Flesh For Strength
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto... I don't own anything...
A/N: I probably made a lot of spelling errors so i'm sorry if you happen to come across some. Also, some of the info in this fanfic came from the manga, not the anime. Hope you enjoy :)
Warnings: Cursing, Kabuto's POV, maybe some typos and spelling errors. Crude Humor, spoilers & violence. No yaoi.
Location: In the Valley Of The End (the flashback, anyways)
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Chapter Five - Don't Recall
"It's true that I don't know anything about parents or siblings, but... When I'm with Iruka-sensei, I wonder... If this is what it's like having a dad... And when I'm with you... If this is what it's like having a brother."
"Why, Naruto? Why would you go this far from me?"
"This was one of the first bonds I've ever had... That is why I'll stop you!"
"You're too late, Naruto... It's too late for that... There is no going back for me."
At this point Sasuke channeled his chakra to his feet to slice the log he was standing on and threw one of the shards at the log under Naruto which also slice into pieces.
"Come, Naruto! If that's the case, then I'll break those bonds!" Silence aroused, broken shortly after.
"...Break them?" Naruto now looked at Sasuke through the Kyuubi's eyes. "Then why put on your forehead protector?"
"I acknowledge it. You are strong. It's because you know the same pain of loneliness that I do. And, that pain makes people stronger. By breaking those bonds, I'll obtain even greater strength!"
Naruto stared at Sasuke as he continued to talk about his crazy obsession with gaining power, but at this point Naruto knew that Sasuke had no intentions of returning back.
"Now, we fight as equals. But, you won't even be able to put a single scratch on my forehead, and that fact will never change."
"...Whatever I say seems pointless," Naruto growled back. "Sasuke!"
"No more talk. From here on out, we fight! Come!" And with that said, Naruto instantly shifted from right to left and charged towards Sasuke with the additional speed of the Kyuubi.
The battle had begun...
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"Naruto... I'm not going back," I looked behind me to find Sasuke talking himself. I thought of snapping him out of it but he seemed deep in thought... and I also wanted to know what was going on in that little screwed up head of Sasuke's.
It has been two days and a half since we last left the old base and we now reached our first stop in a small town called "Kirigakure" in the Wave Country. Well... close to it anyways, we still had half a mile left before we reached the bridge that was built under the master bridge builder named Tazuna. It was said that Tazuna built this bridge so the Wave Country could connect with the main lands so to help with the restoration of its economic stability. I didn't go so far to study this, I had other important matters to attend to.
I wanted to know why Sasuke was thinking of this now, after two years. He shouldn't be. We pretty much brain washed him of all past memories with Konoha. I advanced towards Orochimaru who was thinking of a few things himself.
"Orochimaru-sama..." The Sannin glanced towards me.
"I'm busy, Kabuto. Don't disturb me when I'm thinking," was Orochimaru's only response.
I took a few steps back to walk along side Sasuke again and listen to the conversation raddling inside his mind. After a few more minutes of this, I quickly became bored but didn't show it. I wasn't allowed to show such emotions while in the presence of my master, he would most likely scowl me later.
"To weak..." I looked at Sasuke again, some of Sasuke's words were muffed and I couldn't get all the sentences out. "Why... So weak? Naruto... He... Help, please..."
"Sasuke?" This was becoming bothersome, he's not suppose to be reminiscing when he could be thinking about future events.
"I don't... Know what I'm... Doing anymore... please..." Sasuke murmured just loud enough to catch Orochimaru's attention. He stopped in his tracks as did I and Sasuke was still walking slowly foward. Orochimaru did not turn around to look at Sasuke but merely waited for Sasuke to be at his side and started walking again. I was now walking behind them, alone.
"Naruto... I'm... Sorr---" at this point, Orochimaru stopped in his tracks and lifted his hand. WACK!
"OUCH! What the hell!" Sasuke came back to reality, looking frantically at Orochimaru. Orochimaru said nothing but merely looked grimly at Sasuke. It was the same look he gave me whenever I didn't agree or protested against his methods, just with a little more kill intent this time. I looked at the strangely quiet Sannin and back at a fuming Uchiha.
"Sasuke, you're to pay attention to the present and not think of such events from the past. Do you understand?" Sasuke looked at me with a mixture of confusion and anger. "We've told you this many times before when you first came to us."
"They're my thoughts!" Sasuke protested. "I'll think what I want to."
"Do you wish to gain the strength needed to defeat your brother?" Sasuke now looked at me through deadly eyes, I'm was quite used to this but every now and then Sasuke would give off enough killing intent to make shivers go down my back. "If so then you need to erase the past memories, those memories are the ones holding you back."
"I said I'll think what I want, got that, bitch!"
