The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves." – Machiavelli
"You will be working as teams for this part of the Chuunin exams. For those who have made it this far, I congratulate you."
The man's mahogany hair falls on his face, the streaks of bright gold barely visible amongst the ocean of deep amber. The darker streaks dominating the mop of hair, silver strands hardly noticeable.
The lit cigarette dangles between his two fingers, the ashes evidently crumbling towards the floor.
"The first part of the exams instructs you to conduct as a team. You will be fighting another three-man squad. The last person standing is the winning team"
He pauses as he inhales a long drag from his cigarette before flickering it towards the ground, His right foot lands on the bud, distinguishing the fire.
This year Konoha has decided to end the conflict between herself and Suna by creating an alliance with Sunagakure. The Chuunin exams was the perfect opportunity to initiate an agreement that could potentially last for decades. Inviting the genins of Suna was merely a small fragment of the plan. As Suna accepted the invitation, it also forced the Kazekage to attend, as it was customary to involve himself in such events.
The invitation itself acted as a truce and Suna's acceptance symbolized trust.
The Yondaime was not a foolish man, he was not oblivious to the whispers that judged his actions. He was aware of the rumours circulating in the Land of Water and Land of Lightning, doubting his leadership.
A tiger hunts alone. Lions hunt in pacts. For when a prey is large enough, lions unite in order to eliminate the common enemy.
Sasuke stands straight, shoulders rigid and fists clenched. He inhales through his nostrils in order to compose himself. He is an Uchiha.
Uchiha's do not break.
But a crack becomes a break and the mask will eventually crumble.
He exhales sharply, watching his breath evaporate in the winter morning dew as a shiver travels down the length of his spine. In hopes of controlling his anxiousness he takes a quick glance around him. Most of the genins are familiar faces, individuals who have attended the academy and graduated along with him. All eyes are trained on the large electric board, eagerly waiting for their names to appear.
Sasuke briefly wonders why the man continues to smoke the repulsive tobacco, knowing it will eventually lead to his death. Utter madness. No doubt his lungs are black and withered.
His lungs are filled with water.
As if on que the board lights up with numerous familiar names, an uncomfortable silence echoes amongst them. Sasuke scans the board as he anxiously looks-
Team Kakashi VS Team Baki
He digs his nails into his palms, deep enough to form scar like crescents. Sasuke briefly twists his body, his eyes scanning for the familiar spike of golden hair that he could recognize in any crowd-
There.
As if on que Naruto looks up and Sasuke is startled by the unexpected emotion that flickers across his face. His eyes are the ocean, waves of emotions crashing and churning against a stiff cliff. They are the impatient river rushing to join the sea. They are his mother's blue delphiniums that have yet not sprung.
Sasuke tears his gaze away from his eyes. It reminds him too much of the sea and Sasuke is always drowning.
Only when the nicotine addicted man gestures with his hand, indicating they are dismissed, do the genins scatter. Sasuke immediately makes his way towards Naruto. He sees Hinata Hyuga visibly shaking, her eyes wide while gripping onto Inuzuka for support.
He wonders why a deer is brought to a fight between predators.
A hand suddenly grabs onto his wrist, white knuckled and tight. He immediately spins as his Sharingan flares to life, ripping his wrist away from the stranger's hold.
"Don't underestimate the red-haired, Uchiha"
Sasuke's upper lip curls in disgust as he rubs the delicate area of his forearm.
"Why the hell are you telling me this?"
Neji's arrogance reveals itself; narrowing of the eyes and the subtle shift of the head.
"So I can eventually fight you. No illusions or tricks, just a simple combat where I humiliate you in front of your beloved clan"
The conflict between the Uchiha's and the Hyuga's has existed for decades, it was almost hereditary for the battle to continue throughout the generations. The rivalry between the two clans caused frequent friction, in an effort to reduce the conflict, the Yondaime has appointed both clan leaders as his advisors. Although both had initially agreed, both opposed each other's philosophies.
"You of all people must know Sasuke, appearances are deceiving."
They are all apex predators competing for the crown.
Hyuga's are considered a discreet and guarded clan. Nevertheless, their power nor lineage is never to be doubted. Hiashi Hyuga; clan leader and a man of power. There is an old Hyuga proverb carved into the front gates of their household. "The eyes echo the true emotions of the heart"
A Byakugan user is easily distinguished in a sea of faces, mostly known for their pale skin and translucent eyes. Based on their ancient proverb alone, Sasuke chooses to believe they are completely merciless.
