A/N:
Haha. You readers make me laugh. I'm looking forward to responding to your reviews. xD
Oh yes, and thank you to blue-genjutsu for the idea as to how to open this chapter. Teehee.
♥Raven
Chapter Four: Fighting A Demon
After ramen, the four headed out, the two sensei planning on dropping the boys off at their respective homes. Iruka, being the mother that he was, felt that Sasuke should be dropped off at home first. He wouldn't openly say why, just made up a story that Sasuke's house was closer. It wasn't exactly false, Sasuke's house was closer. It's more that he wanted to be sure Naruto got into his house safe, and that no one was around to pester him after they left.
Kakashi looked blankly down at Iruka as they walked. It was almost like he was...jealous. At the very thought the jounin shook his head in hopes of clearing it from his mind. He wasn't jealous of the boy, was he? What was there to be jealous about? He turned his attention to the two genin walking in front of him. He wasn't really paying attention to what they were saying, more how they were acting. He couldn't help but smile at it, Sasuke remaining collected and Naruto jumping about at any slight thing.
It sort of pained him to see the look on Sasuke's face when he was forced to part with his teammate. He looked like he was about ready to jump out and pull the blonde back, not wanting Iruka to take him. But he ended up sliding the door slowly and his footsteps were short and quiet, moving off into the confines of the house.
"Are you alright?" Iruka asked, noticing an equally saddened look on his former student's face. He hadn't seen Sasuke's face, so he didn't know that both were feeling the same, but he figured it had something to do with the prodigy.
Naruto's head shot up, a grin stretching across his face. "I'm fine! Why?" Iruka said nothing. Just nodded and continued forward toward Naruto's house.
Much to Iruka's dismay, they made it back to the genin's house before he worked up the courage to ask Naruto about his relationship with Sasuke. "Now don't get yourself into any trouble." Iruka said, waving to Naruto as he slid his front door closed.
"You're just a worry wart." Kakashi said, his arms crossed over his chest. "Naruto can take care of himself." Iruka frowned.
"I have every right to be worried about him!" He exclaimed, clenching his fists and glaring at the jounin.
"Fine. Whatever." Kakashi sniggered. "C'mon. I'll walk you home."
---
The following morning was rather cold for the time of year. The ground was shrouded in fog, and moisture littered windows all over the village. It was a village wide day off, respectively, being Sunday. Not even the jounin were working. Really, the only people working today were stand owners and restaurant managers. Yes, this made the village highly vulnerable, but they took great pride in their power of secrecy. All chuunin and jounin dressed in their regular uniforms, not only to fool any approaching enemy into believing there was a constant surveillance, but also to prepare for any surprise attacks.
The genin, however, took advantage of the day. All wearing jeans and old t-shirts, lazing around and hanging out with friends. Naruto, wearing his old white shirt with a red spiral and a pair of baggy blue jeans, searched around for either of his teammates, his hands behind his head. It wasn't too hard to spot the familiar pink hair moving through the crowd, browsing the stands and store windows in the marketplace. "Sakura!" He yelled, waving his arm high above his head. His teammate turned, smiling once she saw who it was yelling at her.
"Hey, Naruto! Kakashi told me what happened. Are you–"
"If you ask me if I'm alright, I think I'll burst." Naruto said with a false look of hatred. It quickly changed to his usual mischievous grin, though, and Sakura giggled.
"I'm glad you're alright. Have you seen Sasuke?" The blonde shook his head no.
"I just left my house a few minutes ago. I'll bet he's somewhere in the marketplace."
"I'm sure you're right." They exchanged smiles, then started into the crowd to find their teammate. The two genin didn't say much; Sakura too busy thinking about Sasuke and Naruto...doing the same? He shook his head madly, getting an odd look from Sakura. "Are you ok?" She asked, more sarcastic than concerned.
"Yeah. Just...well I..." He choked on his words. "It's nothing." Sakura cocked an eyebrow, then turned and faced forward again. They walked for about half an hour, stopping at stands and picking up snow cones. But no sign of Sasuke.
"I wonder if he's still at home?" Sakura asked, changing the subject rather abruptly from which type of kunai wrap was the best.
"On a Sunday?" Naruto asked, setting down the two rolls he was comparing. "He'd have to be out of his mind not to be out here." Sakura gave him a dangerous look. "We'll go check, ne?" The pink haired girl nodded demandingly, grabbing hold of Naruto's wrist and leading him down the street toward Sasuke's home.
