Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me. Probably wouldn't be nearly as popular if it was anyway…

Summery: AU. Mizuki escapes confinement and his revenge on Naruto has disastrous consequences. What will happen when the loudest ninja in Konoha suddenly isn't anymore?

Warnings: Gore(especially prologue), violence, possible future Shounen-ai and/or Shoujo-ai. And het…

-written "speech"-

/sign language or other forms of code/

'mouthed words'

Cyber- "In this chapter, Sasuke Vs. the Mask, Sasuke will try his hardest to find out what's hiding beneath that mask and the mask shall laugh in his face. . . Wait, that's the omake. Anyway, on with chapter two of the Mute!Naruto epic!"

Hush

Chapter 2

Second Impressions

Naruto, looking rather dashing in Konohamaru's present and with the mask covering his neck up to his chin, pushes the classroom door open and leans against the frame, eyes closed and lips drawn back in an expression of pain and fatigue. He is about to head into the bustling room but another boy brushes past him with barely a glance then stops and turns around to do a double take. Looking bored from the tip of his bushy ponytail to the bottom of his shoes he drawls, "Naruto?" He looks Naruto up and down, self-confirming his statement, and continues, "That is better than the orange outfit. But this meeting is only for graduates." When Naruto glares and jabs his thumb at the hitai-ate proudly displayed on his forehead the boy rolls his eyes, "Ch' How troublesome." That said he proceeds to ignore Naruto and search for a seat among the benches.

Letting out a held breath, and wincing at the action, Naruto moves into the room. His entrance immediately catches the silver-white eyes of a small girl in the back row. She looks at Naruto, mouth open just slightly in surprise, and a blush spreads throughout her entire face. As he passes she looks about to say something but stutters quietly into a stop instead. Naruto, concentrating on remaining upright and not showing his weakness, doesn't notice her and continues down towards the front of the classroom before slipping tiredly into a seat next to a black-haired boy in blue and white who stares passively towards the front. The boy's dark eyes flicker towards Naruto and remain on him for a second, slight frown on his face deepening for a moment, before the boy looks away and returns to pointedly ignoring everyone in the room.
. . .

"Hokage-sama, I have a request about the team formations." Iruka slips into the room, looking meek next to the assembled jounin, wearing a faint blush, "This is forward of me but. . ." He trails off, looking at the ground but one woman with dark hair and red eyes smiles at him and he returns it before looking back up.

"This is about Uzumaki Naruto, correct?" The Hokage comments idly, staring into the sphere on his desk as the image shown within changes to show Naruto. In the image Naruto has his head on the desk fighting to keep his eyes open and taking in quick, shallow breaths through his mouth.

Iruka nods, still looking rather nervous, and launches into an explanation, "I can see the wisdom of all the teams but considering. . . That is, since last night. . . I don't think Naruto's current team will be good for him anymore." Iruka pauses and takes a collecting breath, "Perhaps if Haruno Sakura was switched with Hyuuga Hinata. Or even better, if Naruto was switched with the Inuzuka boy."

One of the jounin speaks up, voice gravelly, "If the original teams were wise choices why change them at all? What is your reason?"

Before Iruka can speak up the Hokage murmurs, "The traitor Mizuki, who escaped last night, attacked Naruto in revenge and the boy is now permanently mute." He turns a mild look on Iruka, "But what I want to know is why Naruto is present at the meeting. He is on medical leave and should not be out of the hospital yet."

Iruka blushes and scratches the back of his head but out of the blue one of the jounin, face hidden behind a mask and hitai-ate tilted to hide one eye, speaks out drolly, "So that's where my missing mask went. . ."

Iruka turns a glare on the man but quickly wilts under the amused stare he is given in return. Muttering something under his breath he addresses the Hokage, "Well, Naruto appears to have escaped from the hospital. When I went to check on him a short while ago he had already gone. This day is a big accomplishment for him, he has had his heart set on being there today since he graduated."