It was his father who taught him what breed of family they truly were, a greedy and selfish clan.
"They are hyenas, Sasuke. Tactful and deceiving. Scavengers that receive credit for devious actions."
In return, Uchiha's were branded as 'blood slayers'. Recognized as possessing the most powerful Kekkei Genkai in the history of Konoha. Sasuke recognizes that pride is both the Uchiha's strength and undoing.
Stubborn and hard headed. Rumours spread further than wild fire.
Insanity.
To a certain degree, the infamous Hyuga proverb is accurate. The Sharingan reflected the emotions of the heart for it is triggered once an Uchiha undergoes a traumatic event. It produces a bottomless void that torments the soul.
Many Uchiha's slayed their own blood in order to achieve the second stage of the Sharingan.
Greed allowed them to willingly stain themselves with the blood of their own kin. Whether it was nature's cruel deception or it was survival of the fittest, the Mangekyou is only accessible to certain Uchiha's.
Izuna was the embodiment of innocence. A man whose name was name is carved on memorials for young Uchiha children. Sasuke could never fathom how someone so kind and free had slaughtered his own children and wife in order to achieve the true power of the Uchiha clan.
Upon realizing the madness he created, Izuna retorted to taking his own life. Adding an extra number to the list of dead Uchiha's that spiralled into madness. Through pure anger and fear, his brother, Madara Uchiha, unlocked the second stage of the Sharingan. The unique symbols of the Mangekyou rotated as his eyes welled up with tears, mourning the loss of his brother. The villagers whispered, conspired that Madara himself drove his own brother into the clutches of insanity in order to unlock his true potential.
It was that very moment that defined the future of the Uchiha's, a clan who were later to be known as a clan that descended into insanity.
The curse of hatred left no mark, but caused deep cracks in one's mind; small cracks that grew into deep crevices, transforming into thick divides. It forced one to embrace their demons, for if they did not, they drowned. The darkness of the curse is agonizing. It produces jawless creatures that torments the users mind. Their sanity is enveloped by a dark void, their soul balancing on the line of life and death.
However it was worth it. An Uchiha is expected to handle the delusions and emotional torments his mind produced. He must be defiant, to handle the pressure of his own demons clawing on his back.
'Blood slayers'
A crack transforms into a break. The porcelain shatters.
As a child, upon being told the story for the first time, Sasuke was terrified. He sobbed as he clung to his blankets, afraid that his own demons will suddenly materialize before him. He recalls his mother's warm smile, the crowfeet around her eyes barely visible. Her soothing voice whispering words that allowed him to drift into a deep slumber.
Spiders kill their own family in order to remain in power, in order to remain on the throne.
"You really believe you would win?" he spits out. Neji glares at him, the veins around his eyes slowly contracting and throbbing. Sasuke inwardly flinches, the lack of pupils was unnerving.
Neji cocks his head to the side, a grin plastered onto his face. His chakra is thick, erratically spinning as if it was contained, eager to be set free and unleash.
It's dauntingly beautiful.
In response, Sasuke's chakra thrashes, much darker and heavier than the Byakugan user. He senses the familiar warmth spread across his body, begging and tugging his insides. For a brief moment his chakra uncontrollably flares it nearly knocks him off his feet. Instead, he calmly contains it. His Sharingan spins, a kaleidoscope of black and red.
Sasuke slides his left leg forward as he positions himself in a fighting stance.
"Never assume"
Eager to feel the rush of his knuckles landing on that arrogant bastards face. Sasuke can almost feel the bone crush under the weight of his fist, he can almost see the blood dripping, glowing as it contrasts with the bastard's skin. He's almost given the euphoria he's been waiting for when he suddenly feels a warm hand on his shoulder. Its grip is tight.
"Manners, Sasuke"
It doesn't come out menacing but Sasuke knows it's a hidden threat.
"Naruto and Sakura are waiting"
Only then does Sasuke tear his gaze away from Neji, only to land onto his Sensei. Kakashi's only visible eye crinkles into a smile. He places his palm onto his upper back, slightly nudging Sasuke in the direction of his team mates. It's a hint for Sasuke to comply and Sasuke is not foolish enough to ignore it.
