was thinking this a shadow fell across his face. Naruto quickly closed his eyes afraid to see who it may be. He didn't want to see what they would do to him and was morbidly relief that he wouldn't feel half of what they would. But the voice pleading for him to wake up was not that of an enemy's. Relief flooded his entire body. Sasuke had returned. However, Naruto's happiness was short lived. Sasuke was sobbing.
"I'm too late. He's gone!" Naruto heard Sasuke say as he stumbled towards him. He felt Sasuke lifting him tenderly and a smile escaped him before he could conceal it. As quickly as he was held up, Naruto was dropped. He fell backwards and gasped in pain.
"You know, I can still feel that!" he cried with anger, but the look he saw Sasuke give him silenced his voice.
"Don't ever do that again," whispered Sasuke through clenched teeth.
Naruto's brows creased, but he attempted to smile.
"You didn't have to worry," he murmured, "I wasn't going to die, not before hearing how you kicked that creep's ass. So how did it go?"
Sasuke sat down with exhaustion. "I kicked his ass," he said, "I kicked it good." Then he stared at Naruto and laughed. Although it pained him greatly, Naruto laughed along with him.
"That wasn't the two guys we fought earlier was it?" he finally asked when they'd quiet down.
"No," Sasuke replied.
"I didn't think so. You would have finished them off easily, even without the expert there."
Sasuke smiled, too tired to argue with Naruto.
"Sasuke, who was he?"
"I don't know Naruto. He didn't answer any of my questions. I got nothing out of the guy. But his fighting style is none that I recognize. It doesn't seem like he belonged to any ninja academy we know. But the strange thing is I'm pretty sure he was a ninja."
"Why are you so sure? Was he dressed like one?"
"No. He didn't do anything to make me suspect that he was. Just."
"Yeah?"
"Nothing really. It's.It's just that he had the eyes of a ninja. As crazy as it sounds, he looked the type."
"The type?"
"The type who gradually learned to kill for profit, although, for him I'm sure that didn't take too long."
"He wasn't your average ninja, though, right?"
"How did you know?"
"You wouldn't be talking about him like this if he were."
"I'm surprised, Naruto; never thought you were the perceptive kind before. But you're right. He wasn't your stereotypical ninja. The profit he got from killing was the simple pleasure of seeing his victims die. He killed solely for that purpose."
"That's not the only reason is it?"
Sasuke lied down next to Naruto and placed his arms behind his head.
"No. He was also a man who didn't fear dying, himself. In fact, he looked forward to it. Maybe that was what gave him the killer edge. He lusted after death so much that he would never end a battle unless he'd obtained it either for others, or himself."
"Sasuke."
"Don't say anything, Naruto. I don't want to explain anymore."
"But."
"Naruto," warned Sasuke.
Naruto obediently kept quiet, but a few minutes later he opened his mouth again to speak. Except this time no words came out. Sasuke was leaning over him, fingers pressed against his lips.
"I beg you, Naruto, don't ask me anything," whispered Sasuke in a choked voice. He was crying silently now, his tears falling softly on Naruto. Naruto remained silent, his worst fear confirmed. After some time when Sasuke had laid back down he said quietly:
"You know, I really wish I could see everyone right now: Iruka sensei, Kakashi sensei, Konohamaru and." he stopped.
"And Sakura," Sasuke finished gently.
"She never gave me the time of day, you know. But it's strange I still liked her anyways. There was something about her that reminded me of.of someone.someone very gentle and caring."
"Someone like your mother?"
Naruto smiled. "Yeah, something like that."
"Are you sure Sakura's who you want to see?"
"Well, maybe the Sakura who's gentle and caring, the one who would give me the time of day."
Sasuke cried inwardly, but to the innocent Naruto he forged cheerfulness.
"Then Sakura you'll have," Sasuke said and placed his palms together. In a flash the person who sat before Naruto was Sakura.
Naruto smiled, although the last thing he wanted to see was the girl who'd once captured his heart, but who was now lost to him forever. However, rather than disappoint Sasuke, Naruto went along with his game.
"Is this the gentle and caring Sakura?" he asked playfully.
"Yes," Sasuke replied in a whining voice, "and I like brave and blond- haired heroes like you, Naruto-sama."
Naruto laughed, choking on his own saliva. "God, Sasuke, stop! You're giving me the chills!"
Sasuke transformed back, amusement on his face.
"I guess I don't make a very attractive girl."
Naruto stopped laughing, brought to a stop by Sasuke's forlornness. He looked intently at Sasuke and saw that his scar stood out sharply on his face, red and swollen.
"You know what I would like more than seeing Sakura?" he asked softly.
"Hmmm.Naruto, I'm not turning into some Cosmo playgirl if that's what you're thinking."
"No. I want to see you, Sasuke."
"What are you talking about? I'm right here."
