Author's Note: Naruto and all related characters/trademarks belong to Masashi Kishimoto – however, this story is my own work, and continues from the latest Naruto manga developments (up to 224).
Sheets of driving rain washed over the forest, the trees buffeted by the gale. The forest's summer colours looked drained, washed out by the downpour. Branches creaked and swung as the wind splashed off them, its current twisting and turning between the trees. There were no signs of life, the animals having chosen to shelter in whatever nook, cranny and hole they could find.
A boy sprang from branch to branch, carefully channelling his chakra to his feet to reduce slipping. His raven hair was soggy, his bangs clinging to his pale cheeks. His sharp eyes continually scanned the forest for safe branches, always alert for danger. Uchiha Sasuke could feel Orochimaru calling to him, and he let the call lead him. He had wasted too much time, having been forced to spend last night hiding in a cave to regain his depleted strength after his fight with Naruto.
Naruto... Sasuke thought of his rival and former comrade. His emotions clashed within his cold exterior. Part of him wanted to go back, but he could not stop. He remembered Tayuya's words:
"In exchange for power, we have become Orochimaru's servants. We have already lost our freedom."
Yeah... Sasuke thought, I gave up my freedom when I took that pill and "died". Backflipping onto a higher branch, Sasuke paused momentarily to listen to the call in his heart. Panting slightly, he turned his head, his eyes darting from side to side until he felt the right direction to take. Once again, he darted from branch to branch, the forest a blur. Not far to go, Sasuke thought, It feels so close now. None of Orochimaru's bodyguards had caught up with him. He assumed that they were dead, since he himself had not made great time. Sasuke snorted. No matter. He was well on his way to meet Orochimaru, and that was all that mattered to him right now. Still, he could not help but think of Naruto.
::Flashback::
"The future is not where my dream is," Sasuke retorted, as he watched the water explode where Naruto had hit the river, "It's in the past, and that's where it will always be." Sasuke turned on his heel, and sprang up to the sentinel's head where he flipped and landed gracefully. Casting a last look over his shoulder towards Konoha, the boy walked on in the direction of the Sound country, letting the call guide him. I have chosen my path, and I will not be forced to go back. Sasuke thought, his heart set on power. Although he did not consider the Leaf to be weak ninjas, the Uchiha could not stand the thought of being surpassed by Naruto. And Itachi wanted Naruto. Sasuke was nothing in his brother's eyes
"I can't let you go!" Sasuke spun just in time to see Naruto's fist hammer into his vision, square on his nose. Sasuke skidded and skimmed along the ground, kicking up clouds of dust as he hit the ground each time.
"Dobe! Why are you being so persistent?!" Sasuke cursed, wiping the blood from his nose with his hand. "I don't want to have to hurt you!" He brought his legs up and flipped upright, onto his feet. "I don't want to hurt you, either, but you're being stupid, Sasuke!" Naruto snapped back. "I can't let a comrade die! I don't want to lose you! I don't want Sakura-chan to be in so much pain!" Sasuke's face saddened slightly. "Naruto, this is something I must do alone. You should go home. Take care of Sakura." He sighed. "She's a good girl, but I cannot return her feelings. I only regard her as a comrade and friend."
"Why are you doing this to your friends?" asked Naruto, his bright blue eyes fixed upon the Uchiha's dark eyes. "Nobody wants you to die. I'll stop you if I have to." Sasuke returned the look. "Do you remember Haku?" he said, his face taking on a very serious look. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. He thought of Haku, the image of his young face swimming into focus in his mind.
"For that dream, I can destroy my kind heart with a blade and become a true shinobi," Sasuke said, repeating the words the boy had said all that time ago. Then his brow furrowed slightly, his dark eyes glaring at Naruto. "I don't want you getting in my way. I don't want to hurt you, but if you try and stop me, I will destroy my heart and stop you," whispered Sasuke. He straightened up and squared himself, ready for a fight. Naruto sighed, his face turning equally serious. "I'm going to give everything to protect my friends, including you," he declared, squaring himself as well. "You're going down the wrong path to your dream, Sasuke," Naruto said, returning the glare.
A moment of silence descended, the sound of the rushing river fading out as the two shinobis stood facing each other, focused only on each other. To them, nothing else existed. Their hair swayed and rippled slightly in the wind, their eyes unblinking and intense.
They shot towards each other. Their legs a blur, the slipstream threatening to rip their clothes, the wind howling in their ears. Sasuke burst violently off the ground, flipping over to deliver an overhead kick to Naruto. Naruto blocked with his left arm, his hands quickly crossing to make a seal. Sasuke threw a punch, Naruto blocked and held it.
A hand and a foot held, Sasuke smiled. He delivered another kick. But as it whipped towards its target, he noticed Naruto smile.
What..? Why is that dobe smiling?
Before Sasuke's kick could connect, a massive crushing blow came to his side. The boy bounced and skidded violently, spinning out of control. He came to rest, and his eyes flashed up to see two Narutos. Very nice, Naruto... You created a Shadow Clone as you blocked my attacks, and that clone hit me while I was exposed, thought Sasuke. The Narutos came charging in, screaming as they ran, their eyes looking crazed. No more games, Sasuke thought, gritting his teeth. He shut his eyes and breathed, focusing his chakra to his eyes.
