Title: El Bimbo

Author: sky75rk

Italics- thoughts/flashback

Standard disclaimers apply.

Twelfth Channel: Backstabbing Mechanisms

Strong hands gripped pale shoulders hard. "Tell me Neji… did I do anything to deserve all of this? Am I so evil that my life is so fucked up?" a chuckle amidst free flowing tears. "Is it so wrong to try and prove that I am worth other than being the vessel?"

"No, you don't deserve any of this…" came a weak reply.

"Then why? Why is it like this?" he was getting tired with each passing second, the strength he had when he held Neji's shoulders was gone and his hands lay limp beside him. "Why isn't Sasuke here?"

Apparently, the villagers were more than happy to learn that Naruto had left the village and wouldn't return for a considerable amount of time. Well, that doesn't include the owner of the Ichiraku Ramen Stall. The 'business man' thrived on the number of bowls the blonde would eat whenever he was in the restaurant, which was everyday. He definitely missed Naruto.

It wasn't hard to notice the quiet aura Konoha had with the blonde ball of energy gone. It angered Neji's nerves though, knowing that people did not give a damn about Naruto's safety after all the times Naruto had to risk his life for Konoha. They easily forgot how the boy was willing to give up his life for them.

But with Sasuke's case, they were more than eager to accept him back.

Of course, if he had been on the receiving end of it, he would prove to them that their trust would not be thrown away in vain. He would work hard, regain his honor and pride. Yet, the Uchiha did not even do anything to prove that he's worthy of being trusted again. But still…

And with this detail, Neji failed to see why Naruto could like—love even—such a guy.

And even after all this months of being together, he was still a failure.

It hurt.

Especially when he would see Naruto in so much remorse and he could not do anything about it but to remain in the obscurity of the night that swallows him whole.

It hurt.

Whenever blue eyes would look at him with fake mirth, and he could easily see underneath the façade the shadows that defiles the verity of his happiness.

It hurt.

When he knows that whatever he tries to do to compensate for the loss that befell on Naruto, something will always make the boy suffer that the fires of hell wouldn't even compare from.

It was devious, the plans that fate had made. More devious than the past deeds that Sasuke had done.

Then again, he did not believe in fate and destiny any longer. However, he needed to blame someone, something. And if he couldn't blame himself… then he would blame fate.

Furthermore, he was in the main village of Konoha. Again. He had not expected to be back so soon, being there just yesterday.

Neji had enough. He cannot fool himself into saying that he makes Naruto happy even with just staying beside him. Albeit the blonde constantly reminded him that he is happy with him. It was bogus, he knew, still it made him glad, merely by having the blonde with him. It made him… plainly and thankfully happy.

He knew that it had to stop, because once he gets used to the feeling, he might not want Naruto to separate from him any longer. And Naruto's body is progressively getting better and better everyday. There was only a little time left before he gets back to perfect shape, returns home… faces Sasuke… and then he would be left alone once more.

He did not want to be selfish. That's the reason why he's going straight to the raven-haired boy's house to talk to him into coercing Naruto to come back. And maybe let Uchiha sweep Naruto off his feet, all of the actions causing major distraught to him.

Neji was already predicting his future, without thinking that it might change after all.

The rush of chakra nearby disturbed his train of thoughts and instantaneously, he was obtrusively looking fiercely at Gaara.

Both boys was focused on keeping the silence around them, hanging viciously with malicious intent, bodies tensing as they continued to stare at each other, neither moving. On the next minute Gaara suddenly dropped his guard, leaving Neji baffled, though showed only a slight change in his expression. The Sand-nin's hands flew up and Neji's sharp vision caught something that was thrown in the air. Wordlessly, he flicked his hands up, catching a small brown bottle with content.

Frowning in curiosity, Neji asked. "What's this?" dropping the hand that held the jar on his side.

Gaara raised a monotone voice, something that Neji was accustomed to hear. "Medicine from the Village of Healing. Use that on Uzumaki and his legs would function again as if he was never paralyzed,"

Neji gave Gaara a narrowed look, his glare intensifying ten-fold. "How did you know about that?" each word was venom, dangerous and centered at the red-haired boy.

As if goading the Hyuuga, Gaara lips twitched upwards, giving him a smirk, finishing the discussion mutely. A low growl escaped from Neji's throat, threatening the silent boy.

