Heavy shit. Heavy shit.
This has been a long time coming.
Promises Not Made are Promises Never Kept
Chapter Thirty-Five: Failure
"Haha, how lucky we are!" Kisame gloated as he shifted the massive sword on his shoulder. "Hey kid, why don't you make it easy and come with us quietly! Would hate to mess up that pretty lil' face of yours!"
Naruto grinned at him.
"What? Afraid I'll knock a few of those pretty pearly whites out if you get too close?" He shot back with a provocative sneer. "Come over here and try it, fishstick! I'll stick you in my frying pan and pair you up with some tartar sauce!"
This isn't good; what am I saying?! He thought, doing his best to not let his fear show. He felt the power they held, and the animal inside him wanted nothing more than to turn tail and run. These guys mean bad business!
"You little brat!" Kisame exclaimed. "Do you have any idea who I am?!"
"No way! Why? Am I supposed to?" Naruto pulled one lower eyelid down, sticking out his tongue. "Keep dreaming, sucka! I ain't going anywhere with you!"
"Geez, how obnoxious!" Kisame grumbled. "Already, he's pissing me off."
"You both are obnoxious, Kisame," his partner told him unsympathetically. "We must take care of this quickly, before someone realizes he's here alone."
With that encouragement, Kisame grinned.
"You got it, Itachi!" He cried. "I'll catch this kid without you having to lift a finger, just watch!"
"You have my undivided attention, Kisame," Itachi told him, unimpressed as Kisame rushed Naruto.
The blonde's eyes widened.
Oh shit he's fast-
Before he knew it the blue-skinned man was upon him, and the sword swung in a great arc-
Blood burst forward from Kisame's chest as a deep gash dragged itself across his body, and Naruto raised a hand to cover his face against the splatter as Kisame fell back, a secondary wound appearing across his belly.
"What the hell-?!"
The traitor-nin leaped back, putting considerate distance between himself and the blonde as blood started drenching his robe. Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"I would leave while you can, if I were you."
Naruto's eyes widened and he grinned. "Sasuke!"
The other Genin stood between him and Kisame, a sword of dangerously sharp ice (now red and steaming with blood) grasped in one hand. Without looking, he reached behind him and rested a hand on Naruto's chest, near the shoulder.
"Don't worry, Naruto," the Terranova told his friend. "I'm here. I won't let them take you."
Naruto raised an eyebrow at him.
Take me?
"What..." he gasped. "What do you mean?"
Kisame giggled shrilly.
"Well, what a cute reinforcement," he cooed as his wounds continued to bleed. "I've never met you before, but I already know you're an annoying little fuck."
"Oh, don't start name-calling just because I would've cut you in half if you hadn't fallen backwards," Sasuke replied as the sword in his hand melted, leaving only the wooden hilt. "I'm telling you once more. Leave this village now, and never return."
"Sasuke..." Itachi murmured. "That is your name?"
Sasuke swallowed as his brother addressed him, feeling endless emotions mixing and churning in his belly. Memories of love, of fear, of blood swirled through his mind and for one moment he thought he was just going to vomit right there-
But Ragnarok was with him, and he felt the great deity's presence upon him like a calming, soothing blanket, and his nausea quieted. He knew walking into this that this was going to be the most impressive acting job of his entire life.
Was he capable of fooling his own brother?
Time to find out. I've changed a lot since then, Itachi.
"Yes, what of it?" He asked impatiently. "Is that supposed to make some kind of difference?"
"It's just... interesting," Itachi replied, and Sasuke knew he was being scrutinized beneath that gaze, even as he avoided eye contact with the man, instead focusing on Kisame, who was considerably closer and still a threat, but keeping the elder Uchiha in his peripheral. "I have a brother with the same name. He is dead, unfortunately. But he would be about your age, and he had astounding potential just like you. I think you even look like him."
"This fucking village," Sasuke cursed, even as his heart raced. "It's like everyone here is a Goddamn broken record about that kid. Well, I'll say it again: 'Sasuke' is a very common name. Everyone's acting like this coincidence is supposed to mean something to me, and it's really starting to piss me off." Even as he said those words, he could feel the heartbreak happening behind him. Naruto, I'm so sorry. His fists clenched. But I'm never coming back.
"Is it now?" Even with the high collar, Sasuke knew his brother was smiling in that half way of his. "Yes, what an interesting coincidence indeed."