Sharingan! His eyes opened, revealing the crimson Sharingan irises. He burst off his feet, charging at the Narutos. Within the blink of an eye, he threw six shuriken at them. Both Narutos blocked, one bursting into smoke.
Gotcha, dobe, Sasuke smiled slightly.
Sasuke disappeared into thin air just as he was about to reach the real Naruto. Before Naruto could move, a kick slammed into his jaw from below. As he flew, blood trailing behind him, Sasuke appeared behind him, floating, as if he were a shadow.
Naruto's eyes widened. Shit!
Sasuke twisted, a bruising kick slamming into Naruto's left side. Pain shot throughout Naruto's body, his mind screaming silently. Sasuke spun once again, and Naruto noticed the Uchiha's eyes turning away. Now!! Naruto's mind screamed. Sasuke's arm whipped, his backfist violently connecting...
...with a log.
Damn, Kawarimi!? Where did he go? Sasuke silently cursed, still dropping towards the ground. He twisted his body as he fell, looked up, and saw Naruto diving in at him. Sasuke's hands clapped as he went through a rapid series of hand seals. His hands finished, showing the tiger seal. He inhaled deeply, puffing his chest and cheeks out.
Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!
The blast of fire ignited the air above Sasuke with a deafening roar, an intense heat and light coming from the fireball. Sasuke landed on his feet next to the log, his Sharingan eyes still looking up at the sky. Naruto dropped through the fading inferno, smoking and slightly blackened, in a foetus position, his arms shielding his head. Sasuke sighed with relief. Got you now... You should be just knocked out, Sasuke thought quietly.
Naruto crashed into the ground with a resounding thud... and disappeared into smoke.
Sasuke gasped, his eyes shooting wide open. Another Shadow Clone!? Where is he!? Sasuke thought, panic coursing through his mind. He could not see Naruto anywhere, his Sharingan darting across the ground and the river. He spun to check behind him. Nothing. Then he was aware of smoke coming from behind him. Sasuke's head darted back, looking over his shoulder with shock.
Naruto had been holding his log transformation through intense pain, and he had dropped it as soon as Sasuke's back was turned.
Sasuke skidded across the ground once again. Groaning in pain, Sasuke staggered to his feet, his hand on his forehead. Damn it! When did you get this smart, Naruto..? Sasuke thought, panting and feeling badly beaten. He took his hand off his forehead, and noticed some blood on it. His forehead now bore a cut on it. "I thought you said I wouldn't be able to lay a finger on you, let alone your forehead, Sasuke," said Naruto mockingly, a corner of his mouth turning up to a sly smile. Both he and Sasuke looked battered and bloody, but unbowed. Neither ninja was about to give up. They were both fighting for their beliefs, after all.
"Sasuke, look at yourself," Naruto said, his tone irritated. "Your hunger for power is turning you into your brother!"
That remark hit Sasuke. Uncontrollable anger surged throughout Sasuke, his Curse seal flashing across his arm and face. "Shut up about my brother! You know nothing!" screamed Sasuke. He could feel the power, the rage, the thirst coursing through his blood. He could feel his grip on himself slipping away. Naruto gasped with horror as he saw the black marks of the seal consume Sasuke's skin like a virus. "Who are you to tell me who I am!?" Sasuke angrily screamed.
This isn't good... thought Naruto, his eyes unable to move from the horrifying sight before him. His feet refused to move.
Sasuke charged at Naruto, having lost his mind to the hunger of the seal, his left side mutated into some twisted, darkened, demonic form. Half of his hair had turned silver, and his left eye was now black, still retaining its red Sharingan iris. Chakra crackled around Sasuke's demonic left hand, arcs of it dancing around his arm like lightning.
Shit, it's Chidori! thought Naruto. He tried to move, but there was no time. Sasuke slammed into Naruto, plunging the Chidori into the blond's chest.
The half-demonic Sasuke picked Naruto up, its hand still in his chest, the Chidori having dissipated. Its eyes widened as they looked upon Naruto, who was coughing up a lot of blood. The curse seal dissolved, retreating into itself, the demon disappearing, leaving Sasuke. Sasuke looked in horror at Naruto. "Naruto... I, I didn't mean to..." he whispered. In a panic, Sasuke threw Naruto down, only to see him drop down the waterfall.
Sasuke staggered backwards. "What have I done..?" he gasped, his eyes unable to tear themselves away from Naruto's falling body, which grew more and more distant as it dropped. He had let his anger take over, and the demon within had fed upon it with delight. He had just tried to kill Naruto. He looked at his left hand, which was now dripping with Naruto's blood.