A different jounin from the first two, tall and imposing, speaks up, "I don't see why the groups would need to be changed. The Uzumaki boy will still have to overcome his new handicap if he is to succeed and that could be accomplished with almost any team."

Iruka bristles, exuding a protective aura, "Because Naruto is the loudest, most boisterous boy in his class, in any class only Inuzuka Kiba comes close, and loosing all of that is going to be very hard on him. Of his current teammates, Uchiha Sasuke is fairly quiet but Haruno Sakura can be quite chatty, especially when Sasuke is around. I know, I can see it in his eyes, that every time someone around him talks he is reminded again that he can't so it would be better if he were to be placed with others who are quiet, forced or not." Iruka starts to relax, speaking impassionedly, "While the first option I mentioned might not be very good I've looked hard at both Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba. In combat they use somewhat similar styles and tactics. Overall, I'd say that they are roughly equal. Kiba's current teammates, Hyuuga Hinata and Aburame Shino, are both very quiet which would suit Naruto, and Kiba could take the place of Naruto within the other team quite easily." He takes a deep breath and suddenly looks nervous again.

The Hokage sits quietly watching the scene within the crystal then his lips quirk in a grin, "I think I'll keep Naruto and Sasuke together. They seem to have made a good start already." He chuckles, "However, I will hold open the option of switching Hinata and Sakura at a later time if a switch is deemed necessary by both of their sensei." With a wave he dismisses Iruka, "Hurry to your students now, it would seem Naruto is getting himself into trouble as usual."
. . .

Naruto sits limply in his seat, heavy lidded and breathing shallowly, until a commotion from the door attracts his attention. He looks up in time to see two girls arguing, one a blond and the other with long, nearly pink hair. He perks up immediately mouthing, 'Sakura-chan.' and gazes adoringly at the pink haired girl. Cheeks pink, he stands up to welcome her as she approaches but she pushes him aside to fawn over the other boy next to him.

Sakura nearly bounces with glee, "Sasuke-kun!" She starts to say more but stops abruptly when she sees an irate Naruto leap up on the desk in front of Sasuke. She doesn't seem to notice Naruto wince and bite his lip after performing the action but Sasuke's dark eyes widen then narrow slightly.

With a glower, Naruto crouches in front of Sasuke, trying to stare the other boy down. Sasuke, however, doesn't cooperate and quickly breaks eye contact to glare with mixed confusion and frustrated curiosity at the mask obscuring Naruto's throat. Naruto catches the direction of Sasuke's gaze and his mouth falls open to speak. At the same time Sasuke reaches out to grab the top edge of the mask and an increasingly disturbed Naruto grabs the slender wrist to stop him.

In a split second the room is in chaos with the girls who had gathered around Sakura in response of an ongoing argument staring in shock at an equally shocked Sasuke and Naruto. The boy in the seat below Naruto suddenly leans back, knocking the blond forward. The two boys stare in startled shock over meshed lips, Sasuke's fingers dislodged from the edge of the mask and now threaded partially through blond hair at the base of Naruto's skull.

Sakura, arguing with the blonde she had come with stops mid-yell to gasp and stare in shock, "Ino-pig! You— eeek!" When the impromptu kiss doesn't end immediately she faints, to be caught by Ino.

Ino, her arms full of an unconscious Sakura, gapes, looking rather broken-hearted, "Sasuke-kun is kissing Naruto! But. . ." She trails off staring, not really aware of voicing her thoughts, "Naruto looks nice in black. . ."

The kiss ends quickly, the two utterly shocked boys shaken apart by a ragged cough from Naruto. Naruto immediately curls in on himself, expression pained, and presses his hands against his throat. Sasuke, however, licks his lips wearing a vaguely shocked expression that morphs to a frown, his voice an unheard whisper, "Blood?"

For a moment no one moves and then one girl yells, "Naruto stole Sasuke-kun's first kiss!" and the group of girls, resembling a small scale mob, turns on Naruto looking ready to attack.