"If your brother's name was Sasuke, last name Uchiha, then I assume you are..." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "His infamous, murderous older brother Itachi. Tell me something..." The Terranova's jaw clenched. "Was it worth it? Murdering your whole family, leaving your brother alone, in a pool of his parents' blood from what I heard... Was the power worth it?" For an instance he just couldn't handle looking at the other human before him. "WAS THIS SO-CALLED POWER WORTH ALL OF THAT BLOODSHED?"
"I don't think you deserve an answer to that, quite frankly," Itachi replied. "The only person who deserves an answer to that is my little brother, and he is unfortunately deceased."
"I'm sure that must break your little heart," Sasuke commented, eyes dark. "After all, you had left him alive for a reason, didn't you? Must be awful, knowing whatever plan you had in store for him will never come to fruition."
"For someone who claims the whole scenario means nothing to him, you sure do show a lot of interest in it," Itachi observed.
I don't understand it. His Chakra is so like my brother's. The Akatsuki member thought. But... his Chakra is NOT my brother's. What is this? What is HE?
"What can I say? Sociopaths are interesting, especially when they make a habit of slaughtering their own brethren," Sasuke said. "It will be even more interesting to return the favor to said sociopath, piece by fucking murderous piece."
"Remember Sasuke, your mission is to protect Naruto, not kill Itachi," Ragnarok reminded him quietly. "Do not let your old feelings cloud your judgement."
Itachi smiled a little.
"I think you feel more connection with my dead brother than you care to admit," he stated.
"I'm an empathetic creature, what can I say?" Sasuke replied, eyes narrowing. "After hearing such a harrowing tale, I can't help but want to enact some justice on behalf of the departed." He shook his head. "Seriously, though. You were his brother. How could you ever justify doing that to him?"
"An outsider like you could never hope to understand," Itachi said dismissively. "Now, enough chatter. Give us Naruto."
Sasuke lowered himself down in a defensive stance.
"Kill me first," he replied simply. The next words sliced the air like a knife. "Just like you did your poor family."
Though this time, you will find it not so easily done.
Kisame leaped forward, having created a seal of water for his wounds.
"Don't mind if I do!"
"Stay behind me and stay alert, Naruto!" Sasuke told him. "Remember, they're after you!"
"Right!"
Sasuke's gaze went to Kisame, and suddenly he felt all of his rage and humiliation towards Itachi focus entirely on the blue-skinned ninja in a moment of utter clarity, and the utter urge to annihilate swept over him like a consuming tsunami.
"Sasuke, don't lose yourself-"
He leaped into the fray, eagerly engaging Kisame with such ferocity the man was taken aback,
Killing your partner might not bring you the same agony I felt when you killed our parents, Itachi... Sasuke thought as they fought, Sharkskin's sharp teeth piercing through the cloth and cutting into him.
"But it'll sure make me feel a lot better!"
Kisame blinked, thoroughly confused by the outburst, and Sasuke's fist slammed into his cheek and he sailed down to crash into the water next to the bridge they stood upon.
Sasuke looked down at his bleeding hand as he landed. Even your skin is like a shark's, you annoying fucking creature. But before his eyes the bleeding stopped and his wounds sealed over.
"Your partner stands no chance, Itachi," Sasuke told the man, walking over to hop onto the railing of the bridge and look down into the water Kisame fell into. "The next blow I land will kill him. You're better off taking him and crawling back into whatever hole you manifested in."
"Such harsh words, coming from a stranger in a strange land," Itachi replied, almost in amusement. "Didn't your sensei teach you not to underestimate your opponents?"
At his words, Sasuke sensed an upsurge of Chakra, and the water before him exploded outwards as sharks flew towards him in a tidal wave.
"Water style! Hungry Shark Jutsu!"
Sasuke pictured himself simply standing there. Standing there and letting the shark hit him and dissipate back into the water it was made out of, but then he remembered Naruto was still present and would be swept away directly into Itachi's arms if the Terranova stood there and did nothing.
Turning, he leaped away from the shark and grabbed Naruto by the waist, pushing him out of the way of the water as it flooded the bridge.
"Naruto, they are here for you," he told the blonde. "You need to get out of here and find your teammates! Find your teacher! I'll hold them off while you run!"
"No way man!" Naruto protested. "I am not leaving you here by yourself!"
