A/N: This chapter is when it started to get really interesting to me during the writing process. Enjoy! (And I will kill my freaking spacebar. Soon.)

The Sound of Fear: Chapter 3

Sasuke's role in Sound has evolved in the past year. He started out as a simple guest, then lower than dirt entertainment, then he was one among many, singled out for better purposes and now he's a regent, a force to reckon and a feared enforcer. Sasuke doesn't like chivalry, he doesn't believe in saving the weak from the strong. Survival of the fittest is what he lives by.

But as days go by, growing stronger steadily, Sasuke starts to see people for their potential, not their worth. The child so easily crushed under a grown man's weight could outgrow that same man. The woman insulted and slighted could bear and raise children strong enough to defend her.

In the dark and cruel environment that is Sound, Sasuke finds himself wanting to save those he can, for their potential. It's not meant to manipulate people into owing him, Sasuke could never bring himself to see kindness as a tool for manipulation. His aniki has seen to that. Sasuke likes to think he still has a parcel of honor, when he can afford it. He likes to think he's different.

Orochimaru calls Sasuke's attempts pathetic. The cruelty around Sound is like the sea; changing, calm sometimes, other times furiously intense, but it surrounds everything. The snake sannin has built the environment in his mind and transposed it into this village. In many ways, Sasuke thinks, Sound is a reflection of Orochimaru's strongest and yet weakest point. His pain.

It surprises Sasuke that he gets along well with Orochimaru now. After their little face-off earlier, the Sannin started to take Sasuke more seriously, if only slightly. The boy never forgets that he's a pawn, but Orochimaru never forgets that Sasuke has what he needs. If he didn't know any better, Sasuke would say the snake likes him. But Sasuke does know better.

They talk a lot. Considering Sasuke's silent ways, or as the snake put it, his 'aversion to speech', that in itself is surprising. It's an exchange though, and Sasuke learns to measure his words even more than he did before because Orochimaru is smart and he is devious in conversation as in pretty much everything. They discuss techniques and human nature. Sasuke doesn't like that he agrees with the snake so often.

He knows Orochimaru lets him get away with a lot of things, and though the reasons why that is still escape him, he's thankful enough for the lenience. No one around Sound gets away with trying to breathe kindness into the sea, and certainly not training alone for extended periods of time or running off periodically without someone tailing them. The dark-haired boy is very aware that this is not a show of trust or kindness, but is unable to come up with any explanation for it.

Sasuke wonders sometimes if the snake wants to die. It seems a little ridiculous to say it aloud, considering the sole purpose of Orochimaru is immortality. But sometimes, when no one's looking, the village echoes feelings around the Sannin. Orochimaru stinks of fear. Fear of death, fear of need.

In those times when no one's looking, Sasuke can't help but think on his unique freedom in Sound. He wonders why Orochimaru lets him train on his own so much. He wonders if Orochimaru even considers him a threat. He wonders if the snake really intended for himto grow as strong as he has.

In the end, Sasuke thinks his freedom in Sound comes from a delicate balance of Orochimaru's greed for power, his fear of death, and his need of pain.

A couple of months after Sasuke's fourteenth birthday, the snake brings him to the dungeons. Sasuke has always known they existed, could always feel them, but he's never allowed himself to go there before. So when they head south and below, Sasuke holds his breath. It's a useless gesture, so he quits it almost immediately, only to start over again. He tries not to smell the feelings around this place. Hearing them is enough.

Orochimaru kisses him for the first time. All Sasuke can think about is whether or not his lips taste like death and fear. The sannin does. But Sasuke has made both of those allies, so he returns the kiss, just a touch of shyness about it. He thinks, this is pure, this is not evil.

The snake releases him, and Sasuke could swear that he can hear the sannin's pain now. Orochimaru looks the same, smells the same, he even feels the same. But he echoes of pain. Stronger than ever.

Sasuke quickly dismisses the thought that he brought that pain out. He thinks it's this place, the dungeons with all its moans and pleads that calls out to the sannin. Yet that's not right either, because as soon as the snake releases his arms and takes a few steps away, the muted silence wraps back around him.