The moment after the first punch is thrown, however, Iruka is standing between the girls and Naruto, looking like nothing more than a mother hawk protecting her chick. His voice is steely quiet, "No fighting in this classroom. Now take your seats and we will begin the explanatory meeting."

The girls, and the others who had left their chosen seats to get closer to the action, grumble and drift away from Naruto. Ino, looking rather annoyed at Sakura's dead weight, shoves Sakura onto the bench and marches to the back row. Naruto, up after the punch but still looking groggy and in pain, pushes her over and slumps in beside her. Still unconscious, the pink-haired girl falls to the side, her head landing in Sasuke's lap and getting a surprised grunt from the brooding boy. Looking rather annoyed, at both Sakura and Naruto, Sasuke attempts to shake her awake and when that fails proceeds to ignore her.

Apparently satisfied that Naruto is mostly ok and that he will come to no further harm Iruka moves to the front of the room and begins a speech on the responsibilities of genin, Sakura waking just as he announces that the class will be split into three man teams. He is forced to pause for over a minute due to Sakura's ecstatic squeal upon waking in Sasuke's lap and the minor descent into insanity it causes, including being forced to deal with a flustered and very annoyed Sasuke. After some yelling, and convincing a recalcitrant Naruto to sit in between Sakura and Sasuke, Iruka calms down the class and begins to announce the teams. All is well until he announces the members of Team Seven.

Naruto, taking careful and very shallow breaths, perks up at the announcement of his name and leaps to his feat with glee when Sakura's name is called. Moments later he is slumped against the desk but not out of despair over hearing Sasuke's name called. He is bent over and coughing out blood as quietly as possible, hands clutching at his throat. No one else appears to notice but Sasuke frowns faintly, the frown deepening when he sees Naruto wiping fresh blood from the table with a furtive glance once the coughing subsides. Before he can do, or ask, anything though, Iruka calls a recess for lunch.

Iruka, clearly concerned, swoops down on Naruto. His smile is faint and his voice is soft, "Naruto. Could you come with me for a moment? I have something for you." Naruto, looking exhausted, follows, leaning against Iruka as soon as they get to the door.

Sasuke takes a step in their direction but is waylaid by a blushing Sakura. Before he can protest she grabs his wrist with both hands surprisingly hard and pulls him away with a cheery suggestion that is more of a command, "Let's eat lunch together, Sasuke-kun! Since we're teammates now!" Sasuke glares at her before glancing back the way Iruka led Naruto, but she is too busy throwing a smirk at Ino to realize.

Ino, however, is too busy glaring at her new teammate and complaining to notice, "First I find out that Sasuke-kun probably likes boys then I get stuck with you and the fatty as teammates. My life sucks."

Her new teammate, still looking bored, shrugs, "Not my fault. I didn't want to be stuck with such a troublesome girl either."

"Shut up, Shikamaru."
. . .

Iruka settles Naruto into a chair in the cramped office, clucking his tongue with concern, "Naruto, are you sure you're alright?" At Naruto's affirmative nod he sighs and pulls out the bottle, carefully reading the label and measuring out a dose, "I'd rather you went back to the hospital now but if you insist the medic said this should help the pain. And that it would allow you to drink some water too, but no food yet." He hands the small cup of thick syrup to Naruto, "Drink all of it."

Naruto smiles up at Iruka, eagerly accepting the cup and gulping it down. A half second later he is doubled over hands clutching at his throat again and tears leaking from his eyes. A concerned Iruka steadies him and holds him until he relaxes.

Looking stern, Iruka gently helps Naruto stand, "If it hurts that badly I'm taking you back to the hospital. No one in your condition should be out and about." Naruto shakes his head in furious negative and manages to look pleadingly up at Iruka. The older man quickly cracks and sighs again, "Alright, but you're going to go somewhere quiet and rest until lunch is over. I'll come back and get you." At Naruto's nod the Iruka leads the boy out.
. . .

Snarling, Sasuke manages to shake his hand free of Sakura's slackening grip, "Let me go!"