"Sasuke," both Sasuke and I jumped at Orochimaru's sudden outburst, forgotten that Orochimaru was still there for a split second. "It is... essential that you forget about them because those memories are pushing doubts of staying to gain strength into your head. With doubts, you will most likely leave me to go after Itachi your own way without the proper strength and power to do so."
Sasuke looked down at the ground for a moment, thinking over the things just said and then looked back up to Orochimaru. He nodded and continued walking towards Kirigakure. I looked at Orochimaru, he looked at me. His eyes... they were... worried?
"Orochimaru-sama?" I began, a bit concerned about what was going on in his head, too.
"Nothing," Orochimaru sighed. "Lets just continue on."
I looked at him suspiciously when he turned his back and continued walking down the path, I along side him.
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An Hour Later...
"Finally! We're here!" Sasuke replied with an annoyed tone.
"Well we would've gotten here faster if you didn't argue about every damn thing I said!" I yelled back, even more annoyed that Sasuke decided to take a little detour along the way. But, either way, we finally reached our first destination. In front of us laid a wide bridge with reddish, orange entrance columns on both ends and had leveled dirt all over the ground. Birds were flying and some resting on the bridges rims. It definitely looked different from what it once looked like three years ago, it's so active now.
"It used to be such a poor town. Amazing how the building of one creation could cause this," I whispered as I looked up ahead where there were many well built homes and apartments all in fine shape. As we continued to advance towards the town, kids were now seen playing at the other end of the bridge, happy and such. It used to have homeless children everywhere and people begging for food and money. It was unrecognizable compared to how it was.
Orochimaru groaned. "Stupid children, they all should be in there homes being good little runts and staying out of others way," I couldn't help but give a small smirk to Orochimaru's comment. He never was the one for peace and joy.
As we approached the entrance, where the four kids where, one of the kids stopped in front of us wearing a paper made sailor hat and a wooden stick.
"I, maties!" the boy started off with a poor accent of a pirate. "Yiee can not pass!"
I would have laughed but this would be the wrong time to do it, specially in front of those two. Orochimaru was beginning to become annoyed while Sasuke was already angered.
"Move!" Sasuke simply said.
"Yiee did not hear hei!" said another child. Sasuke grumbled at this.
"Get out of my way, idiot!" Sasuke replied hastily.
Three of the four children gasped, the other giggled, "Oooh! You said a bad word!" Both, Orochimaru and Sasuke began to twitch.
"I'm telling my daddy on you!"
"You're in trouble now, mister."
"Yeah!" All four children began to laugh hysterically. Sasuke was the first to react... or overreact for that matter.
"That's it! Go to hell!" With that, Sasuke picked up the closest kid - which was the one with the sailor hat - and threw him at another child.
"Sasuke!" I screamed. They were only children, he didn't have to go all haywire on their asses. One child was shrieking of fright, another running away somewhere into town, and the two that were injured were crying, sprawling on the ground.
"Lets go," Orochimaru said and continued walking into the town. "We don't want to be here when that child comes back with an angry mob." Sasuke nodded, satisfied, while I stood there glaring at both as they disappeared into town. I walked over to the two injured children when a sudden nudge was felt on my sleeve. I looked over my shoulder to find the child who was screaming in fright trying to protect her friends by pulling me back, but failed. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"P... Please," she choked. "Please, don't hurt them... We didn't m...ma...mean to trouble you guys..." I looked at her as she tried to get out all of the words through her tears. Turning back to the injured ones, I walked straight towards them. "NOOO! Please, don't hurt them! WHAA!" I kneeled down next to the two children as they tried to back away but failed. I extended my arm which began to glow a bluish, purple color at the hand and touched a small scrape on the knee of the child with the sailor cap.
"Mmm...Mmm... Wha... What are you doing?" The boy said as he tried to wipe away the tears. All three children now focused their attention to my glowing hand that was healing the small gashes on the children, curiosity filled their eyes now.
"This is a Ninjutsu (1) called Shôsen Jutsu or Mystical Palm Technique," It was interesting to see the children almost completely forget about what just happened to learn about this new action. "It can be used for many things."
"Like what?" asked the young girl behind me.
"Well, for this, healing ripped tendons and muscle tissue..." I paused because the children were looking at me stupid. "...Skin."
"Ohhh," all three children cooed in a chorus.
"It can also be used as a scalpel for injuring others and weakening them so they can't fight back."
"What's that glowy thing around your hand?" the second boy asked.
"Chakra," I awnsered simply. They all gave me stupid looks again but I didn't feel like explaining all that shit, also, I was a little worried what Orochimaru had said. I really don't wanna be here when that fourth child comes back with help.
"Well, I gotta go. See you some other time," I said hastily.
"Bye!"
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"Mmm... Jesus, Sasuke," I said when I entered a dark alley to conceal myself from the town's people. "Children, children! I swear. He has no mortal soul!"
