Chapter 16: Trials
Parings : Naru/Sasu….duh.
Rating: K-T (first) M-NC-17 (later)
Disclaimer: I do not own the sheer genius "Sasuke"; Shippuden of other. The honours go to Masashi Kishimoto and his genius brain that created this masterpiece.
Summary: Remember the summer camp you went to; that quaint place out in the woods, by a lake, sitting around a campfire telling ghost stories and eating s'mores? Well this summer school, sure as hell, isn't that. Three months, Sasuke, teenage delinquents, illegal alcohol, prescription drugs, annoying shrinks, escape plans, a Shitzu from hell, and new relationships; welcome to camp. NaruSasuNaru.
A/N: Insert the 'Shitzu from hell'. XD. AND A strong Hinata debuts.
A/N2: I've got to address an issue here, how many of you want a whole chapter of Naruto P.O.V?
A/N3: 'Wild Card' is getting kind of technical but it's going to be posted soon.
A/N4: You know how I'm the queen of twisting facts...specifically scientific facts...yeah...I did it again. #sheepishlook.
Cali was getting more strenuous by the day; the previous ten mile run had been extended to twenty miles but with the daily extra exercise (a.k.a the nightly spar), Sasuke was getting he believe it was going to be easier. It had been, but why the hell was he currently wheezing after eight miles? He felt like his lungs weren't getting enough air no matter how deeply he breathed. Was it a resurgence of his bronchitis?
He shrugged it off.
Probably nothing.
(*)(*)(*)
Why the hell was this peaceful Sunday morning riddled with a racket? The noise was seriously irritating him. Sasuke glanced up from the 'Principles of Calculus' textbook he was vainly trying to read to glare ominously at the stream of chattering people hurrying in the direction of the front quad. Calmly marking his page he flipped the book closed and glanced up to see Shikamaru slouching his way towards the direction of the gathering.
"What the hell is going on?" he asked testily.
"I really don't know." The pale Nara returned lazily, "I heard there is some demon animal on the quad that's maiming everyone who goes near it."
A black eyebrow skyrocketed. He shrugged; in replacement of another entertainment factor, what would it hurt to go take a look see. Getting up and shoving his hands into his pockets he followed Shikamaru to the quad.
Almost the whole camp was assembled on the flat spade of space in a motley semicircle and a wide berth was formed between them and the flagpole. Somebody shifted and Sasuke was given a clear view of the, he snorted, 'demon' animal sitting in the middle of the flag circle.
The creature was small, like a month old puppy and looked like a cross between a fox and a golden collie, with shaggy crimson tinged gold fur and huge disproportionate pointed ears tufted with the same spikey red fur.
"That's what the fuss is about?" he asked incredulously.
"Oh no, Uchiha." Shikamaru said nodding over to the side where about four people were nursing slashed appendages. "That's what the fuss is about." The kitsune raised a shaggy paw tipped with short but clearly lethal red tipped black claws to his muzzle and licked.
Licked blood. He blanched; stomach revolting. In that moment Sasuke happened to get a clear view of the thing's eyes and they were pure molten amber. Weird.
"Does anybody know where it came from?" he asked.
"The forest." Another voice answered, Choujii this time, "That guard over there was on patrol this morning when he saw it ripping at the forest boundary fence and just made itself a nest on the flag oval." Choujii grimaced, "He tried to move it and was the first to get ripped open."
"Then how about calling the regional pest control." He offered drolly, "...or a using a galvanized net...a tranquilizer dart...a guillotine?"
"You're morbid Uchiha." TenTen snorted. "Do we even know what it is?"
"It's a shitzu." Naruto said lowly as he passed them towards the oval, "A fox breed hybrid, really."
In a spit second Sasuke inferred what the blond was going to do and shouted, "No!"
Too late. Naruto calmly approached the fox thing and ignoring the multiple warning calls he knelt down on one knee and stared at it. Sasuke tensed and he watched. Wait...was the blond...speaking to it?
What...the...effing hell?
Naruto reached out a hand, the gathering went silent as the grave, and turned his palm face up, baring his blood filled vein inches before the fox's muzzle.
"Naruto!" Kiba shouted looking positively hysteric, "Are you fu-" Renjii slapped a hand over Kiba's mouth and hissed, "Shut up fool."
The fox started and whipped his head around to growl at Kiba baring short glistening white fangs. Kiba meeped. After a tense second the growl disappeared and the fox's attention was brought back to the patiently waiting Naruto.
The kit shifted forward, tan fingers never wavered, and, after a moment, bumped his nose on the tan hand before him then licked the fingers. Naruto's canine grin made Sasuke shiver, in that moment he looked exactly like the fox before him. The puppy grabbed at Naruto's arm, scampered up to his shoulder, wrapped his fluffy white-tipped tail around his tan neck and perched on the shoulder surveying the gathering like a queen on her throne.