---
Sakura pounded on the door. Silence. She pounded again. Something shifted on the second story and a smile formed on her features. It took a bit, the sounds of movement slow, but eventually the door cracked open, one of Sasuke's black eyes appearing. The house was dark, making the boy's pale skin seem to glow. But something was off...It was like most of his skin had disappeared into the darkness of the room behind him. As soon as he saw his teammates he slammed the door shut. "Go away!" He yelled through the door.
"Make me." Naruto said calmly, mimicking Sasuke from the previous day. He grinned, but Sakura didn't take the situation too lightly.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?" She called, trying to push open the door. Sasuke's hand was on the slider, though, keeping it from moving at all.
"Just go!" This, naturally, pissed Naruto off.
"Damn it, Sasuke!" He jumped, thrusting his foot into the slider and sending it flying up the hallway. Sasuke had ducked out of the way instinctively, remaining low to the ground even after the loud crashing noise that signaled the fall of the destroyed door. He stood slowly and Sakura gasped. Naruto landed roughly, dumbstruck at the sight before him.
Sasuke stood before them, only wearing a pair of shorts. His entire arm, shoulder, and half of his upper torso were covered in wavy black marks, and his face was completely covered, nearly solid black. The skin colored bits were so faint it appeared as if they were the curse. He backed away, running into his house and fumbling quickly up the stairs. Naruto was on his heels, nearly running smack into the bedroom door as it was slammed in his face. Sakura came up behind him, shaking madly with her eyes wide and pupils the size of needle points.
"Sasuke, you need medical attention!" Naruto yelled, fighting against the closed door. Sasuke had jammed it somehow, and could be heard on the other side breathing heavily.
"Go away! You saw nothing!" He yelled back finally.
"Don't be an idiot! Let us in!" Naruto beat the door, unable to knock it down as easily as he had the front door. Not only was it jammed, it was blocked. "Sakura, go and get Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei. They'll be able to help." He whispered, continuing to pound on the door. She nodded, running off down the stairs. "I'll get in one way or another! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" About twenty Narutos appeared, each starting to pound on the door.
"Just leave, damn it! I don't need your help!" Sasuke yelled, covering his ears to try and shield out everything happening.
"I won't leave! Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Twenty more Narutos appeared. With one simultaneous kick, the door collapsed inward, stumbling over a thick red armchair. The door had just been moved off it's track to keep it from moving, and this made Naruto feel a little foolish. But the feeling disappeared when he saw Sasuke balled up in the corner, his knees pulled tightly to his chest and his hands pressed tightly over his ears. Naruto's face dropped. "Sasuke...?"
"Go away..." Sasuke whined pathetically, starting to shake. Naruto didn't heed, though, moving closer to the other genin. He knelt down, reaching out to move his teammate's hands. Before he could even make contact, though, an intense heat burned his hand. He fell back, blowing on his hand desperately.
"What the hell was that!" Naruto shrieked, looking at Sasuke's arm angrily. The curse mark seemed to throb, almost like it was laughing at Naruto for even thinking of trying to help the Uchiha. Sasuke cringed, reaching up to try and hold it as well. He managed to put his hand down, ignoring the heat. He let out a small cry, falling forward. He pressed his forehead hard to the ground, eventually falling onto his side. "Sasuke!"
Naruto had no idea what to do. He couldn't touch Sasuke without burning himself and provoking the mark, and he couldn't very well reseal it. Though he didn't want to admit it, there was only one thing left to do. 'Kyuubi! Kyuubi, you must know something that can help!' He screamed in his head, searching every corner of his mind for the kitsune.
'And so what if I do?' Came a voice, seeming to rattle from the back of Naruto's brain. He wasn't really expecting a response, having not really ever talked back and forth with the demon before.
'You could hear me?' Naruto asked, temporarily forgetting the situation at hand.
'Of course I can, idiot. I'm a part of you.' He growled back, causing Naruto to shudder slightly from the odd sensation. 'And as far as I'm concerned, you'd better have a reason for waking me.'
'I do, I do. Have you got any idea at all about how to help Sasuke?' Naruto pleaded, bracing himself for the tickle of the kitsune's voice.
'Yeah. But why should I tell you?' Naruto sent an internal glare. Not that it would frighten a demon very much. 'Whatever. I still need you, so I might as well help.' Naruto sent an internal smile, receiving a groan. 'I'll need to take over though. It'll be easier that way.' Naruto was skeptical, but eventually gave way to the demon.