"I have my ways," Gaara finally replied after getting the much awaited response from the long-haired boy.

"You don't expect me to believe that you'll give this away because you care for Naruto, do you?"

A crossed arm. "Of course not. I'm striking a deal out of you, Hyuuga," a casual reply, calm, calculating, his tone saying that he won't accept 'no' for an answer.

"And that is?"

"Erasing all of Uzumaki's memory of Uchiha, Sasuke,"

Skeptical look, contemplating the idea, it was not good. "How can you do such a thing?" Neji asked carefully, noting that with Gaara's straight-forward approach, he might've already known that such things were possible. He was yet to prove it though.

"That won't work, Hyuuga. I know that you can perform a memory extraction jutsu very well,"

"I won't do it. I won't erase Naruto's memories only because of self-centered reasons," a sharp reply, clenching the jar and poising to return it to the rightful owner.

"But I don't think otherwise," Gaara was very sure of himself, sneer evident upon his face. "You would do it, because you know that erasing his memory is the best choice you have left,"

Neji flinched.

"And not only will it benefit you, but Uzumaki as well, seeing that the one that causes his pain the most is none other than Uchiha, Sasuke. You've seen that for yourself haven't you?" it was not a metaphorical question, the last one. Gaara was right on target, and he cursed himself for being caught off guard.

But before Neji could say anything else, Gaara left, grains of sand floating in mid-air, the only proof that he was there, and when the sand descended on the ground, mixing with the dusts that lay there, gone were his convictions to be a holder of selfless devotion.

Distracted.

It was the perfect word to describe the results of Sasuke's missions.

Tsunade couldn't scold him though. After all, his missions were successful, if you take out the fact that the dark-haired boy was acquiring more injuries than what he had for the past three years.

And even if she wanted to talk to him about it, Tsunade doubted that he would tell her. Considering that the next time they saw each other, the Uchiha barely said a word, much less look at her. The sentence that she said on Naruto's behalf must've quite an impact on him. And she could only guess why.

But, that doesn't mean that he should go and injure himself, recklessly pushing himself into battles that he could easily win without having merely a shade of a bruise on him. It was bad. Real bad. One of these days, Tsunade fears that his recklessness would lead him to no good.

There's only one solution.

"Sasuke," she called out to the jounin who was briskly exiting the room. When she saw Sasuke stop, she continued. "I'm listing you off the members of active shinobis,"

That got Sasuke's attention.

"Why?"

"Things with you are getting out of hand, as I see it,"

"But all my missions are a success,"

Tsunade's eyebrow twitched. Sometimes, the boy's impudence was too much. "Just go do as I say and work out your problems," she hissed, restraining herself from strangling the boy half-dead.

Sasuke nodded and went out the room.

Tsunade relaxed. Finally… some peace.

Sasuke was thunderstruck. In other words, utterly surprised.

He was aware that he hadn't been exactly paying much attention to his missions, leaving him more wounded than he had experienced for years. Though that didn't give the Hokage enough reason to list him off the active list of shinobis. If that was the reason then Tsunade was being very, very ridiculous.

But then, he was given more free time, meaning that he will have more chances to find Naruto.

His day was looking up. It seemed that it wasn't a bad idea after all.

After days of searching and finding nothing, Sasuke leaned into the thought that maybe it was possible to disappear without a trace. Given that the blonde shinobi did it. Only, something was terribly not in place.

It wasn't normal to leave without a proper reason. And without a proper reason, the Hokage would definitely not allow someone—even if it was Naruto himself—to leave Konoha. And knowing that Naruto was one of the best ninjas there are in the village, it was a great risk. And with Neji also gone, they took an even greater risk.

Neji.

Not only was it suspicious, it also angered Sasuke into thinking that the blonde would just pack up his bags and go, leaving him behind with the struggle of rushing emotions burning seething fires within his empty soul. Ranging deep and dark, the hidden feelings surfaces abruptly, awakening him in unknown territory, groping blindly amidst the walls that he, himself built. Familiarity he had within his boundaries was eradicated before he can prevent. It was futile.