Kakashi merely looks over his shoulder, his smile does not waver. "Guy sensei is waiting for you"
Teacher nor student look back.
—S—
If Kakashi is worried, he does not show it.
Instead, he ruffles Sakura's hair, pats Naruto's back and gently squeezes Sasuke's shoulder.
"Good luck" he murmurs.
Kakashi's faith withered and died along with Rin and Obito. Nights sobbing and scrubbing dry skin never brought back the dead. Begging and praying did not bring back the dead. He understands faith is a fragile concept. Yet, when he looks at his students he sees Team Minato. A broken family willing to endure.
"I promised Obito I would protect you with my life"
Naruto pumps a fist into the air with an excited gleam in his eyes. "Ne, Sakura-chan, Sasuke. Let's do this"
He wonders whether he will find his own worth. He wonders whether he'll find his on gravity, an invisible force that beckons him to remain sane.
—S—
The crowd is a mosaic of unfamiliar faces, all eager to witness a great combat. He is silently stunned by the amount of citizens attending the match. North end of the crowd, at the tip of the arena stands the Hokage, his robe swaying in the light autumn breeze. Naruto rolls his eyes, his father no doubt producing small gusts of winds to dramatize his entrance.
The Kazekage stands near the Hokage, face covered by the shadows of his straw hat. Swirls of emerald and white wrap around his smaller figure. With a tilt of his jaw, gold eyes catch Naruto's stare. The man does not belong. This is the breeze before the storm.
Sasuke flinches. There are hundreds in the crowds; from the Hokage himself to his aunt who baked him pastries since he was a child.
Naruto must have sensed his uneasiness because his fingertips lightly brush against Sasuke.
He doesn't utter a word. For silence is louder than thunder.
Pressure is a burden placed on his shoulders that does not budge.
In order to kill the wolf he must become a lion, he must become a ferocious beast in order to hunt down the wolf. What the lion lacks, the fox completes. Although the fox is not the most feared and could not inflict damage to a wolf, he is able to recognize and diffuse any traps set by the wolves. He is cunning and using mere intelligence allows him to escape unsheathed.
"A shinobi cannot only use muscle nor mind. Both need to coexist in order take down a pack of wolves. One must become fox to detect traps and recognize a wolf's weakness. One must be a lion in order to tear the flesh of wolves."
A roar erupts from the east side of the arena, the citizens of Suna falling into a chant. The 'red-haired' is a small man with narrow shoulders, arms folded across his chest in a defensive stance. Forehead covered with a Kenji. Both of his teammates are covered with swirls of lavender war paint, an ancient Sunagakure tradition.
Sasuke tugs at the bandages wrapped around him arms, only stopping when he's satisfied that they are tight enough.
Muscles tear and bones break.
A masked ANBU member unexpectedly appears between the two teams, arms above his head holding a black flag. The man hides behind a mask of a tiger, orange stripes bright in contrast to his black clothing.
With a flick of his wrist the flag comes down.
—S—
Sasuke manages to take down the man that intertwines his fingers with the strings of his puppets, controlling them. He's surprised by the man's power. His speciality is puppets and it doesn't take too long for Sasuke to notice his weakness, short ranged attacks.
The fox.
But Sasuke is caught off guard once the puppets begins to attack.
He freezes mid step.
For he is a puppet attempting to cut off his strings.
Naruto is a blur of orange struggling against Gaara's attacks.
Six Kunai's. Two thrown.
Gaara dodges one and deflects the other.
Naruto leaps in the air, twisting his body as he brings down a Fuma Shuriken. Gaara is faster, reflexes quicker with muscles moulded from a young age.
He meets the Uzumaki mid-air.
His fist barely grazes Naruto's check before both land on their feet, Shuriken spinning in the distance. The Sand-nin patience wears thins and decides to rush the enemy.
Dozens of clones suddenly appear and each one disappears with a 'poof' with every blow Garra throws. For each one he takes down, another three appear.
Gaara snaps and commands the sand from his gourd to attack all surrounding clones.
A movement.
Clash of steel.
A sideways glace shows that something is coming towards him at an incredible speed.
Foot in front of the other, he twists his body and allows chakra to gather at his feet.
Too late. Too slow.
The sand erupts from its vessel and spins before creating a semi shield, protecting him. The Fuma Shuriken embeds itself into the shield, missing its target.
Gaara spins to meet his new attacker.