Then he saw sand dart across the air, catching Naruto. Sasuke's eyes flitted across, following the arc of sand. Gaara. And with him were Rock Lee, Temari and Shikamaru. They stood at the foot of the sentinel on the other side of the river, near the foot of the waterfall. Gaara looked up at Sasuke, his unnerving eyes narrowed, staring intently, his brow furrowed, as if he was trying to look into Sasuke's soul. Shikamaru, Temari and Rock Lee were simply staring in shock, their mouths open - not wanting to accept what their eyes had just told them.
Scared, all Sasuke could think of was to run away. And so he ran with all his might.
::::End of Flashback::::
Sasuke saw the edge of the forest approaching fast, and stopped at a branch. He could have gone back to Konoha, but he would have been treated like a murderer. He was now a missing-nin, and he knew that if the Curse Seal ate him once again without any control, he would have spilt innocent blood in the village. He needed to learn how to control it. He needed Orochimaru. He could think of nowhere else to go.
The power will be mine, Sasuke thought determinedly, and I will learn to control it without losing myself. And I will avenge my clan.
Sasuke's eyes scanned the scene that lay before him. A heavily fortified castle stood in the middle of a lake, its massive walls soaring above the water's surface, its black and white towers washed with the fiery colour of the rising sun. The castle was connected to the coast with a wide stone bridge. The bridge itself looked extremely solid, stone snake carvings weaving across the railings. Red banners fluttered in the wind, black snake designs upon them.
Compared to Konoha, the Sound fortress felt cold, mechanical, without joy. It felt like death.
Sasuke calmly walked across the bridge, his soft footfalls the only detectable sound asides from the gentle lapping of water against the bridge. As he arrived at the front gates, Sasuke's eyes searched the walls and gate for any guards. Sure enough, a bulky silhouetted man revealed himself at the top of the wall. He held a trident and wore bandages over his arms. His clothes were battle-worn samurai armour, and his grizzled face bore two heavy scars - one on his forehead, the other on his chin. His Sound forehead protector glinted upon his neck. The man turned back and said something inaudible, then the gates opened.
Sasuke's eyes looked back down at the gates. They slowly swung open, creaking and groaning, to reveal a familiar face.
"Kabuto..?" Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. Then he spotted the Sound forehead protector. "So, you're a Sound spy, are you?" Sasuke asked the bespectacled ninja. Kabuto smiled, adjusting his glasses. "Correct, Sasuke-kun. You're sharp as always." Then he looked seriously at Sasuke. "I would like to talk about old times, but Orochimaru-sama impatiently awaits your arrival," said Kabuto. Looking around, he then asked, "Sasuke-kun, what happened to the rest of the group you travelled with?" Sasuke shrugged and snorted. "Most likely dead. I was on my own after the Kage waterfall at the border." He did not particularly care for Orochimaru's former guard.
"Hmm..." Kabuto mused. My instincts tell me Naruto-kun was among the pursuer-nins, thought Kabuto, a smirk crossing his face. "We should get you out of this rain, Sasuke-kun, and get you some warmth and dry clothes before you see Orochimaru-sama," he said, stepping aside and waving his arm towards the village in a single sweeping motion. Sasuke entered the village, studying his new surroundings intently. He looked at Kabuto.I knew something was strange about him... Sasuke thought, recalling the final ambush in the Chuunin Second Exam. The two ninja then walked deeper into the fortress village.
The heavy doors slowly creaked shut behind them, finally shutting with a deep, loud slam.
--------------------
The light from the fireplace danced in Sasuke's dark eyes, his expression inscrutable. He was no longer wearing his usual clothes, and instead wore a black kimono. He breathed in, shutting his eyes. Then he opened them, revealing his Sharingan. Each Sharingan now bore three pupils surrounding the central one. Everything felt so much sharper, more defined. Sasuke figured that his new development had been brought about by the emotional stress of possibly killing Naruto. He felt no joy at the evolution of his Sharingan.
I hope that dobe is still alive, Sasuke thought once again. Sighing, he knew that he could not go back to Konoha - his actions had made him a missing-nin and a traitor. But he was sure that he would get much stronger here. All that really mattered to him was killing Itachi, the brother who destroyed his life. Sorry, Kakashi-sensei, but this is my path now, Sasuke thought, picking up his Uchiha clothes.
He then threw them into the fire. As he watched the clan insignia burn, Sasuke could feel a knife going through his heart, twisting it, destroying it. He was ready to become a true shinobi.
A knocking sound shook Sasuke out of his thoughts. "Come in," he said flatly, turning to face the door. It opened, revealing Kabuto. Kabuto smirked, and said "I hope that you are satisfied with your room, Sasuke-kun." "It's fine. What do you want?" asked Sasuke, with an icy tone. Kabuto bowed slightly, and said "Orochimaru-sama would like you to join him at dinner. He wishes to speak with you." He stepped aside as Sasuke wordlessly walked into the hall to meet Orochimaru.
Author's Note: I have assumed that the Sharingan cannot see through Kage Bunshins because they are real bodies. Same thing for Henge no Jutsus, since they are real and not illusions (as noted by Gamabunta turning into Kyuubi and being able to bite onto Shukaku). As long as Sasuke cannot see the seals or chakra usage, he cannot realise the technique is being carried out.