And He Bled Crimson
By: Lost Nin
Disclaimer: There's no way in the world I can ever be as creative as Masahi Kishimoto, so in other words.... not mine in any way shape or form.

A.N. My gosh, it's been like WAY WAY WAY too long since I have updated this fic. Been so busy lately that I haven't had the time to even write anything. I haven't even had a chance to read any of the great fics that seemed to pop up as of late.

Thanks to all of you that reviewed the last chapter. I will admit that I wasn't too sure where I planned to take this after the last chapter, so yes that did slow things down quite a bit. I think I can possibly end this in about two to three more chapters.

Chapter 5

Their journey to the small village not to far from the border of sound territory had pretty much been uneventful. They arrived in the town a few hours ago, the rest of the team was currently grabbing a bit to eat. Kakashi had decided to take a look around the small town hoping to find a quiet spot to sit and read his book for a bit. They would stay in the town for the next few days gathering information and resting up before heading out.

Kakashi truly hadn't expected his former student to appear from the shadows of an alleyway, katana drawn in hand. It's not every day that the one person whom you were tracking down suddenly appeared before you as though he were truly the one doing the tracking. Kakashi smirked, so the boy had learned the art of sword usage. He could see the cursed seal spread quickly over the young Uchiha, instantly changing the look of the young boy.

Sasuke's eyes were narrowed, his face twisted in morbid excitement. He had never seen the young boy with so much maliciousness, and it worried him. There was a part deep down that had hopped to dismiss the accusations that were thrown around. That Sasuke's name was being dragged in the mud and once the confused boy saw him everything would change. Sasuke would realize his mistake and return home and he wouldn't have to carry out his orders.

Kakashi greeted the angry boy the same way he use to do upon the early years of team seven, hoping beyond hope that he could keep them from the confrontation he knew would more then likely take place.

"Yo."

The boy wasn't even affected by his friendly demeanor. The only reaction he got was the boy's onyx eyes fading away, becoming blood red before he charged head on. Kakashi easily dodged the first slice of the blade, only to be met by the cold steel of three kunai sailing toward him. Twisting, he barely missed two as they sailed by. The third sliced through the flesh of his right shoulder before embedding into the building behind him. Kakashi quickly grabbed his wound with his left hand, feeling the warmth of his blood flow between his fingers.

"You're as weak as I remember, Kakashi."

Sasuke's voice was cold, uncaring. He watched the dark-haired youth sheath his sword before turning to face him. Sasuke's eyes still bore the Sharingan, the curse was spread across half of his face. His left eye looked distorted, as though it were going through some sort of change.

"Come to kill me, have you?"

"That depends on you." Kakashi responded harshly. He went to take a step toward the Uchiha only to have his vision suddenly become blurry. Kakashi staggered slightly, eyeing the Uchiha heir with scrutiny. "Your kunai was poisoned."

The boy chuckled. "The more you move, the quicker it spreads through your blood stream."

His head suddenly felt as though it were going to explode. He quickly collapsed to his knees, watching Sasuke approach him. The boy paused in step, his body shifting to the right, as though he were glancing behind him.

"Where are the others?"

"Others?"

Sasuke slowly squatted in front of him, his eyes seemed to be filled with amusement. "Don't toy with me, Kakashi. There were three others you were traveling with. Where are they?"

"I sent them back to Konoha." He knew that Sasuke wouldn't believe him, he wouldn't have believed what he said either if her were in Sasuke's shoes.

Sasuke scoffed before he quickly reached out and grasped his Jounin vest. The boy's entire left eye started to fade black. Kakashi found himself mesmerized, he had never seen anything like it. What in the world had Orochimaru done to the boy? "You expect me to believe that shit of a lie?" Sasuke chuckled. "Let's see... Sakura, she'd be here. Shikamaru too, am I right? Who else did you bring?"

Kakashi smirked, knowing the other wouldn't be able to see, so he had no clue about Naruto. And he had no clue as to what was behind him. Sasuke's grip tightened before he gave a jerk to pull him forward.

"Who..."

Sasuke quickly let go, rolling out of the way just before the stretched out form of the buildings shadow was able to reach him. A familiar voice yelled out in concern.

"Kakashi sensei!"

Kakashi slowly struggled to his feet before he felt someone take a hold of his arm and place it over their shoulder. He glanced down at the pink-haired shinobi and nodded, assuring her that he was ok. Shikamaru hopped down from the rooftop he was on, landing next to them.

"I could have caught you if I wanted to, Uchiha." Shikamaru raised his hands, preparing for any attack Sasuke might throw at them.

"It was your mistake not to do so." Sasuke once again unsheathed his sword. "You'll die first." Sasuke charged toward them, his eyes glued on Shikamaru. Sakura quickly moved them out of the way, hoping to avoid the battle that was about to begin.

Kakshi could feel his muscles start to lock up, it was making it impossible to even be able to stand on his own two feet. He had to stop them. He couldn't let this fight even begin.

"Sakura."