"Close one Sasuke!" yells Naruto as he comes rushing towards the Sand-nin followed by half a dozen clones.
Six precise blows and all the clones disappear.
Gaara dodges another two Kunai's before the third one grazes his cheek. The sand surrounding him erupts as a gush of wind blows it in the air.
"Gaara!" Temari yells as she brings down her fan, producing a large gust of wind.
He digs his teeth into his lower lip as he forces the sand to retreat back into his gourd.
ControlControl.
Sakura slams a fist into the earth and a crack appears between Temrai's feet.
She folds her fan before running to the edge of the arena. Infusing chakra in her right foot and both her arms, pushing against the large concrete wall as unsheathes her fan mid-air.
She brings its down with a 'whoosh'.
The waves of wind causes Sasuke's shuriken to alter a few degrees from their target, completely missing the puppet master.
"Sakura!" he snaps as he dodges yet another wooden puppet.
She immediately appears on the other side of the arena, eyes wide while her hair sways in the wind as she mouths the word 'sorry'.
"This isn't for you, little girl" Temari hisses through clenched teeth as she opens he fan to its full capacity, feet wide open.
Sakura's upper lip curls in disgust before she tightens her gloves. Her knuckles are throbbing and her wrists are swollen but there is a fire that has erupted in her chest.
The clash of weapons echo as steel meets steel.
Forest meets ocean.
A blur of fists and flesh as Naruto clumsily side steps another attack, the sweat forming on his forehead glistening in the sun. There's a constant buzzing in his skull that has drowned out the sound of the crowd, he struggles to regain his composure. Gaara's chakra is infinite as the Sand of shield remains standing, hard as steel.
Sasuke's Sharingan spins as the side steps the puppet master's oncoming attack.
Inhale.
Rat
Tiger
Dog.
He slides as he avoids threads of chakra erupting from the puppets mouth.
A single kunai is thrown.
Ox
Hare
Fingers graze his weapon pocket before he completes the hand signal.
Tiger.
"Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" an inferno of fireballs erupts from his jaws.
"Shit!"
Temari feels the heat of the Jutsu and immediately slides away Sakura's fists before slamming her iron fan into the ground.
It instantly distinguishes Sasuke's fire technique. Kankuro's lips twists into a smirk.
"I thought-"
Dozens of Shuriken embed themselves into his forearms and thighs as he lets out a gurgled scream.
In an instant, Temari focuses all her attention on her fallen teammate. All Sakura needed was a moment and she was given a lifetime.
"Shannaro!"
Her left fist lands onto Temari's collarbone. The sand-nin is sent flying into the arena wall, the concrete cracking underneath her weight.
"Never assume. Never judge your enemy, allow your enemy to unfold himself before you. The persona they perceive is the one they want you to see. They are merely hiding behind a mask. Be patient and you enemy will crumble his own mask."
The cheering crowd echoes, chants of 'Konoha!' growing louder. The Sand Shield thickens. Gaara appears by the puppet master's side in an instant. Sasuke freezes mid attack.
"Brother can you hear me?"
He suddenly envisions his own brother drowning in a pool of blood, gurgling on his own bile. The thought alone causes Sasuke's knees to tremble, his body undergoing the physical effects of the madness his mind is able to conjure.
"Foolish little brother"
Gaara's chakra fluctuates, when he finally turns to face Sasuke there is no trace of tears or any emotional turmoil. Although, for the briefest moment, Sasuke notices a fracture in his mask. His eyes narrow as they grow cold, pupils darkening. A glimpse of the monster buried underneath layers of skin and muscle.
With a flick of his wrist, a hole rips open in the sand shield. With delicate hands he places his brother outside of the barrier, whispering words.
Suddenly a blur of orange flickers to view as Naruto hurls towards Gaara.
Sasuke knows Gaara's anger has somehow made him both faster and stronger because in an instant, he has returned to his previous position and the hole has immediately mended itself.
It all happens too fast that it almost plays out in slow motion. Sakura screams and Sasuke spins in time to notice her pale skin covered in grotesque blue marks, her hair a shade lighter than red.
Crack!
His world fades to black with Naruto's voice ringing in his ears.
—S—
Itachi flinches, his brother's defence was almost impenetrable and his attacks were strategic. But in a sheer moment of stupidity he momentarily allows his defences to fall.
Foolish.