---
When Sakura returned with the sensei, she was shocked at what she found. It hadn't been long since she'd left, but from what she could see, a lot had happened. Sasuke was in the corner, his eyes as wide as hers had been earlier. His pale skin was completely visible, the curse mark back to it's original three-spoked spiral on his shoulder. His hands weakly covered his mouth he struggled to push himself further into the corner. Needless to say, this was very unlike Sasuke. Sakura turned inquiringly to the sensei behind her, only to find them just as shocked, looking to the other side of the room. When she turned, she too went speechless, her throat closing in on it's self and her eyes streaming tears like waterfalls.
Naruto was hunched over, his hand hidden under the folds of his t-shirt. A massive red bloodstain had formed, and a pool of the red liquid rested just below him. What could be seen of his hand was covered in dripping blood, and he was coughing up the vile substance as well. "B...Bastard..." He coughed, pulling his hand out from under the shirt folds. Rather, from his new five stab wounds. His fingers were adorned with long sharp claws. "...Told you...only help...Sasuke..." He looked up for a second , his pupils spinning. They would stop every few seconds, either blue or bright red.
"Fool...you're only killing yourself." Naruto said, though...it wasn't Naruto.
"If I die, you go along with me."
"You're exactly right." As Naruto's hands had retreated the wounds, they'd torn his shirt, showing the five round wounds. But shortly after the demon spoke, the blood lining each hole vanished, as well as the wounds themselves. Naruto coughed roughly a few times, blood spattering everywhere. "I can't let you die just yet."Naruto's head lifted, his eyes bright read and slit yet again. "Until next time, Uchiha." Naruto's eyes spun, returning to their original sky blue. He coughed again, even more blood falling to the floor before him.
"...Sasuke..." He muttered, his eyes becoming dull before he fell to the ground, a stream of blood running from the corner of his mouth. Sakura gasped loudly, not sure if she should run to Naruto or to Sasuke. Kakashi beat her to it though, quickly running and picking Naruto off the ground and resting the blonde head in his lap. Sakura could hardly even look in that direction, the dullness of his eyes enough to drive even the most secure men insane.
Iruka was also torn, but seeing Naruto in good hands sent him over to the traumatized Sasuke. He knew just the demon wasn't enough to scare the Uchiha heir this much. But he was obviously not in any state of mind to be explaining. Iruka struggled against Sasuke for a moment before the boy loosened, letting the chuunin pick him up and carry him over to the bed. Kakashi picked Naruto up as well, planning on carrying him out of the house and across the way, into another of the Uchiha homes. He figured he should keep them at close range so when they were ready to face each other again it wouldn't be a prolonged process. Sakura stood rooted to the spot, her gaze shifting back and forth between the spot where Naruto had stabbed himself to the spot where her once collected and emotionless love interest was writhing in fear. Once Iruka noticed her, he couldn't help but tear up slightly.
"Sakura...? Are you alright?" She didn't move. The entire situation had taken it's toll on all of them, but it seemed that Sakura was hit hardest.
---
Naruto rolled his head over on the bed, groaning lightly. "Kakashi-sensei...?" The silver haired jounin's head shot up, his eye blinking madly to wake himself.
"I see you're back." He said, trying to keep the mood from sinking.
"What happened?" With that, Kakashi's entire plan bottomed out. He really didn't want to answer, knowing there was no easy way to tell him. Not only that, but he didn't know the full story. Sasuke was still too traumatized of the situation to openly talk about it.
"In short, it seems you've taken a liking to getting yourself injured." Naruto frowned weakly. "Alright, alright. I don't know the full story yet because Sasuke won't talk...But when I arrived you'd...stabbed yourself." Immediately, memory of the incident came flooding back to him and Naruto shot up straight.
"Kyuubi! He tried to kill Sasuke!" Naruto turned frantically to a shocked Kakashi. "Is Sasuke alright? Is he!" Kakashi shook his head, leaning forward.
"Tell me what happened." The jounin said calmly.
"Tell me if Sasuke is alright!"
"I need to know what happened first, Naruto!" The blonde genin stared quietly at his sensei. "Sakura told me that the curse was spreading. But somehow, I don't think that alone would drive you to use the kitsune's claws to impale yourself."
Naruto swallowed hard. "Sasuke's curse, as you know, was spreading madly. I tried to touch it, but it was practically on fire and I couldn't get close. I asked Kyuubi for help and he promised he'd only take over long enough to reseal the curse, then he'd go back to sleep. He did manage to reseal the curse, but when Sasuke found out it wasn't me, and rather Kyuubi, he thrashed out and hit me–uh, Kyuubi. For some reason, this pissed Kyuubi off, and he started attacking Sasuke. I fought back, trying to get control of my body.