He wanted to react calmly, like he would in the face of death. Yet, he had come to realize that this is different from death, and from danger. Because in the battlefield, he felt no fear. Only the thought that he should finish his mission, or protect Konoha were sculpted in his mind. And neither of those thoughts was entering his mind that exact moment.

Right now, he was feeling incongruous, that somehow, being at home did not feel like being at home. In a way, it was always like that in his life. Being at home is being a stranger locked upon a solitary room, desolate.

When did he ever come across the notion that at one point, he felt home?

Then, just when his answer came, it had to vanish.

Was it just karma returning back? Malevolence eventually turning its backstabbing mechanisms on him?

An eye for an eye. Simple as that. The cruel jokes that the mighty saint of evil repays is extremely not a funny thing to laugh at.

Sasuke did not care though. Nor will he care how much hard work it will take to find one certain blonde boy.

If sacrifice was needed to comprehend this… this unusual feeling in his gut, Sasuke would not hesitate to give it.

Tearing apart his walls for a chance to dig up the part he thought he lost was already a great deal of sacrifice he was willing to surrender for Naruto.

And here again, going back to the place he calls 'home', yet hates every minute spent inside of it. Why should he love it when in each turn triggers all but joyful memories he can never forget. Each place holds nothing but traces of blood which cannot be wiped blank. It was nothing like a drawing made on a paper by a pencil that you can austerely erase if you manage to make a single mistake.

Memories are bound for you to carry on throughout the entirety of your life, that much, he learned the hard way.

Sasuke duck in the nearest alleyway, knowing a shortcut back to his house which he grimly took. Oblivious to his surroundings for the first time, he sauntered the streets with elegance that exuded his finesse and at the same time his roughness that only he could air. His head stood high and proud, pensive was his features, reminding the villagers not to cross him.

His mind was unstable though, swarming with unheeded deliberation that continually led him to uncertainty. Just when he needed an excellent plan, that's when his mind wouldn't cope up with his expectations. He held back a tired sigh. He did not want to seem problematic, thus looking weak.

Turning around the curb, he sensed a chakra signature that was all too recognizable. He did a double-take and cleared his blurred vision.

He could've just sworn that he saw Neji.

Or was it only a hallucination?

It was almost dawn when Neji returned back to where they were staying. His soundless way of moving inside the house would mean that he wouldn't wake the probably sleeping boy then again nothing can wake Naruto up until you decide to shower him with cold water anyway.

What this? The lights in the main hall were opened and the Hyuuga hurried. He slid the door ajar and saw Naruto, lying on the table, sleeping. Quiet as he came, he studied the blonde's sleeping face. He became upset when he saw traces of silver tears that dried on his face. He was crying again.

"You would do it, because you know that erasing his memory is the best choice you have left,"

Gaara's voice came haunting him, whispering words that obligated him to follow. It was not an easy decision. He racked his head for any solution that would be applicable to be substituted to what the red haired nin told him. Feeling the jar in his palm, it gave him another incentive to adhere Gaara.

"And not only will it benefit you, but Uzumaki as well, seeing that the one that causes his pain the most is none other than Uchiha, Sasuke,"

The tears that Naruto shed… he never caused either one of them. Everything was because of Sasuke. The Uchiha was capable of hurting the boy even without being there. It was uncalled for, and he will not stand by him seeing Naruto hurt.

Shaking the slumbering boy lightly, the blonde stirred from his sleep, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes awake. Neji stood without saying a word, calmly pulling another chair from under the table and taking a seat.

Naruto yawned. "Did you just get in?" he inquired, his blue eyes still staying half-lidded.

Neji nodded. "Yes, were you waiting for me?"

"Of course, I was worried when night came and you weren't back yet,"

A burst of sudden happiness swelled from deep within the long-haired boy and his face showed it, lighting up almost immediately as soon the sentence was out from the blonde's mouth. He did not know what to say though, so he remained quiet.

When his hand came across his pocket once more, he remembered about the medicine and what Gaara said to him. He pulled out the jar and placed it on the table. Naruto gave him an inquisitive look. "What's that?"

"Medicine, with it you will be able to recover faster,"

Naruto's face lit up. It was the best news he had since he was paralyzed. "Honto?"

"Honto,"

The blonde heaved a sigh of relief. "Yokatta,"

Neji allowed Naruto to savor the moment of hearing the good news, before he raised his hands and cupped Naruto's face. His thumb rubbed faintly the blonde's cheek, where the tears have faded into nothingness. "Is he still hurting you?"