"I mean, the old Sasuke, the Sasuke without. the scar."
Sasuke was silent, but one look at Naruto made him say teasingly: "Are you sure you an stand my handsome face?"
"I've never met a more arrogant bastard than you, Sasuke. But, yes, I want to see your damn face."
Sasuke smirked and in a cloud of smoke transformed himself. When he faced Naruto it was with a complexion freed of any scar. Faking a high falsetto he jokingly said: "I'm very gentle and caring, and most of all I only like men like you, Naruto-sama."
Naruto laughed weakly. With the last bit of strength left in him he reached out with one hand and touched Sasuke's face. Sasuke stared in shocked silence as Naruto traced the place on his cheek where the scar should have been. Logic told him that the poison should have completely paralyzed Naruto, but rather than speak and break the spell, Sasuke remained quiet.
"Promise me," Naruto whispered when he could talk, "you'll fix this when you get back home."
"It's too damn ugly," he finished mockingly and slapped Sasuke lightly before his hand fell and his eyes closed.
To be continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: More nice cliffies! ^^ Thanks for reading, everyone!
Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Silence of the Woods
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A gentle breeze picked up and rustled the leaves of the trees. The sun was just creeping over the hills of the Go-Gou woods; its rays dancing happily over the tops of the evergreens, turning them a golden hue. It was a perfectly serene setting, except Sasuke knew better. The exuberant chirping of morning birds was nowhere to be heard, as if in a course of an hour someone had either frightened them away, or killed them.
Faking ignorance, Sasuke purposely turned their backs towards the enemy. He chided Naruto all the while as they walked away. Sure enough, as he had suspected, five daggers came flying in their direction. Sasuke pushed them down just in time as the daggers sliced the air above their heads and went launching into a tree truck, which fell with a thundering crash. Dust blew forth from the fallen tree in great gushes and it was only seconds later that the area cleared, but by then Naruto and Sasuke were nowhere to be found.
A masked figure draped in a black cloak slowly emerged from the woods. He stepped boldly into the center of the clearing and scanned the area in one glance. But no signs of life were detected; the woods were void of any sounds. In the distance a twig snapped and the man whirled sharply around. Just then a dark shadow flashed above him, blocking out the light of the sun. In one sweeping motion, faster than the eyes could see, a shower of flying daggers fell from the sky. The masked figure merely smiled, as his hands reached into his breast pocket. The knives flew sharply onto the ground where the man stood, but he had long since disappeared, only to remerge a hundred meters away, his hand still in his breast pocket. From behind him where the daggers had fallen the sound of metal shattering into a million fragments could be heard. A chuckle escaped the masked figure and he removed his hand, which was gleaming with five sharp arrow points. From their tips dripped human blood.
"What a pathetic, little stunt you tried to pull," he whispered, "I'm not called The Wind Master for no reason. Did you think your slow movements escaped my eyes?! Well, now you'll pay the ultimate prize: your life!"
Sasuke lied on the ground writhing with pain, blood flowing from the many slices to his chest, legs and arms.
"Why?" he whispered.
The man rasped in an inaudible voice: "Why didn't I kill you? You think I don't have the power? I just wanted to prolong your death, make you fully understand what it means to die a million times over, but never truly die. I hear a little suffering builds character. You really should be thanking me."
He stepped towards the injured Sasuke and kneeled. He stretched out a gloved hand and caressed Sasuke's cut cheek.
"I did not do this. What a pity. Such a lovely face you once had. I would have enjoyed ripping it to shreds. But, I see someone's beaten me to it." Sasuke shivered involuntarily from his touch. Although the air around them was humid, his fingers had felt like ice.
"Oh, poor Sasuke is frightened. To think, the last surviving member of the Uchida clan should be such a coward!" The man laughed wildly.
"Normally I would stretch out this moment and savor it, but you disgust me in ways I can't explain. I think.I'LL END IT HERE!" He thrust his clawed hand deep into Sasuke's stomach.
"Don't close your eyes, Sasuke. I want to see death remove the light from them."
The seconds slowly ticked by as Sasuke died in his arms. At last the man laid Sasuke's body onto the ground and, leaning over him, kissed Sasuke softly on the lips.
"Thank-you, sweet Sasuke. I live only to see my victim's eyes dim and you've given me this. Thank you." He stood up then and began to walk away, but the sound of Sasuke's voice stopped him.
"You sick bastard."
The Wind Master turned around and threw the arrows in his hand at Sasuke's body only to have them strike a log. With an angry cry The Wind Master frantically whirled about, attempting to locate the hidden Sasuke. But when Sasuke refused to challenge him, he calmed his shaking nerves and slowly rearmed both hands. The Wind Master now stood composed, patiently waiting for the attack that he knew would come.