He overhears Hiashi snicker and for a fleeting moment Itachi envisions burying the hilt of his kunai into the man's jugular, witnessing the blood gushing out in violet jets of crimson as his pupils grew darker.
Itachi blinks.
"I suggest you do not laugh at the fact that a Konoha genin is down." The Hokage almost hisses, eyes observing the arena below.
"Do you not notice?"
Hiashi's jaw slackens at the concept of being spoken to in such a manner, immediately straightening his back in order to regain his composure.
"The red-haired is a Jinchuuriki" Itachi replies, bitter that he hadn't noticed prior.
He suddenly bows before the Yondaime, head low as strands of his dark hair falls on his face, forming soft shadows underneath his cheekbones.
"Hokage-Sama, I wish to ask that you immediately terminate the fight. We have no information on the enemy. The risk is too high"
An awkward moment passes as the Hokage's gaze remains on his son, whose chakra had immediately flared in retaliation of his unconscious team mate. Minato's sense of pride swells as his chest constricts. Kushina would be proud.
"And what will the Suna think about us?" Fugaku asks.
Crimson meets charcoal.
"That we terminate the fight because it wasn't an easy opponent for the Hokage's son, let alone the alliance we have been attempting to mend for decades?"
Minato finally tears his gaze away from his son only to stare at Fugaku, eyes impassive.
"Your son has just been knocked unconscious. This is not only about my son"
Fugaku blinks rapidly before composing himself.
"My son should have never allowed a moment of weakness to appear, if he hadn't he wou-"
Itachi immediately rises from his kneeling position, the black and red of his Sharingan swirling rapidly, his grip on his kunai pouch tightens.
Hiashi inhales sharply, Fugaku raises a dark eyebrow. Itachi knows it's a sign of his father's seething anger that will unleash any moment. For Fugaku's silence was much more frightening that his words and Itachi's act of defiance is a roaring clap of thunder.
As if on que, Tsunade appears, breathing rapidly as she quickly bows, mumbling a quite 'Hai'.
"I agree with captain Itachi, my student, Haruno Sakura, is also in grave danger as neither are equipped to fight a Jinchuuriki. Also-"
She hesitates, her eyes wander between Fugaku and Minato.
"The Jinchuuriki may not open the sand barrier if either of Konoha genin are injured, we have no way to aid them"
Kakashi faces his former mentor, his expression unreadable.
"Hokage-sama, do not forget Naruto is a Jinchuuriki himself, if we forfeit the match based on Gaara alone, then my team would automatically fail. They also have an Uchiha on the team"
His gaze flickers to Itachi before continuing.
"Allow it to continue for now, we do not want to alert the Kazekage of any excuse to not con-"
"Kakashi" growls Tsunade, face darkening. "Naruto's Jinchuuriki has been sealed and under control for the past decade. This Gaara person may-"
"Yes, but he has been training underneath Jiraiya. His control is-"
"You believe that man taught Naruto anything? For god's sake, Jiraiya would have-"
"What do you propose?" snaps back Kakashi, fists clenched in his pockets
"Enough" demands Minato, the breeze momentarily freezes.
His eyes flicker between the trios standing before him as he responds.
"Kakashi, this is your team. Do what you think is best. However-"
Inhale.
"My son is your responsibility."
The copy-nin knows his former mentor well enough to understand it is not a threat, rather a thread of trust. Instead Kakashi bows, whispers a quite thank you and disappears.
Minato faces the small group of ANBU surrounding him before placing his gaze onto Itachi. "Follow Captain Hatake's orders. Itachi, take your best men and remain stationed in the arena. Guard the shield if in any case a moment of weakness arises, destroy it"
He tears his gaze away from the match just as Naruto manages to land a surprisingly poorly aimed kick. The sand Jinchuuriki was getting reckless.
Itachi merely nods before he disappears.
Tsunade briefly hesitates as the Hokage places a warm hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.
Minato meets the Kazekage stare and for the briefest of moments the man flashes a smile. Although, by the time the Hokage blinks the man has vanished.
—S—
When he finally regains consciousness, he briefly wishes he hadn't. He rapidly blinks, the blurry haze slowly disappearing. Shadows are dancing in front of him before they converge, forming dark rotating specks. The smell of freshly spilled blood is heavy, it lingers on his clothing.
"Sasuke, you will eventually get used to the concept of death"
His voice was hard, almost bitter as the breeze carried his words across the fields.