Sasuke wonders if the deafening silence would break, should he kiss Orochimaru again. He thinks that wouldn't do it, unless they were in the dungeons again. As always, everything in Sound is a combination of feelings.

When they reach the end of the road to the last cells, Orochimaru pauses and smiles that cruel smile. Sasuke thinks he knows where this is heading.

"I will require your help, Sasuke-kun."

And that's bullshit, really. Sasuke knows that. He can feel that from miles away.

"Of course, Orochimaru-sensei."

"In the second cell to the left is a snow-nin who persistently attempted to assassinate me for the last year and a half. I would like you to question him and figure out his motives. His chakra is bound and we have blinded him temporarily. He is no threat to you."

"Learning of his motives is all you wish, Sensei?"

"No. I wish for you to destroy him. You will come back as many times as needed until that man is no more, understood?"

Sasuke nods, because he knew where this was going. It doesn't stop him from politely and silently asking his friend Fear to leave for a while.

"What may I not use to accomplish this goal?"

"All possible means are at your disposition, Sasuke-kun. Make me proud."

Those last few words finally get a visible reaction from Sasuke and even though it's just a tightening of the fists, a bite of his bottom lip, Orochimaru sees it and he smiles again, an almost fond smile.

When the snake leaves, Sasuke breathes in deeply, gathering his wits about him. He figures he might as well see the man he's going to destroy. It takes another few seconds of focusing on breathing before Sasuke is content with his emotional state. He then walks steadily, proudly and with purpose to the second cell to the left. The jutsu holding the walls of chakra up earns Sasuke's attention for a long while before he even gets interested in the man inside.

When Sasuke's fairly sure he can put up a similar jutsu after his visit, he takes the scroll and rips it away, sensing the barrier disappearing. The man inside does too, judging from the rattling of heavy chains and the sudden raise of a brown head.

It comes as no surprise to Sasuke that he recognizes this man. The ordinary brown hair has grown in captivity so it now falls down to the man's broad shoulders. Sasuke steps inside the cell, unsurprised that there's a stool waiting for him just about an inch away from the chains' reach. Orochimaru knows Sasuke well enough.

Sasuke takes the stool and inches it backtwo inches, because he knows Orochimaru, too.He sits, legs spread comfortably, settling for a long wait. He's going to have to wait the man out, to start. So he watches him, notes down everything about him.

The man obviously can't see, the irises of his eyes are discolored to a pale green, almost like the Hyuugas' discoloration. Sasuke thinks (remembers) they would be much more vibrant without the jutsu. He finds himself wondering how his own black eyes would look, discolored like that. Would they still be dark, or would they grow pale grey?

The straight nose and full mouth make for a generously handsome face, but the rough skin, scarred over cheek and forehead make him much more ordinary than he could have been. The dirt all over him does not help.

Sasuke's eyes drift down to the large shoulders, almost twice his own width. Yeah. This is definitely the man who greeted him to Sound. The chest is partially exposed, hints of dried blood under riped clothing showing off a tightly fit body. Powerful legs, muscled arms... Sasuke knows how strong this body is, how worthy of his scrutiny, but he gets caught up in watching the hands. He pulls his own hand up, watching his masculine but stilldelicately long, agile fingers, then compares it to the brute strength demonstrated in the shackled hands. Large palm, thick fingers that could crush someone's head on a whim.

There's also an aura of stubborness about him. Sasuke figures Orochimaru already tried to break him and when he found enough resistance to be challenging, transfered the burden to Sasuke.

Red slowly seeps into Sasuke's eyes and he watches the man. The Sharingan makes understanding easy. It makes Sasuke remember how a simple kiss brought the man to his knees. It makes sense of the man's reaction to being called a dog. It shows him how this man has been subtly rubbing his wrists against the shackles to increase his pain. A masochist. No wonder Orochimaru chose this one.

And the man knows he's being watched. Sasuke can see him feel it, can see the shiver up the man's spine and his minute movements, readying himself for an attack, in so small shifts that normal eyes would never catch on.

He seems to need so much. Despite his overbearing build, the man seems to crave pain permanently, he's almost vulnerable in his defiance, as if begging someone to tame him and force their will onto him.

