The Sound of Fear: Chapter 1
When Sasuke first gets to Sound, he's disappointed with the cuddling, the falseness of the display he's greeted with. Every person he meets lowers their gaze in mock deference and it only serves to deepen the frown on Sasuke's forehead.
He's been known as a self-important bastard in the past, the respect of others always instinctively granted to him. He's reputed to be sure of himself to the point of arrogance. Arrogance has nothing to do with this greeting. Sasuke is very conscious of the fact that he was brought here for his potential, not his present worth. He knows he'd lose against most of these fuckers. He swears under his breath that it won't stay that way for long. But for now, the false respect makes his tired walk straighter, his black eyes mirroring red with the urge to unveil his Sharingan. He's going to have work to do around here. But at least, judging from the almost tangible hostility beneath the bowing, Sasuke knows he won't be cuddled.
He's not surprised to find some of the eyes on him are looking with more than need to hurt or fear. It's that something more in most of the eyes that makes Sasuke's chin lift up a little more, his smirk a little wider, his walk more gracious despite the bone-deep weariness. Envy. Envy and lust. Konoha and Sound aren't really quite so different.
Sound is built underground, the buildings made of rock and echo. Sasuke thinks he understands why this is the sound village after all. The acoustics of this huge grotto are unique. He notices that he can almost hear people's feelings here. Hushed voices that aren't really there, but always speak the truth.
As he walks deeper in the city, his keen disappointment shifts into anticipation. This is a test. Sasuke rubs his forehead where the weight of the headband is missing and smirks. He likes this, the hostile false respect, the people, the dirt and the need in everyone. If he gets to the center of the town unchallenged, he'll be severely disappointed.
It seems that just to prove him right, a derisive snort interrupts Sasuke's musing and he turns to face the source.
"So that's Orochimaru's future." The man who speaks the words is the only other person on the street and it strikes Sasuke as odd for the second it takes to he realises that the man in front of him planned it so. If others obeyed him, he probably isn't to take lightly. Therefore, instead of answering, Sasuke sizes him up, intelligent eyes scanning up and down the other man.
The hair is brown and cropped short, the features handsome but not striking. He's a big man, taller than Kakashi by a head at least. His eyes are striking green and sharp, but overall there's nothing to give away why this man should have the influence to empty a street on a whim. It's precisely that which makes Sasuke pause, cocking his head and wondering what he can't see.
Sasuke doesn't blink, just keeps watching him silently, the tension growing steadily. Sasuke doesn't blink and looks closely for weaknesses. Sasuke doesn't blink, because if he does, the man will kill him.
When the man takes his first steps towards him, Sasuke doesn't back away. He's fairly sure this is going to decide his standing in Sound village, so despite knowing how much strength this man radiates, he stays where he is and glares.
They're inches from each other before the man stops. Their eyes are locked and though Sasuke has to tilt his head up, craning his neck almost uncomfortably, he knows he hasn't lost an inch of ground. Sasuke knows how to look at others from above, even if he's bellow. He's going to force this man to his level.
"What's your name, boy?"
One corner of Sasuke's mouth curls up and he raises a brow. Not backing down, he supplies the answer, voice calm and sure, "Uchiha Sasuke." He lets the man nod at that, lets him think he deserved that response from Sasuke before he adds, smooth and clean, "Try to remember it this time around." That's subtle enough to go over the head of a brainless muscle-fighter and enough of a light insult to be dismissed by someone wanting to be the 'bigger man'. The man in front of him though, isn't either of those types.
There's an almost comical freeze to the man's nod and Sasuke's smirk grows a hint. Oh yeah. He loves this place already.
"Fucking brat."
Before he knows it, Sasuke is pushed against the nearest wall, breath knocked out of him by the strength of the body slamming into him. Shit. Fast.
He shifts his head to avoid a blow and takes a sharp breath when he sees that the punch intended for his face went through the wall he's pinned to. Strong too.
And he can't win on either of those fronts right now, so Sasuke fights dirty. He lashes out and kicks the man's groin, sending him into gasping agony. Freeing his arms, Sasuke grabs the man's hair, keeping a good hold on it as he pulls the head up to meet agony-fury filled eyes. He only has a second to establish dominance in a clear victory. Only a short second before the man reacts. Sasuke can't kill this man in a second in his present position, he knows that.
Fortunately, there's no hesitation. Sasuke brings the man's head forward and kisses him, deep, hard and domineering. He bites the lips trying to fight back and pushes the man off him with almost no effort involved.
"And I am not to be trifled with, dog."
The man flinches and lowers his head, almost unconsciously showing submission.
There's nothing stopping the man from attacking him and winning now. And Sasuke's almost shaking with the implications of what he's just done. Provoking mass murderers is never a smart move, especially with sex. But none of it shows, none of the fear, anger, anticipation. Outwardly, there's only Sasuke and his emotionless eyes staring at a dog.
The man is struggling with his breath and Sasuke can't tell if it's from pain. That bothers him more than he likes. Swallowing silently, Sasuke walks away from the man, who is still unmoving. He knows better than to turn his back to him though.
He wonders as he reintegrates the more populated streets how he knew a kiss would earn him victory back there. Sasuke's not quite sure what affected the man so much that he was willing to submit so easily, but he simply takes a note to think on it later. The man submitted once, and for now it's enough.
Sasuke wonders how Naruto would react to him using that tactic. Before the urge to smile at the thought hits him, Sasuke blocks out that memory. Thinking of Naruto is forbidden. And so he won't. He won't smile for him.
The memory of the man's reaction at being called a dog has Sasuke pausing in his walk. He remembers a second later that he has other people to impress if he's meant to live here for a while and he straightens up, resumes walking.
His thoughts turn to the master of this place next. Orochimaru. The snake Sennin. The man who promises to make him strong enough to beat Itachi. There's power there, of course.
Sasuke allows himself a moment to mourn over Konoha and everything he left back there. He came to get away from Konoha more than to come here. Every moment more in Konoha, with him and Kakashi and Sakura made him want to stay, forget about the Clan, forget about Itachi. And that would destroy all that Sasuke is. Not until his task is accomplished will he be allowed to forget. That is his punishment for surviving.
Orochimaru is strong, but looking around himself to all the people here... all the lost souls, Sasuke realises that it's not a matter of strength. He's fairly sure that certain combinations of strengths in this village could kill the Sannin. The point though, is that they won't.
Exploiting weaknesses is what Orochimary does best. Emotional, physical, hell, spiritual weaknesses. Everyone has them. Sasuke ponders that even as he steps onto the grounds of where he knows he'll find the snake. Orochimaru has those weaknesses. Itachi doesn't.
For a second, that thought almost makes him turn back, he's got a dobe to beat, a mentor to crack and a pink menace to ignore. Then he remembers he's still alive. That's Itachi's weakness. And Orochimaru will teach him how to use it.
When he sees the snake on his throne, looking every bit of the sovereign of darkness that he is, Sasuke finally lets his Sharingan simmer in his gaze. He observes every hint of movement, struck by the silence around the man. The voices people were giving off in the streets, the feelings of hate, need and despair are all muted here. This is a man who isn't there. The thought makes no sense yet, but Sasuke knows it's true. This is a man who lost himself portraying what others want to see. Sasuke finds that even more disgusting than the greed that suddenly takes over the yellow eyes.
It's the first time Sasuke notices just how badly Orochimaru wants the Sharingan. That greed is Sasuke's leverage. It's the snake's defeat, handed to him on a silver plate.