Spring.
Black locks swayed as the young Uchiha shook his head.
He lay in agony in the midst of chaos and pain. Blue and red blemishes litter his pale skin, a mixture of his own blood and bile cling to his shirt. He forces himself to move, to grind through the pain as he ignores the screaming protests of his body.
He senses Naruto's chakra becoming slower, its usual erratic aura slowly subsiding. Naruto is a genin that endures, he pushes and he forces. He breaks through barriers in order to protect his team mates, to protect his pride. But his lack of organization has always lead to his downfall. He charges and eventually breaks because he is never able to completely master his chakra.
With a subtle moan Sasuke forces his body to sit up using his palms as support. He instantly notices Sakura kneeling a few metres away. Her eyes are closed and her cheeks are swollen. A green glow radiating from her fingertips, he could sense the warmth of her chakra from miles away.
Sasuke hisses as he activates his Sharingan, his pupils burning in defiance as the dancing shadows appear momentarily. He hopes Gaara does not notice the flare in his chakra.
He doesn't. Sasuke silently promises himself to pray to the gods at the Uchiha shrine tonight.
"What will you do if a loved one is in danger? Will you become a fox or lion?"
Sasuke's eyes widened.
Fox.
"Naruto!" he hoarsely yells out, his mouth dry as he eagerly licks his lips.
The blurred colours stop for a moment. Naruto eyes widen in relief upon seeing his teammate conscious. Gaara's smirk morphs into a grin.
And without a moment to spare, he lunges towards Sasuke.
"When the rabbit begs for help the fox comes running."
Someone screams his name but his mind does not process. All he sees is gold and pink. He envisions forest and oceans.
Yet all he hears is the clashing of metal and hushed words.
"Teme!" Naruto breathes out, legs visibly shaking from his lack of chakra. His body barely hanging onto the last threads of his preserved chakra.
"But not to help, but to feed."
"I guess it makes us even" even though all he can see is the back of Naruto's revolting orange jacket, he can sense the bastard smirking.
For once, Sasuke grins in response.
Gaara snarls as he forces his entire weight against the Kyuubi vessel, yet he does not budge.
"Just die already! Die!" growls Gaara as forces himself to retreat, only to hurl into another attack.
No words are exchanged between the two boys but Naruto has trained besides Sasuke long enough to understand how the Uchiha thinks. Naruto turns to face his friend and rival, an unrecognizable emotion flickers across his eyes before it abruptly disappears.
Naruto nods, understanding the unspoken plan.
With speed that surprises Sasuke, Naruto appears on the other side of the field, immediately followed by an enraged Gaara.
"I will resemble a fox when needed."
Kakashi's smile is genuine. The small blemishes around his eye deepen.
Sasuke turns his attention towards Sakura, who has managed to crawl towards him, her condition much worse at a closer range.
"Sakura I need you to heal me, Naruto wont-"
She eagerly nods, swiftly understanding.
Within seconds Sasuke senses the familiar warmth of chakra surging through his body, his bones mending together and the headache subsides. Once the shadows disappear and he's confident his muscles have repaired, he gently grabs her wrists.
"Preserve your chakra for Naruto" he weakly mumbles.
She meekly nods in response, unable to formulate words.
—S—
When a piece of china is dropped, it shatters. It does not break. It does not crack. It does not bear fractures. It immediately shatters, pieces of porcelain scatter. When Sasuke kneels to pick up the sharp edged pieces he struggles. Each piece produces a cut, a scar. Sasuke simply continues collecting the fragments. Staring at the blood as it oozes onto the ground. Splashes of crimson against his pale fingers.
Time heals. Scars remain.
—S—
When Naruto screams it is not with joy, it is not with fear. It is with pure agony. The scream echoes and to Sasuke unknown belief, will continue to haunt him in his future nightmares. The second scream is harsher, colder. The sounds he produces feel like physical blows to Sasuke. Each groan and each whimper renders Sasuke immobile. His bones creak and his muscles tear for each drop of blood Naruto loses.
Eternity passes before Sasuke shifts his gaze towards Naruto, afraid of what he may see.
Thorn like spikes impale his limbs onto the ground, their jagged sharp edges gleaming in the sunlight. Fiery jets of crimson gush from his wounds, for each moment that passes it grew more brutal. With each breath Naruto inhales the pain intensifies. His muscles tremble. His consciousness slips. When the dark abyss surrounds his mind he silently whimpers. Its sharp edges graze him as he is pulled into the shadows.