Sasuke wonders if breaking this man would be such a bad thing. He seems already so damaged. Sometimes you have to break in order to heal right. With a nod to himself, Sasuke begins the process to end this quick.

He closes his eyes and calls around him the fear. His own fears of not being good enough, not being strong enough, of Itachi, of breaking and dying, of loving someone too much. It's all around him, all his fears and weakness, like a dark beast Sasuke knows all too well. He breathes some Chakra into the sound of fear and opens his eyes. Beside him is the fruit of his training. It's what Nagraji warns him against, it's what he does under the bed, it's the secret skill he keeps from everyone. Beside him is a beast of fear.

It's a wolf, as far as Sasuke can tell, and it's not just dark, it's red and blue and orange and pink; it's every color painted in black. The Sharingan still simmers hotly and responding to its master's wish, the beast stalks forward. It leaps, faster than any eye can see, and molds into the man. The effect is immediate.

Screams. From the most secretive, instinctive place, the man screams. His body twists in horror, his hands curled up in tight fists, eyes so wide and mouth open, endlessly spilling screams. It looks like he's contorting to escape himself and it's the most horrible thing Sasuke has ever seen.

He's never subjected anyone to this before. Only the barest hint of willpower keeps Sasuke from calling everything off, fuck Orochimaru, fuck Sound and fuck Naruto too. Because those screams are so raw. It's not an expression of deep and hidden pain, the man doesn't even know he's screaming, it's primal fear.

After a minute, Sasuke can't take it anymore. He calls back the beast into himself and tries not to shake. The man in front of him is still blind, still shackled, but finally unconscious. Sasuke smells urine and he feels sick with the knowledge of what he's just done. He stands and exits the room, putting back the barrier distractedly before hurrying past the horrified stares of prisoners who saw nothing, but heard every single scream.

He can't stand being congratulated for this, so he leaves the village. It's night and the soothingly cold light of the moon filtering through the trees is just enough to stop Sasuke from vomiting. He keeps walking, holding his stomach, aware of nothing but the next step. He doesn't go too far though, that's one of the things Orochimaru wouldn't permit, no matter how tolerant he's decided to be with Sasuke and the boy has regained enough control to remember that. Once he's reached the lake, Sasuke stops walking and collapses to his knees. He closes his eyes against the screams echoing in his head and he summons Nagraji.

There's no words exchanged, the snake knows better than to speak the second he spots the fine trembling in Sasuke. He slithers over to the boy and wraps around him, offering what comfort he can.

Nagraji may not be as powerful as Manda, but he's not at his first skin shed. He knows Sasuke is no ordinary kid. He's a Sharingan user for one, and he's got a lot more guts than Orochimaru, if you ask Nagraji. His creation, the beast of fear, shows that much. Nagraji thinks of Sasuke as his master and if he were a human, no one would ever be able to touch the child but him.

"I used it against a man today, Nagraji-san." The shaking has settled some and Sasuke is starting to feel more like himself. He whispers, because it's Nagraji and they're in Sound territory.

"Call the Chidori, child. It will make you feel better." The boy's creation does unsettle Nagraji, but he also thinks it's pure genius. Because everyone fears. Some can face it, but in the end, everyone feels it and no one ever truly overcomes a phobia .Sasuke doesn't need to hear this. He needs to feel human and Nagraji knows (in all his wisdom) that nothing does that like the Nagashi-chidori.

Sasuke nods at the snake's words and stands, waiting for Nagraji to uncurl before he performs the seals for the Nagashi-Chidori, the full body chidori that demands so much Chakra, so much energy and speed and strength that he can finally put his mind to rest and just fight.

When he finally gets back to the village, Orochimaru is waiting. Sasuke doesn't have the will to oppose him right now. He's just too weary. So he lets himself be led to the snake's chambers, lets himself be congratulated on his work today. Sasuke knows there's more coming, but the edge of his vision is turning black and though Orochimaru's quarters are far from a safe place to do this, especially with the snake in them, Sasuke just can't take anymore strain. He leans against the Sannin and promptly loses consciousness.

TBC...