"That was a pretty good trick you pulled there, Sasuke. I was so certain you were dead. I've always thought it was impossible to fake death: the stillness of limbs, the ceasing of breath and, of course, the most beautiful sight of all: the lusterless eyes. These are the signs I've studied all my life. I could never recreate their lovely image unless I killed. Perhaps that's why I've always thought it was impossible to obtain it any other way. But, apparently, I've underestimated you. You have the incredible ability to mimic death. Perhaps if we were not enemies we would have been friends, because we both know what it means to die without having to die. But enough of this talk. Show me, Sasuke. Show me what you've got."
"I was wondering when you'd shut up and ask me that."
In a split second flashing shadows appeared from every side. There were dozens, perhaps even hundreds of them, all leaping forward with daggers in their hands. They crisscrossed over The Wind Master's head and surrounded him from every corner, firing rounds after rounds of daggers. The Wind Master laughed crazily and hacked with his hands, turning the daggers and their masters into cut pieces of metal and flesh.
"I am The Wind Master! I am The Wind Master! Nothing escapes my eyes! Sasuke, I will find you, even if it means hacking through all these replications!"
His eyes darted about in his sockets in a mad frenzy, until the black of the pupils seemed too merged with the white. Concentrating solely on the figures flying about him, The Wind Master failed to notice the ground tremble ever so slightly beneath him. Just when he thought he was on the verge of destroying all of the remaining shadows, the ground exploded from where he stood and up flew Sasuke with a dozen daggers grasped in both hands. Skidding up The Wind Master's body he slashed right and left, slicing only at the joints until he had reduced the ninja into a crippled man. Jumping backwards to avoid any counterattack, Sasuke aimed his daggers at the still figure, who now lied in a mass of fallen leaves and splintered wood, the evident remains of the many Sasukes he had killed. Blood was streaming from his wounds, covering the sight of exposed bones and severed tendons.
"Now," said Sasuke shakily, "tell me who sent you."
The man released a weak laugh. "You of all people should know how fruitless that question is."
"You don't have a choice. If you don't tell me these daggers will cut off that laughing head of yours."
"Do you think I fear death? The reason why I kill is not only to create death, but.I want to experience it myself. I was sure I would find someone strong enough to kill me. Well it seems Fate has decided this 'someone' to be a little boy. Ha, ha, ha!"
"Stop laughing!" cried Sasuke.
"Ah death, exquisite death, at last I'll know what you taste like. I'm sure it'll be very sweet, very sweet indeed. Thank-you Sasuke for this last gift. See, I told you we could have been friends if things had been different."
"You're no friend of mine."
"Oh, really? Nevertheless, I consider you as a friend of mine and as a parting gift I have this to tell you: that blond-haired friend of yours is not going to live for more than a day. The poison I brew are deadly, so be prepared to see him go."
"You bastard!" cried Sasuke, as he ran towards him and dragged him to his knees. "Give me the antidote!" he screamed at the unmoving Wind Master.
"Ha, ha, ha! You fool! Do you think I kill simply to revive? There is no antidote, none whatsoever! Ha, ha, ha!"
"Then you're one man I will not weep to see go." Sasuke's clenched fist swiped over The Wind Master's neck, the daggers it held slid easily through the flesh. The Wind Master smiled contently as his limbs grew limp, his breath ceased and his eyes grew dim. Sasuke let his body crumple to the ground without regret.
Although the grass prickled his skin uncomfortably, Naruto barely felt it. He had long since lost the feelings in his arms and legs. What little that he could feel only helped to relax his mind, confirming that he hasn't completely lost all sense of touch. However this little comfort did nothing to ease the fear swelling in his heart. He feared for Sasuke and wondered how he was faring. He wondered if Sasuke was hurt and wished that Sasuke hadn't placed him so far away from the action. He was dying to know what was happening. As he was thinking this a shadow fell across his face. Naruto quickly closed his eyes afraid to see who it may be. He didn't want to see what they would do to him and was morbidly relief that he wouldn't feel half of what they would. But the voice pleading for him to wake up was not that of an enemy's. Relief flooded his entire body. Sasuke had returned. However, Naruto's happiness was short lived. Sasuke was sobbing.
"I'm too late. He's gone!" Naruto heard Sasuke say as he stumbled towards him. He felt Sasuke lifting him tenderly and a smile escaped him before he could conceal it. As quickly as he was held up, Naruto was dropped. He fell backwards and gasped in pain.
"You know, I can still feel that!" he cried with anger, but the look he saw Sasuke give him silenced his voice.
"Don't ever do that again," whispered Sasuke through clenched teeth.
Naruto's brows creased, but he attempted to smile.
"You didn't have to worry," he murmured, "I wasn't going to die, not before hearing how you kicked that creep's ass. So how did it go?"
Sasuke sat down with exhaustion. "I kicked his ass," he said, "I kicked it good." Then he stared at Naruto and laughed. Although it pained him greatly, Naruto laughed along with him.