Blood never flowed gracefully, it poured out rapidly. It was never a quite river. It was an angry ocean, struggling to free itself. Crimson was a colour Sasuke has learnt to despise; the colour of his clan's true power. It's the colour that spills when Kakashi manages to graze his skin with a kunai. The colour of Sakura's cheeks when she speaks to him.
Moments pass and Sasuke does not move. He remains rooted, his feet refusing to obey. He knows he must do something because there is a commotion in the crowd. There are screams and sobs. There are colours merging and a blur of animal masks. But he does not move.
"What happens if the wolf avoids the traps? Will the lion survive?" Sasuke questions. He lay on the grass, legs crossed as his finger twirled around a long blade of grass.
It's Sakura who reacts first.
"Naruto!" she screams, almost begs. In a moment of sheer stupidity, she lunges towards her fallen team mate.
Sasuke yells her name as he attempts to pursue her. He knows it's too late. His Sharingan rapidly swirls as he attempts to reach out his hand to grab her.
His fingertips grace the cotton of her shirt, the symbol of the Haruno clan staring at him.
Everything occurs in slow motion, he sees it happening. The spikes pierce her stomach, barely grazing her lungs as they exit through her back. He sees her pancreas and intestines rip apart. He sees her bones break in a gruesome matter. He sees her veins slash as the familiar crimson river flows again. He sees her forest eyes widen as she witnesses her life flash before her.
"The molars are used to rip apart flesh. Canines are used to asphyxiate the prey, closing in on the throat, blocking airways, killing the prey. The incisors are used to specifically tear the internal organs."
Something cracks in Sasuke.
Not the way porcelain cracks when it's dropped. The way lightning cracks against the lifeless sky. The way the heavens unleash its fury.
His mind is too slow to process his own actions.
With a crack of lightning Sasuke suddenly appears besides Sakura. He roughly grabs her by the waist before forcefully shoving them both into the ground, narrowly missing the spikes.
"What do you think?" Kakashi asks, masking his curiosity.
Sasuke clenches his fists, crushing the blade of grass as he rips it from its root before answering.
"Yes. He will survive"
Genma, the nicotine addicted ANBU stiffens.
The Hokage's chakra is erratic. It's dark and threatening as the trees bow in fear of the raging winds. Minato clenches his fists as he watches his only son suffer. His chakra continues to thrash, forcing the winds to howl, on the brink of forming a whirlwind.
Gaara suddenly groans, gripping the sides of his head as he roughly lands on his knees. He is pushing his mental and physical barriers.
Sasuke inhales. Afraid of opening his eyes. Afraid to see the dead of corpse of Sakura laying beneath him, her lifeless eyes staring into his.
Her sobs immediately subside any fears and doubts he had.
He exhales.
In response she buries her face into his shoulder, her sobs are quite but they ring in his ears.
"N-nar-ruto"
Sasuke digs his teeth into his bottom lip in hopes of distracting himself. But it doesn't. He knows he cannot comfort her. Instead, he detaches himself from her, rolling onto his back.
Are you afraid?
"Enough!" roars Gaara. A bruised Temari appears before him, visibly attempting to calm him down.
The ground shakes and his mask fractures.
Sasuke immediately calms himself, forcing his body to stand.
His voice is harsh and barely audible "Sakura I need-"
"Sasuke. Stop." In contrast to his, her voice and her expression is hard.
He absentmindedly retreats.
"Just surrender. It's okay. We put up a fair fight but it's near impossible. He's just too strong and I can't-"
She interrupts herself with her own sob, gripping her elbows as she brings her knees towards her forehead.
"Will you become the fox if there's a chance the lion will survive?" Kakashi asks
Sasuke frowns, lines forming between his eyebrows before answering.
"Why would I retreat if using force will help me win?"
He senses Kakashi's chakra and immediately spins. The copy-nin is merely a few metres away, the sand shield separating teacher from student. He is evidently trembling as he places his palms onto the thick shield.
"Sasuke…"
And for once the great copy-nin is at a loss for words.
An unknown expression flickers beneath his hard façade before it disappears. The emotion is long gone before Sasuke can recognize it.
"Yield"
Sasuke blinks.