Naruto stiffened at the question more so than the touch. "I'm sorry Neji," was all he could say.

It was inevitable. Having seen the joy on the blonde's face made him happy and at the same time, it made his heart wrench at the thought that he has to fulfill his side of the bargain. After all, he never backed down on his word, even though he was forced into it.

"Do you really want to forget him?" his voice was tentative, unsure of himself. His hands traveled back down to the table and his hands came together, folding in a sign of prayer.

Naruto, on the other hand, was speechless. He did not want to forget Sasuke. His memories of the dark haired Uchiha was all had since the accident, but it pained him to unfathomable depths recalling how he always walked out on him without bothering to say a single word. However, he also was not okay with seeing Neji hurt because of him. Sasuke was not here, and in spite of everything, Neji remained. "There's… there's a part of me that can't let go… but, I want to show you… how much I'm grateful. I've been trying really hard just to forget him. But somehow I just… can't" a weak tone replied, emerging from his soul the real feelings he was experiencing.

"There's a way to forget Naruto. But only if you let me,"

It was a grave choice, all of which have consequences to face. His mind did not accept the thought of running away… but then, wasn't it enough? He, too, wanted to be happy as well. And if… if Neji thinks that erasing Sasuke from his memories will make him happy…

He thought about it… all these times, pain was the only thing that Sasuke brought him. Nothing else. It had always been him who went into the frontlines and obtained a battered soul, accepting it with open arms, not complaining.

Alternatively, Sasuke forced out on him the emotions that he never considered to have, noble and pure, like a flower that first bloomed. To give without bothering to receive, glad to ensure the other's safety, though Sasuke did not give a damn. It was tiring.

And he was tired.

Should he say yes? Although he wanted to… the part that held Sasuke dear opposed. Naruto glanced at Neji, his pale, white eyes betraying his emotions, thoughts that swirled around sadness and rejection… pain… anguish and… self-sacrifice. If Naruto was in Neji's place, he would've just erased his memories without bothering to ask for the other's permission.

It was a sign that Neji truly cared for him, willing to give him up just to make him happy.

And he wanted Neji to be happy as well.

""Will it hurt?"

Pale eyes widened in response. "Are you… sure?"

There was no reversing the situation now. Having started it, the blonde intended to finish it as well. "If you think that's what's best for me… I don't think I could refuse,"

Wobbly hands moved up and rested on Naruto's forehead. Closing his eyes, Neji chanted unintelligible words so faint. The blonde closed his eyes too, nervous, taking a final trip around his memoirs of Sasuke, but before he could finish, his head was shoved backwards and everything went black.

It was done. Neji cried.

-Continued-

A/N: Village of Healing: I don't think that there is actually a village in the Naruto series, I got the name in Samurai 7. The village takes in wounded and hungry samurais, nursing them back to perfect condition. Also, weapons are not allowed. So I kinda borrowed it.

Memory extraction: there's no such thing in the series either, but I needed it. The method used to do it was also the same as how Hatori in Fruits Basket does it. I couldn't think of any other way on how to deliver that part so… again, not mine.

Guys… first and foremost, I'm not mad at you for asking questions. But sometimes, your questions are already answered in the chapter. I just want to tell that you should think about what you're going to ask before typing them. I am very grateful for the support you've shown to me and I can be anything but mad. Don't misunderstand me please.

The length of the story and how each chapter ends really depends on my writing prowess on the day it was written. Sometimes it takes more than three days to complete one chapter, sometimes only within 3-4 hours. It really depends on my brain's capacity to jug off ideas and be hard working enough to put them on the screen. But please… I'm not mad.

And about the pairings, I was supposed to end this story on this channel, but it turned out that another idea struck my almost asleep mind this dawn and I kept thinking that maybe I should try and see if it will work out. The problem is… with another story outline, I don't know whether it would end as NaruSasu or NejiNaru. So maybe the fans of NejiNaru would still have a chance to have what they want.

If you want to vote for it though, you can. I notice that many are asking for NejiNaru now than before. But in the earlier channels, most reviewers were asking for NaruSasu to work out… so please voice out your opinions and I would tally them up once and for all and decide.

Review?