Disclaimer: Naruto's not mine
If it were, I'd be wealthy
I'm not, so don't sue.

Sorry it's been so long! I can't help it. Writers block and lack of Net access is what did it. Don't worry, I should be back to a more regular schedule soon.

I just found out my story is included in a C2 community as one of the best Narusaku fics on the net. That surprises the hell out of me. I guess, though, it was just a matter of time before I found my niche. Thanks a lot, to all of you.

I got a lot of reviews after posting Chapter 10... One reviewer said I'd restored their faith in Sakura, and had searched out other Narusaku fics... Of course, that was balanced out by one reviewer who said he didn't like my writing style in chapters 1, 2, and 10... What about 3 and 4? They were written the same way, and yet were conspicuously absent from his criticism. He also called me lazy because chapters one and two were so similar.

Hooray, real criticism!

Anywho, to any of you who complained about Lee seeming out of character in past chapters, it will all be explained in this chapter. Or, at least, as well as I can manage. I hope this holds up to the high standard I've created.

Well, on with Chapter 11! Booyah!

To Hell With the Consequences
Written by PHreek-Boi

Chapter Eleven: Green(-eyed) Beast

I stomped out of the ramen bar, rage threatening to overcome my strong will with every step. Naruto betrayed me! I can't believe I ever trusted that rotten bastard. He's no better then that slimy fuck Sasuke. But he flaunts it in my face... and she, worst of all, lets him. At least Sasuke is discreet about his mockery of those he thinks are beneath reproach.

At least the searing pain in my shoulder is beginning to subside. Jesus, I can't believe I beat the living hell out of one of my best friends just because a girl I have a crush on decided she loved him. It isn't like there weren't any signs, and I know Naruto's had it bad for Sakura for years. I'm almost inclined to think it's about damn time they stopped playing around and actually jumped in bed together.

The pain... my God, I can hardly stand it! It's all his fault! If he hadn't taken my Sakura-chan away from me, this wouldn't be happening. That fucking prick will pay for what he's done to me. Naruto has to pay!

What the hell am I thinking? It's not Naruto's fault! He didn't start seeing Sakura just to spite me. They're in love, and I can hardly blame them for that. Sure, I'm disappointed, but Naruto didn't do anything wrong. It's just the way things were supposed to be Besides, if I did anything else to him, it would crush Sakura. I could never do that to her.

She deserves to hurt! She betrayed me! She's a filthy, disgusting whore who doesn't deserve my respect or my pity. I hope Naruto breaks her heart. I hope he leaves her, and she suffers. And I'll make sure I'm there, to laugh in her face.

But... Sakura-chan... Sakura doesn't deserve such spite from me. She's done nothing wrong. And Naruto...

...Is always one up on me! No matter how hard I try, Naruto is always one step better then me! I train and train so I might be the best in Konoha, so I might prove that I, Rock Lee, the Green Beast of Konoha, might be the greatest, but it's never enough. No matter what, Naruto is always just that little bit better then me. He must cheat. There's no way he's stronger than me! And he probably has Sakura under some mind controlling Jutsu. There's no way she'd choose that ugly freak over me. Naruto must be stopped! I'll crush him myself!

But Naruto's my friend, dammit! He didn't do this just to hurt me. Maybe to hurt Sasuke, but not me. I shouldn't be thinking that way, but it's getting harder to supress my rage... I couldn't control myself when I attacked Naruto... It's like I was an entirely different person. My whole body seemed to be on fire... it must be...

Some trick of Naruto's I bet! He's had it out for me all along! He fears me! But any smart person should fear me. They all know I am a threat. I have mastered the Lotus Technique, and I can call on physical power greater then any of them! And when Naruto sees my true power... Heh heh heh... I can imagine the look on his face, the fear in his eyes when I crush him. But more delicious will be the fear and the misery in that slut's eyes when he dies at my hands, the hands of a man he has called 'friend' and 'commrade'.

No... Sakura isn't a slut. And Naruto is my friend. I could never actually hurt either of them! The fact that he finally won Sakura makes me mad to be sure. Mad as hell. But that doesn't mean he deserves my spite. He was always the one Sakura loved, even if she didn't realize it. She always ran off to him when Sasuke broke her heart. And the fact that Naruto never did anything to Sasuke speaks volumes on his character. If it had been me, I'm sure I would have gone out to beat down Sasuke whenever I had the chance. But the fact is, Naruto suffered at Sakura's hands for a long time, even if she didn't know it. Every time he made her feel better, every time he mended her broken heart, Sakura ran off to get it shattered again by that emotional cripple, Sasuke. As hard as it is for me to accept, Naruto deserves Sakura's love. He's a better person then I. He's better then us all, despite what he had to suffer through as a child.

Ha! Him, suffer? He doesn't know what suffering is! Suffering is spending every waking moment fighting to become stronger! Suffering is working yourself to exaustion, even to the very brink of death just so you can gain a bit more power! Suffering is being beaten out time and time again by a joke! Suffering is losing the girl of your dreams to a guy that never in a million years could ever deserve her! Suffering is knowing no matter what you do, no matter how hard you try you will never be the best! Naruto doesn't know what it is to truly suffer. But he will.

He lost his parents when he was young... He was an outcast because the fourth died to protect him... I could never understand why he was so hated by his peers and the elders of the village. In fact, it seemed at first that the only person who truly respected Naruto was Sasuke. But that respect was accompanied by a sense of fear at what Naruto might become, and it pushed Sasuke to excel. They've still not settled their rivalry as far as who the greatest might be, but the fact that Naruto is an ANBU commander where Sasuke is his underling hints that maybe the reason Sasuke tried so hard to prove he was the best, that he could beat Naruto, was that he knew all along Naruto was better then he could ever be. Over time, all of us grew to respect Naruto. Some of the adults in the village still treat him like he is worthless, despite what he has done. Some things, it seems, will never change.

Nor should they! Naruto doesn't deserve respect. And whatever 'respect' he has earned is a joke! He should be treated with spite, reproach, even loathing. He is a freak of nature and should be treated as nothing better. He deserves to die! He's a monster! He needs to learn what suffering truly is!

It feels like my body is on fire, flooding from my shoulder. I know why, too... That's why I've been trying so hard lately to repress my ill will... It's why I attacked Naruto... He's controlling me. When my ANBU cell attacked the Sound, I was the only survivor... He let me live, for a price. But it was is a price I can tell nobody of...

The Master freed me, and I serve him in return. He freed me from the dated code of Konoha village. It is about time I accepted his gift, and used it to my fullest advantage. I will use it to crush Naruto and all others who would defy me! They will all acknowledge my greatness, or they will die!

The mark on my shoulder... The cursed seal of Orochimaru, controlling me, activated by my emotions rather than chakra... It has truly made me a beast. I know now that I can't fight it, not forever. There is only one thing I can do, for the good of myself and of Konoha. I no longer deserve to wear the hitai-ate of a Leaf-nin, not as long as the seal and the taint of Orochimaru remains upon me. I must leave, or I fear I may destroy them. It allowed me to open the eigth gate, and survive... And I can no longer depend on my ability to suppress it... It is overwhelming me, destroying my pure soul. There is no other way. For now, I must bit Konoha farewell, no matter the cost.

I'll be back for you, Naruto. That's a promise.

A/N: Oh, I know people are gonna burn me for this one. How could I do that to Lee? Simple, it's important to the story. It's been in the works all along. Sorry, Lee fans! But you must have expected something like this. Sorry if it's a bit short. The next chapter will bear the introduction of another dark-haired ninja, but whom? I wonder... Anyway, read and review. The next chapter will be up as soon as possible.