Sakura blushes, "Sorry, Sasuke-kun. Anyway let's eat here." She gestures to a bench and begins walking toward it, talking animatedly, "I'm so glad we get to eat together, Sasuke-kun! Isn't it so wonderful that we're on the same team? Sasuke-kun?" She turns around to find Sasuke walking away, "Wait! Sasuke-kun, don't you want to eat here? I'm mean if you've got somewhere better or," she blushes, "more private. . . Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke turns and gives her a cold stare, "I'm going to find Naruto."

"Naruto!" Sakura scowls, "He's so annoying! Always getting in my way and spoiling my love. So selfish." She breaks into a trot to keep up with Sasuke's increasing place, "You know he doesn't have parents right? That's what makes him so selfish. If he had parents to scold him he would be nearly as. . ." She flounders as Sasuke suddenly stops, head down.

"You don't know." Sasuke's voice is low, little more than a whisper, "The pain, the loneliness. Being scolded. . . I'm sure Naruto would do anything for a father, even if he was constantly scolded and considered unworthy, compared to. . ." Sasuke trails off and walks briskly away, leaving a gaping Sakura behind.
. . .

Naruto blinks sleepily as Iruka opens a door. Iruka smiles at his expression and guides Naruto inside, "I used to hide up here when I wanted to be alone. No one should bother you." He chuckles at Naruto's nodding head, "The medicine must be kicking in. The bottle said it would make you sleepy." He gives Naruto a gentle push towards the open window, "There's a patch of sunlight, should be nice and warm. Go. I'll be back to get you later." He watches fondly as Naruto stumbles into the sunlight and curls up, almost instantly asleep. Then with a quiet smile he closes the door and his footsteps can be heard fading away.
. . .

Perched on a rooftop Sasuke suddenly smiles, a twisted one but there, and leaps down, "Found you. Now to find out what is wrong with you."
. . .

Ino, munching onigiri and leaning against the railing blinks down at the window across the way, "Is that. . . Naruto?"

Shikamaru sits up from looking at the clouds and nods before falling back to his original position, "Yeah."

"That's an awfully secluded spot. . ." Ino frowns, "Is he sleeping?"

"Ch' How troublesome."

Ino growls, "Shut up, Shikamaru. Remember who's the leader here." She elbows Shikamaru in the side, getting a grumble for her troubles and looks down at the window again, "Sasuke-kun! What—?"

Shikamaru groans, "I don't want to know." He turns and cracks an eye at the other boy sitting with them, happily eating a massive pile of onigiri, "Chouji, please tell me you're almost finished so we can get out of here."

"Nope. Sorry Shikamaru." The heavyset boy holds out one of the onigiri, "Want another?" Shikamaru covers his eyes with his arms but takes the peace offering anyway.

Ino gasps, "Sasuke-kun is, is kissing Naruto! Again!"

Shikamaru glances down at the window, revealing only a slim strip of Sasuke's back, being clutched by one of Naruto's hands, through the shutter, "You're jumping to conclusions. It's impossible to tell from this angle that. . ." He glances at the rapt Ino and rolls over, "Why do I even bother?"

"Now they're hugging!"

Shikamaru groans, "I don't want—"

"And Sasuke-kun is giving Naruto his food. Feeding him by hand!" Another groan. "Eeek! Naruto just groped. . . Oh, he was just reaching for Sasuke-kun's water. That's so cute."

"I don't want to know!" Chouji looks surprised at Shikamaru's shout but Ino doesn't notice.

"So Sasuke-kun really does like boys. Damn." This time both boys groan in response.
. . .

Sasuke slips into the small room through the window, looking triumphant. His smirk fades quickly as he approaches the sleeping Naruto, hearing the gurgling crackle in each shallow breath. Face darkening with annoyance Sasuke kneels next to Naruto and shakes his shoulder, "Wake up, idiot." Naruto curls up tighter in response, tears wetting his eyelashes while his eyes move restlessly behind the lids. Frowning Sasuke shakes Naruto harder, rolling the blond on his back, "Wake up!"