"That wasn't the two guys we fought earlier was it?" he finally asked when they'd quiet down.
"No," Sasuke replied.
"I didn't think so. You would have finished them off easily, even without the expert there."
Sasuke smiled, too tired to argue with Naruto.
"Sasuke, who was he?"
"I don't know Naruto. He didn't answer any of my questions. I got nothing out of the guy. But his fighting style is none that I recognize. It doesn't seem like he belonged to any ninja academy we know. But the strange thing is I'm pretty sure he was a ninja."
"Why are you so sure? Was he dressed like one?"
"No. He didn't do anything to make me suspect that he was. Just."
"Yeah?"
"Nothing really. It's.It's just that he had the eyes of a ninja. As crazy as it sounds, he looked the type."
"The type?"
"The type who gradually learned to kill for profit, although, for him I'm sure that didn't take too long."
"He wasn't your average ninja, though, right?"
"How did you know?"
"You wouldn't be talking about him like this if he were."
"I'm surprised, Naruto; never thought you were the perceptive kind before. But you're right. He wasn't your stereotypical ninja. The profit he got from killing was the simple pleasure of seeing his victims die. He killed solely for that purpose."
"That's not the only reason is it?"
Sasuke lied down next to Naruto and placed his arms behind his head.
"No. He was also a man who didn't fear dying, himself. In fact, he looked forward to it. Maybe that was what gave him the killer edge. He lusted after death so much that he would never end a battle unless he'd obtained it either for others, or himself."
"Sasuke."
"Don't say anything, Naruto. I don't want to explain anymore."
"But."
"Naruto," warned Sasuke.
Naruto obediently kept quiet, but a few minutes later he opened his mouth again to speak. Except this time no words came out. Sasuke was leaning over him, fingers pressed against his lips.
"I beg you, Naruto, don't ask me anything," whispered Sasuke in a choked voice. He was crying silently now, his tears falling softly on Naruto. Naruto remained silent, his worst fear confirmed. After some time when Sasuke had laid back down he said quietly:
"You know, I really wish I could see everyone right now: Iruka sensei, Kakashi sensei, Konohamaru and." he stopped.
"And Sakura," Sasuke finished gently.
"She never gave me the time of day, you know. But it's strange I still liked her anyways. There was something about her that reminded me of.of someone.someone very gentle and caring."
"Someone like your mother?"
Naruto smiled. "Yeah, something like that."
"Are you sure Sakura's who you want to see?"
"Well, maybe the Sakura who's gentle and caring, the one who would give me the time of day."
Sasuke cried inwardly, but to the innocent Naruto he forged cheerfulness.
"Then Sakura you'll have," Sasuke said and placed his palms together. In a flash the person who sat before Naruto was Sakura.
Naruto smiled, although the last thing he wanted to see was the girl who'd once captured his heart, but who was now lost to him forever. However, rather than disappoint Sasuke, Naruto went along with his game.
"Is this the gentle and caring Sakura?" he asked playfully.
"Yes," Sasuke replied in a whining voice, "and I like brave and blond- haired heroes like you, Naruto-sama."
Naruto laughed, choking on his own saliva. "God, Sasuke, stop! You're giving me the chills!"
Sasuke transformed back, amusement on his face.
"I guess I don't make a very attractive girl."
Naruto stopped laughing, brought to a stop by Sasuke's forlornness. He looked intently at Sasuke and saw that his scar stood out sharply on his face, red and swollen.
"You know what I would like more than seeing Sakura?" he asked softly.
"Hmmm.Naruto, I'm not turning into some Cosmo playgirl if that's what you're thinking."
"No. I want to see you, Sasuke."
"What are you talking about? I'm right here."
"I mean, the old Sasuke, the Sasuke without. the scar."
Sasuke was silent, but one look at Naruto made him say teasingly: "Are you sure you an stand my handsome face?"
"I've never met a more arrogant bastard than you, Sasuke. But, yes, I want to see your damn face."
Sasuke smirked and in a cloud of smoke transformed himself. When he faced Naruto it was with a complexion freed of any scar. Faking a high falsetto he jokingly said: "I'm very gentle and caring, and most of all I only like men like you, Naruto-sama."
Naruto laughed weakly. With the last bit of strength left in him he reached out with one hand and touched Sasuke's face. Sasuke stared in shocked silence as Naruto traced the place on his cheek where the scar should have been. Logic told him that the poison should have completely paralyzed Naruto, but rather than speak and break the spell, Sasuke remained quiet.
"Promise me," Naruto whispered when he could talk, "you'll fix this when you get back home."
"It's too damn ugly," he finished mockingly and slapped Sasuke lightly before his hand fell and his eyes closed.
To be continued.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: More nice cliffies! ^^ Thanks for reading, everyone!