"Yield" Kakashi repeats, his voice deeper.
A blur of black lands besides his Sensei, the bleeding red of his Sharingan swirling.
"Sasuke"
Inhale.
"Sasuke, yield. He's a Jinchuuriki, you can't defeat him and we can't find a way through the barrier. The Kazekage has disappeared. This could be an attack-"
But Sasuke has long blocked out his brother voice, instead the cogs of his mind begin to spin.
The shield grows thicker and heavier.
Sasuke returns his attention to Naruto. Blood seeps through pale lips as the Kyuubi's chakra mends the extensive damage.
"Do you yield Uchiha?" the fan wielder hisses, obviously limping while bearing the weight of her brother.
"Sasuke" repeats Itachi urgently, almost desperately.
"You will become a lion when needed, you will rip apart flesh and bathe in fresh blood. You will have stained hands that no soap can ever remove. You will suffer. You will kill. You will bend and eventually you will break. But you will never betray your team mate's nor your family. You will sacrifice. You will heal."
The sound of a thousand birds roars to life, drowning out his brother's pleas.
—S—
He manages to eliminate the fan wielder who proves herself much brighter than the puppet master.
Gaara is the larger wolf to hunt.
One. Dodge and inhale. Two. Defend and exhale. Three. Attack and breathe.
A crack appears in Sasuke's defence and Gaara takes complete advantage, managing to land a solid kick into Sasuke's ribs, forcing him to skid away. Sasuke hisses, unsheathing a kunai as he stabs the ground in an attempt to regain his balance.
All Gaara required was a crack and Sasuke was broken.
Gaara descends his fury onto Sasuke, the Sand-nins screams echo around them as he continues to brutally attack the Uchiha. Foam forms at the corners of him mouth as he mutters incoherent words. Sasuke knows whatever shred of dignity he had has long been burned as he shelters his head with his arms, wrapping himself into a cocoon. Only when Gaara has suddenly stopped, when his breathing is loud and he's evidently shaking does Sasuke allow his muscles to relax.
"Pathetic" hisses Gaara. For a split second Sasuke envisions his own father standing above him, whispering the very same word with Sasuke's blood on his hands.
"What do you do if the wolf is too powerful?"
The ocean rises and the rivers overflow. Sasuke is sinking, drowning. This time it's in blood. It's in his lungs, his kidneys and in his hair. When he inhales he tastes blood and when he sniffs he smells blood.
Sasuke shrugs. His Sensei's riddles were becoming ridiculous.
And when he opens his eyes he sees blood.
Red everywhere.
"You try to combine the tactics of a fox and a lion"
He doesn't know what happens and he doesn't recognize who he is, but he is soothed by the sudden loud roar of thunder.
It is deafening and soothing. It is beautifully painful as he drowns in an ocean of crimson.
A regretful expression flashes across the man's face. It immediately disappears.
"A wolf is territorial, it forms bonds beyond the ties of blood."
There's a roar, Sasuke hears it. There's a roar and it's not from the heavens.
For a brief moment Sasuke assumes it's a creature but immediately dismisses the thought. Blaming his fractured sanity causing him to hallucinate.
"The wolf is ferocious"
He is unaware of how the events occurred. Gaara is on the ground and the sand shield around them begins to crack before crumbling.
"In order to defeat a wolf"
Sasuke knows that even a hare is a worthy opponent, for its symbol was needed to complete the fireball Jutsu.
This time, he drowns in his insanity.
—S—
The crack deepens and the piece of porcelain crumbles, fragments of itself scatter across the floor. It can no longer mend its scars, it can no longer hide its crack. It lays on the floor broken, the damage irreversible.
Only when blue moulds to black and light transitions into darkness does Sasuke find tranquillity. Peace was in the mind and his mind was shattered, long destroyed by the crushing waves of the sea. He knows red is blood and black is a never ending void. He knows blue is Naruto and green is Shisui. He knows yellow is his mother and brown is his father. He knows this because his world is white and black and they were the only ones in colour, the only ones worthy enough to be colourful. Sasuke is grey, an equal mix of dark and light, of happiness and sadness.
He was a lost boy. Chasing a rabbit down a hole while hundreds of foxes eyed him out hungrily.
"You must become a wolf"
A/N: Chapters are getting longer but they may shorten for next few chapters, depending on context. Hope you enjoyed!