"Peek-a-boo!"
Sasuke turned to see Kisame continuing the assault, and the Terranova had to reach up and brace his hands against the sword as it swung downwards. The sharp scales of the sword bit into the sensitive skin in his palms, punching through the backs of his hands, and blood slid down his arms in rivulets.
"Naruto, the fact is I cannot fight to protect you and protect you simultaneously," Sasuke told him as he grit his teeth against the pain. "You are in danger! Get out of here and find the people who can do both! If you run, I will win!"
"Haha, big words for someone who's about to DIE!" Kisame cried as he increased the pressure. Sasuke's arms began to quiver, and he knew he couldn't hold the traitor-nin back for much longer.
"GO NARUTO!"
As the blonde turned and fled, as he got further away from Sasuke, Itachi appeared before him and reached out.
"Wrong choice."
Sasuke saw his brother appear before the blonde, and his eyes widened.
Nonono-!
Taking a hand off the sword, he threw it out towards Naruto and a stream of water obeyed his fear, racing towards the two Leaf ninja and simultaneously pushing Itachi away from the blonde while solidifying around Naruto, encasing him in a protective prison of ice.
But with that movement, he allowed Kisame to overpower him, and he fell backwards to hit the stone railing of the bridge as the sword pressed intimately against his body, all of the sharp points biting into his torso at once as the man grinned down at him.
"Not so cocky now, are you?" He cackled as blood started to stain Sasuke's clothes as he went limp against the wall, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth against the pain. "I think you meant to say, the next blow would kill YOU!"
Naruto... Sasuke thought, not even listening to the man as he gazed at the protective shield Naruto stood in. He could almost see the blonde's face through the thick ice, and he imagined Naruto's worried face. I won't let him... take you... like he took my family...
"Hey!" Kisame demanded. "Are you even listening to me?"
He socked Sasuke heavily in the jaw, making the boy cough. Grimacing, he scowled at the man.
"Your words are meaningless to me," he told the traitor-nin as blood dripped from his lips. "Who gives a shit what you have to say?"
"Gah, you little brat!" Kisame exclaimed, though at the back of his mind he couldn't help but hear Itachi in those words. "I'll fucking butcher you alive!"
"Sasuke!" The boy's eyes widened.
No.
"You two, get out of here!" Sasuke screamed at them. "These two are too dangerous! Stay back!"
"Fuck that!" Inaré cried. "Fuck all of that! We're saving you!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Right, like I need saving," he muttered as Kisame raised an eyebrow.
"You're bleeding out and you don't think you need saving?" He asked the boy incredulously. "You are a special kind of crazy, aren't you?"
Sasuke gave him a wicked half-smirk, and for a second Kisame could've sworn he was looking at Itachi.
"You could say that," he replied as he lifted a bloody hand and set it solidly on Kisame's face.
Immediately, the man screamed and backed away from Sasuke, dropping his sword as he staggered backwards, feeling like his whole face had suddenly lit on fire.
As Sasuke skid forward and kicked the man's sword far away from him, fire engulfed the prison Naruto was trapped in as Itachi attempted to melt it with the Uchiha clan's signature fireball jutsu.
You're going to have to get a lot hotter than that to melt my ice. Sasuke thought in grim satisfaction as he dashed towards it and his two teammates. I have the god of water on my side, after all.
"Inaré, Haku!" He cried as he ran over. "These two are of the Akatsuki! You need to get out of here!"
"We haven't been training by your side for so many years just to run in the face of danger!" Inaré protested. "We're not going to let you face these two alone!"
"Yes little Sasuke, you should listen to your friends," Itachi commented in amusement as Sasuke became very acutely aware of all the ways this interaction could go wrong. "I think you might be very in over your head."
Sasuke shot him a cruel look before addressing the other two as Kisame continued screaming behind him.
"I am not asking, Inaré," he told her dangerously. "Get out of here."
Inaré took a moment to eye his bloodstained clothes before meeting his gaze. "No. Fucking. Way."
"Don't make me put you in a prison too," Sasuke growled, feeling his patience disappear as he glared at the two before him. All he could imagine was them lying on the floor, dead like his parents, and he would be damned if it turned out that way again-
"Too slow."