Naruto starts awake, mouth open in a scream and eyes wide with terror. In the next moment he is struggling to breath, making wet, sickening sounds with each indrawn breath. His hand claws futilely at his throat and his lips redden with traces of blood.

"The hell!" Eyes wide with something resembling fear Sasuke pulls Naruto up, "Blood, lungs. . . Umm. . ." Ever so slightly frantic, Sasuke grabs Naruto's chin and forces the blond to look into his eyes, their faces nearly touching, "You have to cough it up. Cough, Naruto!" One of Naruto's hands fists in Sasuke's shirt but his breathing only becomes more labored. Sasuke snarls, more afraid than angry, "Cough!" He sends a fist into Naruto's stomach and Naruto doubles over, their positions forcing his forehead into the crook of Sasuke's neck. After a moment there is a hacking cough and the sound of blood splashing on the floor followed by another and another. Naruto's other hand comes up and wraps around Sasuke for support and Sasuke carefully returns the action holding the weakened boy still as he coughs.

The coughing subsides and Naruto relaxes, hands falling from Sasuke's back. Sasuke shifts to sit beside Naruto, looking rather relieved, and starts when the other boy leans heavily against his shoulder, breathing shallow and fast. Sasuke glares down at Naruto, "What the hell is wrong with you? As your—" Sasuke's tone softens slightly seeing the exhaustion in Naruto's features, "If you were sleeping you probably haven't had lunch yet. Idiot, when you're sick you need to eat well. Where's your lunch?" Naruto doesn't respond, blood glazed mouth open to take easier breaths. Sasuke growls angrily, "You didn't think to bring anything did you? Or money to buy something?" Taking the lack of response as confirmation Sasuke's mood darkens even more and he digs out a package of onigiri and a bottle of water, muttering snidely, "I don't want to risk getting in trouble for letting you die or something so. . ." He pushes one of the onigiri towards Naruto, "here. I never eat the last one anyway."

Naruto turns his face into Sasuke's shoulder in refusal of the food even though his stomach rumbles weakly. Sasuke sighs in exasperation and takes a small bite, "It's not poisoned if that's what you're worried about." He pushes the onigiri against Naruto's lips, "Eat." Naruto closes his mouth, open to take in gasping breaths, and shakes his head getting an annoyed sound from Sasuke.

Then Naruto sees the water bottle and reaches over to grab it, ignoring Sasuke's startled jump. He twists off the cap and takes a swallow, gritting his teeth and tensing with pain as the water slides down his throat. Sasuke reaches out to steady the tipping bottle, his hand covering Naruto's own, with an expression of understanding, "You're not eating because of the pain. What is wrong with you?" Naruto only brings up the bottle again in response. Clearly frustrated Sasuke steadies him while he drinks, carelessly brushing the dribble of pinkish water from Naruto's chin when the blond finishes. Naruto just lays his head against Sasuke's shoulder again, hovering on the edge of consciousness.

"Now tell me what's wrong with you." When Naruto mutely shakes his head Sasuke growls, "I have a right to know as—" Sudden realization dawns on his face, "You can't talk can you! Whatever's wrong it's preventing you from speaking." Naruto flinches and Sasuke sighs, "Fine. I'll wait." He pauses and stands, pulling Naruto up next to him, "Come on. Break will be over soon." When Naruto sways on his feet Sasuke shrugs the blonde's arm over his shoulders and helps the other boy out of the room. His threat is rather unconvincing, "Tell anyone about this and I'll kick your ass."
. . .

Ino puts a comforting hand on Sakura's shoulder, "I'm sorry about Sasuke."

With a shrug Sakura knocks of Ino's hand, "What are you talking about?"

"About Sasuke liking Naruto." Ino sighs, "It was a shock to me too. Anyway. . . how about a truce? There's no point in competing for someone who's already taken."