"Kyuubi used a strange jutsu and knocked me out for a while, and when I came to, Sasuke was scared stiff. I started to beat at the kitsune, yelling at him to tell me what happened, and he took control of my hand, trying to stab Sasuke with his claws. I fought for it, and couldn't get him off until I managed to shove the claws into my stomach, causing Kyuubi to retreat so he wouldn't get hurt himself." Naruto finished, now looking at the blanket ahead of him.
"That partially explains why he won't talk." Kakashi said, by now leaned back completely in his chair.
"Partially? What else could've happened?" Naruto asked, calming down finally.
"A whole hell of a lot, my boy. I'm guessing you don't know how long you were out for?" Naruto shook his head no. "Didn't think so. I'm guessing Kyuubi used a scare tactic on Sasuke. Hit him while he was down."
"What do you mean?"
"He probably filled poor Sasuke's head with lies up to high hizzy, not stopping until he had a break down. He then probably helped you recover, made you think he was fighting back so you had to do something incredibly stupid," He let the words linger, watching Naruto 'humph'. "To get him to retreat. He was counting on the fact that you'd stab yourself, threatening your life and his, so he could traumatize Sasuke to the point of which reality and fantasy merged."
"I'm not following." Naruto mumbled, still as reluctant as ever to show his incompetence.
"Of course you're not. What he wanted to do was traumatize Sasuke."
"And he did that by putting him between reality and fantasy?"
"What he did, was make sure Sasuke wouldn't know what or who to believe." Naruto nodded, finally understanding. "Shall we go visit him then?" Kakashi asked, pushing himself up and acting all too calm for Naruto's comfort.
"What the–?" Before he could finish his question, Kakashi had pulled him out of the bed and was leading him out to the main Uchiha home.
---
Sakura had cooled down by now, sitting next to Iruka and staring at Sasuke's back. He'd curled himself up and rolled over, keeping the other two out of view. He was shaking slightly, his eyes remaining wide. His ears, unbeknownst to the others, were ringing madly, and his brain felt like it was vibrating in his skull. He didn't think the Kyuubi could do it. He honestly didn't believe that he could so easily be possessed.
Iruka lifted his head, hearing footsteps outside. The door, which Iruka had fixed just a while ago, slid open, revealing Kakashi and a very reluctant Naruto. "Kakashi-sensei!" He hissed, trying to keep his voice down despite the fact that he knew Sasuke wasn't asleep. "What do you think you're doing!"
"I'm reintroducing the problem." Naruto growled. "It's the most effective way of curing something like this." Iruka showed signs of distrust, but knew better than to question Kakashi's method. He stood, nodding for Sakura to do the same.
"But Iruka-sensei, I want–" He nodded no, and, despite her efforts, eventually forced her from the room, followed closely by Kakashi. The jounin turned, looking to Naruto.
"Bring him back, okay?" And he slid the door shut, watching the stunned boy disappear behind the screen.
A/N:
I actually like this ending. Wow. That's a first.
The spacing on my comp is freaking out on me, so gimme a break if this comes up weird. Nyerr.
And now...RESPONSES.
to Sasuke2006: Heh. I'm glad you liked it. I was hoping someone noticed the humor. I'm thinking of making them go either way. Yanno, taking turns. I'm so indecisive...xD
to blue-genjutsu: I bet you don't even know how much help your review was. I was trying to figure out how to describe Iruka, and you pretty much gave it to me. Thanks. Hehe. I'm going to hold up on telling just what's wrong with Sasuke's arm, because for one thing, I haven't come up with a good title for it...and for another, I just like being a stinker. Teehee.
to flame gazer: Alright, alright. I'll admit, I do like the first three chapters. But this one...you can't lie. It's just bad writing. But I wanted to find an excuse to get Sasuke scared so I could censored do to spoilers for other ideas in the story. I hope you understand. xD
to Red Asatari: Don't you worry yourself. They'll get into it a bit later. I'm prolonging it both because I don't want to rush the story and because I'm, as I told blue-genjutsu, a stinker. Hahaha. And, if I manage to get over my wimp-ish-ness, I'll write some mass lemons and post them on another site...when I find a place to post them. I don't want to get in trouble or anything for posting them here. Hehe. So yeh, don't worry. I'm just as big a fan of SasuNaru lovin' as everyone else.
Keep 'em coming! And if you, for whatever reason, like this story, tell your friends! I always like getting new readers! Even if my writing suck big! –mass personal critic–
♥Raven