Suddenly Itachi was behind Inaré, and he yanked her wrist behind her back with one hand and placed the other hand, hovering, over her face, right in front of her eyes. Sasuke felt his heart drop into his stomach as Haku's eyes widened.
"You should've listened to your teammate, my dear," Itachi cooed at her as she began to quiver beneath his hand. "He obviously has a better sense for these kinds of things than you do. Now look at the situation you've put him in."
"You fucking monster," Sasuke swore. "If you hurt one hair on her head-"
"What? You'll kill me? You've been threatening that from the very start." Itachi gazed at him evenly. "I am not afraid of you."
"Kill him, Sasuke!" Inaré begged. "Don't worry about me; just kill him and you will save so many more lives!"
"You said it yourself Sasuke: I'm just here for Naruto," Itachi stated, his eyes on the Terranova. "Give Naruto to me, and I will let her go. Unharmed."
Conflict ravaged Sasuke's body as possible outcomes raced through his mind, none of them really working out in his favor.
I can't give them Naruto. I promised! He couldn't handle this - what could he do? What loophole was there? But I also promised to protect Inaré... Gah, why couldn't she have just run?!
"Well? I'm waiting," Itachi pressed. "But I will not wait long. Give me the Nine-Tailed Fox!"
"Naruto is just a means to an end for you..." Sasuke murmured. "What are you, Itachi? Are you even human anymore?"
"Stop stalling, Sasuke," Itachi stated coldly. The name said with that voice, made the younger ninja fight against a shiver. "Give me your answer!" Chakra sizzled up and down his fingers, making Inaré flinch, and Sasuke raised a hand.
"Okay, okay!" He exclaimed. "Stop! Let her go! I'll..." He couldn't say the words. "Just stop."
Defeated, he lifted his arm and faced his palm towards the prison that trapped Naruto, and slowly it began to melt, slowly evaporating into a column of steam.
"Kisame, get ready to grab the boy!" Itachi ordered his partner, who was able to recover from Sasuke's curious attack. "As soon as you can see him!"
"Right!" As he neared the disappearing cage, Sasuke looked to Haku, silently searching for guidance. The older boy looked at him sadly.
"You will do what you think is right," Haku told him solemnly, offering Sasuke no comfort in his decision.
"Sasuke!" The boy closed his eyes as he heard Naruto's voice. "Sasuke, what's going on?"
"I'm sorry, Naruto," he breathed. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise."
The air changed as Naruto's bright yellow hair came into view, and Sasuke sensed a slight lowering of Itachi's guard just as it was acted upon.
Kaoru sank her teeth into Itachi's open hand just as Dagina smashed into Kisame, knocking him off balance. Inaré took the opportunity and spun out of the Leaf ninja's grasp, leaping away as the man threw Kaoru off him.
As Haku dashed to Inaré, Sasuke moved towards Naruto, but he stopped in his tracks as Kisame caught the giant tiger by the scruff of the neck and punched his fist wrist-deep into her belly.
Sasuke choked, feeling his lungs freeze up as Dagina fell to the ground, and he followed soon after, collapsing onto all fours as he felt a simultaneous sensation of dying and exploding with new power.
"Sasuke!"
Everything that happened after that, Sasuke saw in slow motion. Even as he couldn't take in a breath, he watched as Itachi seized the opportunity and closed in on him, seeking to eliminate the most powerful of the group while he was weakened. He watched death near him, even as he gasped for air that wouldn't fill lungs that refused to work, and then he saw a figure fill that gap between them, watched with horrified eyes as the death that was meant for him strike the figure, and blood splattered across his face when the kunai burst through the other side.
Sasuke felt the world around him disappear as everything he ever lived for vanished.
"No!" He exclaimed haggardly, tears streaming down his face as the figure fell into his arms, the recovering properties of his body affecting Dagina's as well as her wound began to close and he found his breath again. "NO!" He felt his heart get ripped from his chest. "NO!"
Power erupted around him in a tornado of Chakra, furious, unapproachable and blinded with grief. He couldn't feel life from the figure in his arms, knew the person was dead even before they had collapsed in his arms, but even so he could've sworn he could hear a voice in his head say,
"I love you, Sasuke."
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Sasuke screamed in agony, ready to keep screaming until he screamed out his lungs. "HAKUUUUUUUUUU!"
Haku, his best friend, lover, defender, saviour, lay dead in his arms.
End Chapter Thirty-Five: Failure