"You're lying! There's no way Sasuke would like Naruto. . ." Sakura trails off, looking pained as Sasuke carefully escorts Naruto in, the other no longer leaning on him, a hand resting on Naruto's back just in case. She pales when Sasuke slips into a desk in the front row and helps Naruto sit beside him. When Naruto leans against Sasuke's shoulder, the dark-haired boy looking both annoyed and embarrassed, she whimpers and tears form in her eyes. "It can't be true. . ."

This time Ino slides a comforting arm around Sakura's shoulders, "It'll be alright. There are other cute guys out there. Besides, Sasuke isn't good enough for either of us anyway."

Iruka slinks into the room, looking quite guilty, leading several jounin. When he sees Naruto though he blinks in shocked confusion, murmuring, "I was sure Naruto wouldn't wake up on his own. . . I hope he isn't mad at me for trying to let him sleep through the rest of the meeting." With a shake of his head he addresses the assembled genin, "Now I would like to introduce your new jounin sensei," Iruka stops to half-glare at the group and mutters under he breath, "All but one." Out loud he continues, "When I call your group number please come to the front and your sensei will take you somewhere to have your first meeting."
. . .

The Hokage stands contemplatively at the doorway to Naruto's apartment, the masked jounin at his side, and looks sadly at the bloodstained floor.

The jounin kneels and touches the dried blood, "So this is where it happened then?"

"Yes." The Hokage's voice is stern, "Kakashi. You need to watch over them, especially Naruto and Sasuke. It is clear to me that Sasuke's only goal is vengeance right now and Naruto. . . If Naruto allows Mizuki's attack to consume him. . ." The old man trails off meaningfully.

"Two avengers, huh?" Kakashi speaks nonchalantly but his stance is tense, "Maybe that teacher, Iruka, was right. It might be best to separate them. If they are together they could end up encouraging each other further down that road."

"That is a risk I'm willing to take. Naruto is unusually forgiving. . ."

"You're hoping that he'll let this go and be a good example for Sasuke?"

"Yes, but if that fails. . . Their common bonds may help them form ties, with each other if not the village, and make them become less reckless in seeking their revenge."

"I see."

As Kakashi turns to leave the Hokage calls out softly, "I'm entrusting them to you, Kakashi. Don't fail me. Out of any of the young ninja in this village they have the capacity to become two of the best, and most powerful, ninja in a long time."

"Or two of the most dangerous criminals. . ."
. . .

Mizuki bows before the shadowed figure, a sick smile on his face, "A certain man directed me to you. He said that you want me to join your forces. Especially now that I've killed the kyuubi brat."

Hissing laughter fills the air, "Welcome, Mizuki. You seem. . . most promising."
. . .
. . .

Cyber-"That is the end of this chapter. How was it? Do leave reviews but until next chapter, ja ne!"

Review responses:

Thanks to: Lique, Kyouta, vampchic, yoroshiku, kijo kasumi, Anon, silverfox, A person, akumariver, Kyuubi-kun, reader, blue 1/2, maleficus-lupus, agent spielplatz, Turtle Kid, Alcyone-blk, Archangel Rhapsody, madnarutofan, Snarling Kitsune, wolvesm0on, Naty-chan, TenshiKaitou, Puppy-Kagoge, fox watcher

To 18: Thank you for your review. To answer your question I do not intend for Naruto to ever get his voice back. And yes, this will be a very long fic(five chapters just to get past the introductory stuff).

To Sammei: Thank you for your review and yes that is basically what happened. As for the facemask, well, you know already.

To Yum: Thanks for the review. As to your question; Mizuki attacks Naruto as he is getting home after playing with/teaching Konohamaru all day. And the answer to the other question will be revealed in the fic. Eventually.

To yume: Thank you for the constructive critique! You don't know how much I look forward to such things. I agree with the comma thing(I have trouble with commas) and I will watch out for similar instances in the future. I'm a little unsure what you mean about the dialogue though.

To ?GN: Thanks for the review. Sorry to say that there will probably be some m/m in this fic. However, there will also be some m/f and f/f as well and no pairing will be the focus of the story.