As if knowing what crossed his mind, Sakura slipped out from under his arm. With her kunai's drawn in hand she rushed toward Sasuke. The fight lasted only seconds. Kakashi was stunned to see that Shikamaru's shadow binding never touched Sasuke, it was if the defector never touched the ground. The Chuunin soon found himself slammed against the wall of the building, caving it in. Sakura laid in a few blows, perhaps by the leaf traitors choice, to test her probable growth over the past few months. The pink-haired girl soon found herself trapped. Her back pressed against Sasuke front, his sword rested against her throat.

Sasuke chuckled, he could feel her fear, her body trembled under his touch. His cold calculating eyes watched Shikamaru slowly pick himself off of the ground. They were no match for him, and Kakashi would soon be out of the picture. He glanced over at the Jounin to see him approaching them, Kakashi was fighting as hard as he could, but he wouldn't overcome the damage the drug was doing to his body.

"You're still pathetic, Sakura." He spoke softly into her ear. "Give up as a shinobi before you get yourself killed."

"Sasuke, please... this isn't you." She pleaded.

He scoffed, what in the hell would she know. "No, Sakura. This is who I always was."

"You're Uchiha Sasuke of Konoha, part of team seven and our friend."

He could feel his anger flair up. He hadn't let thoughts drift to his past in quite some time, to those who stood by his side and called him a teammate, especially to a certain blonde. Damn her for opening her mouth. "Shut up." He growled as he squeezed her tighter against him, pressing the blade to the point where it would easily pierce her skin. "Associating with scum of the leaf was my mistake."

"Sasuke, Naruto is...."

"Sakura!" Kakashi's voice carried over the girls, quieting her. Sasuke glared at the Jounin, he was up to something. He watched the older man slowly slid a scroll out from his vest.

"Don't think of trying anything funny, Kakashi, or she's dead."

An all too familiar voice, one that used to haunt his dreams at night, pierced the air. "SASUKE!!"

His breath caught, that voice was... but it couldn't be, it just couldn't be! This had to be Kakashi's trick! He hadn't even taken notice that his grip on the girl had slackened until she took the opportunity to elbow him in the ribs and break out of his grasp. Angered, Sasuke swung his sword, hoping to make contact with her retreating form. A blur of orange and blonde appeared before him, his attack blocked. Growling Sasuke focused on what was before him, his eyes widened in shock. There before him was a face that he had never expected to see again. Uzumaki Naruto.

Sasuke sprung back, his eyes never leaving the familiar form before him. This defiantly had to be a trick, Henge no Jutsu. His eyes flew to Kakashi, he'll kill the bastard for sure for pulling such a cruel joke on him.

"Don't think this trick is going to affect me, Kakashi." His eyes locked with the light-haired boy before him. He smirked at the sight before him, Kakshi was a fool, he couldn't even get Naruto's eyes right... they were blue, not red like the ones that stared back at him.

"What's wrong, are you frightened... scaredy cat!"

A flash of a time long ago, one that involved a snake, Naruto and Orochimaru came to mind. "Hey... you alright... scaredy cat?"

Those eyes! Those red, slitted eyes! He had seen them before! Sasuke took a step back, his sword wavered as he watched the boy before him smirk.

"Thought I was dead, did you? You didn't do a good enough fucking job you asshole!"

"Na..Naruto?" It was like in slow motion, Naruto charging toward him. He couldn't get his body to move no matter how hard he tried. The blonde kept getting closer until finally the fist of his rival and friend slammed into his face sending him flying backwards, crashing to the earth. He could hear his sword clank as it hit the ground next to him. His jaw screamed in pain, his body still refused to move. He could hear Naruto approach him before the blonde came into view above him.

"I'll kill you with my own hands, you traitor!" Sasuke could feel as well as see the overwhelming red chakra seep out from the angry blonde as the boy bent down and grasped his shirt. The red eyes before him narrowed as a fist was drawn back, ready to strike him. Sasuke prepared himself for the blow, but it never came. Instead the blonde let go, backing off of him. "I'm not like you, Sasuke. I can't take down someone I care about." Naruto turned on his heel and headed toward Sakura, Kakahsi and Shikamaru.

Sasuke slowly rose to his feet, grasping his sword as he stood. All this time Naruto had been alive! His eyes narrowed as he caught a glimpse of Kakashi. He had lied to him! He had told him Naruto had died! Angry he moved toward the group, Kakashi would pay. It was all Kakashi's fault that he broke his promise to Naruto and to himself that he wouldn't cave in and hand himself over to Orochimaru.

Just before he could charge the group he felt the familiar presence of Kimimaro beside him. "What are you doing here?"

"It's time to put a end to this, Sasuke-sama. Let me dispose of them for you."

"Your help is unwanted." Sasuke snarled, he could see Naruto's fist clench in anger over the new arrival.

"Then you leave me no choice."

"Stay the hell out of this!" A piercing pain suddenly struck his neck, Kimimaro had drugged him. Sasuke glared at the pale boy beside him, he clearly wasn't going to give him a chance to finish the fight. "Damn you..." He could feel himself begin to loose consciousness.

"Sasuke!"

'Naruto...' He could make out the blonde rushing toward them. He could see the worry in the leaf nins eyes, anger written upon the tanned face that he had missed so much, before he finally blacked out