"Is that a problem?" said a voice that sound much like a very formal women's (2). Creepy and just plain weird but I knew better not to say that in front of him. Out of the darkest part of the alley, Orochimaru appeared.
"No, Orochimaru-sama," I responded automatically.
"Hmm..." Orochimaru stared at me as I kneeled before him. "Why do you constantly do that behind my back?"
"Sir?"
"Heal others when not ordered to do so."
I stared at him, I knew he would be angered if I did those kind of things every now and then but I just didn't feel like seeing unnecessary deaths or fatal injuries... Unless it was for experimenting.
"I have my reasons, Orochimaru-sama," he stared at me with intense eyes, and under those eyes I began to choke. It wasn't the best feeling to have someone looking over your back in a place where no one could hear you scream if you where attacked.
"Fine," I looked back down to the ground. "I'll let this pass, for now." There was a short silence where only my breathing was heard, as though Orochimaru wasn't even there. Such an uncomfortable feeling of disgust and confusion. While this silence continued, other thoughts began to reappear in my mind, like; what's with Orochimaru's strange behavior this morning...
"Sir?"
"What?" Orochimaru snapped back.
"About before coming into town, you looked, what seemed like to me, a bit paranoid," I stared at him again and the older nin's expression changed.
"Itac... My thoughts are none of your concern, Kabuto. I'm not one of your experiments!" He hissed. I couldn't help but feel something bothering him... Was it an event that occurred before without my knowing or was it just signs of depression. I couldn't tell, but I'm sure it will all come to me soon enough.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
"Good, now lets get Sasuke and find a place to stay for the night," I nodded.
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About fifteen minutes later, we met Sasuke near a small port at the outskirts of Kirigakure. As we approached, I noticed a small boy off in the distance wielding a crossbow. It looked like he was doing target practice...
"Hey, Sasuke!" Orochimaru began as he explained to the younger nin about the arrangements for tonight while Sasuke was nodding his head. I don't think he was listen at all but then again, I could care less. For now, my attention was locked on that boy with the crossbow who was now looking my way. After what seemed like an eternity, the boy started to advance towards our direction. Walking... Jogging... Running... Sprinting.
"Orochimaru-sama! We have a guest," I quickly interrupted and pointed towards the boy who kept on running our way. For some reason he was smiling, and as he got closer and I could just make out the clothes he was wearing. A beige T-shirt with a wide turtle neck and a green farmer suit. He also had spiked black hair and black eyes.
"Is it really you!" The boy shouted. We all were looking at him now.
"Orochimaru-sama, does this boy know were criminals?"
"If so then he's smiling for the wrong reason," the Sannin examined. Finally, the boy stood about three feet next to Sasuke and stared at him with a beaming face. Sasuke found this a little awkward and backed away.
"Do you remember me?" The boy seemed to be around the age of ten or eleven judging by his size and didn't take his eyes off Sasuke. I shifted towards Orochimaru a bit to ask if this boy rung any bells?
"Nope... Sasuke who is this?" Orochimaru asked.
"I... I don't know..." Sasuke responded, rather skeptical.
"You don't remember?" The boy questioned with a sad face. "You were here before." Sasuke looked at him with a questioning face.
"You, Sakura, Kakashi and Naruto were here," both me and Orochimaru took a quick glance at Sasuke who twitched at the names of his former teammates. "You helped us, you were on a mission around three years ago to protect the bridge builder, Tazuna, from any pursuers like; Zabuza, Haku... and those other guys who worked for Gato."
All eyes were on Sasuke now, but he stared back with blank eyes. After a few moments, his eyes widened...
"I... Inari?" Sasuke replied rather slowly, but the boy just smiled again.
"So you do remember."
TBC...
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A/N: Yep, here we are... That runt boy who had no courage is back. Anyways, next chapter, I'm planning on writing a Sasuke POV again... even though I already wrote one last chap. But ya know, it would prove kinda hard to write something that has to do with Sasuke's past with Orochimaru's POV soooo... yeah. And just in case if anyone was confused in the beginning, it was a flash back when Sasuke and Naruto battled it out in the Valley of the End.
A/N Of Idiocy: Press yours eyes against the computer screen for cheap laser eye surgery. (I love Futurama. XP)
1. Okay, you'd have to be a complete idiot not to know this by now ... If you were watching the show. Ninjutsu: any ninja technique that uses chakra and allows the user to do something that they otherwise would be incapable of doing.
2. I almost LMAO reading this. The reason why I compared Orochimaru's (JP) voice with an formal women's was because I was browsing voice actors on wikipedia for Naruto and I came across Orochimaru. What I read (in the trivia): "Orochimaru is male, yet he still speaks in very formal female Japanese. This is done to make him creepier (similar to Freeza of DBZ), although up until he transfers into Gen'yumaru, he is possessing a female body. Regardless, he still speaks in female Japanese even after transfering to a male body." ...Yeah, great ta know. XP