"Your roommate," Kin said to Sasuke turning away, "is...unbelievable."
(*)(*)(*)
Acid was crawling up his throat and a freezing cold wash was dancing over his skin. Launching out of the bed into the deep darkness of the room, he rushed to the bathroom sink and vomited so harshly it felt like the lining of his oesophagus was being stripped piece by piece and destroyed. Hunkering over the sink he watched the swirls of frothy white sink down the drain.
Leaning on the cold tile he closed his eyes for a second trying breathing hard, trying to settle his roiling stomach. He wasn't prone to vomiting sessions so what the hell was going on.
"Sasuke?" Naruto asked rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he denied spitting the last vestiges of the acid out of his mouth, "Just an upset stomach...must be something I ate."
"Probably." The blond murmured softly.
'Green Tea for breakfast.' He decided, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead. 'I need antioxidants and something alkaline to settle my stomach...like pineapples.'
Washing his face he glanced up at the pale ghostly reflection facing him clashing gauntly with his obsidian hair. He grimaced. Not a good day.
"Calculus is the mathematical study of change," the teacher, Hirgurahi Maiko said. "Just like geometry is the study of shape, and algebra is the study of operations to solving equations. Calculus has two branches, 'differential calculus' concerning rates of change and slopes of curves and 'integral calculus' which concerns the accumulation of quantities and the areas under and between curves."
"Generally considered to be founded by Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz it practical functions are wides-"
Sasuke glanced around the room; six people, himself, Gaara, Shikamaru, Kin, Shino and a blanked eyed Neji. Sasuke paused eyes squinting, were those...stress lines... ingrained into Neji's face. What the hell was going on?
***Psychiatric Session, Naruto, Room 86.***
"I've got to say Naruto," Kakashi sighed, "You did this yesterday was incredibly stupid. What were you thinking?"
The blond shrugged, "Actually...I wasn't...I just thought someone needed to do something and since nobody was doing anything I could."
"Naruto," Kakashi pressed, "That animal was dangerous."
The blond snorted, "Not if you've ever faced a Brazil Mountain Lion or a Siberian wolf. That fox was nothing compared to those."
Seeing as he was getting nowhere with this train of conversation he shifted to the real matter, "Fine. Moving on to the learning method...we've gone through almost everything I can think off. Naruto...is there anything your especially good at?"
Blond brows met for a second, "Yes...video games." He eventually replied.
"Really?" Kakashi asked mind spinning. There were some really unorthodox methods of testing a learning method; but he wasn't sure that there were any 'video game' methods of doing that. "Which game?"
"Halo." He replied instantly.
Now at that Kakashi wasn't surprised, "The war game."
"The ULTIMATE war game." Naruto corrected simply.
Wait...in absence of the game...maybe he could employ a different but similar tactic; one thing though...it was kind of illegal. Although... with some manipulation he could pass it off as a test. It could possibly serve as a substitute to test the primary six categories: reaction, competence, understanding, confidence, aptitude and knowledge.
"Naruto..." He started saying, "Do you know there is an actual shooting range in this facility."
Blue eyes lit up as he leaned forward, "Really?"
"Yes," he answered, "It was set up because Morino, Baki and Anko use it to keep with their skills."
"Anko-sensei was in the military?"
Kakashi winced, "Anko, Naruto, specialized in..." he paused... how was he going to phrase this delicately, "...unorthodox interrogation techniques."
Naruto grinned, "That's the nicest way of saying 'torture' I've ever heard of."
"So," the silver haired man squinted, "Are you up for it?"
A wide grin. "Bring it on."
(*)(*)(*)
***Psychiatric Session, Sasuke, Room 34.***
Another 'violin-slash-regression' therapy session; Sasuke's lips twitched. He really didn't mind accessing that one point of his past. Ignoring the slip of paper beside the violin which he was sure contained suggestions, he, after picking up the violin, mentally ran through the list of songs he felt like playing.
He sighed and closed his eyes. He remembered being told many times to play according to his present circumstances. He snorted. Presently he was tense, agitated, tired, stressed and confused; mainly with the brimming attraction with Naruto. He was everything Sasuke had never expected to be drawn to; loud, brash, ruggedly handsome, outgoing, western, tan; he was usually attracted to quiet, calm, composed, graceful, pale and androgynously beautiful.
He knew what he was going to play and smiled slightly; the 'Danse Macabre' flowed through the air; the quick tempo drowning out his thoughts.
'Oh so that's why Neji was looking stressed out.' Sasuke thought watching the dark monogrammed vehicle bearing the Hyuuga crest slowly climbed the hill. He silently watched as the car parked with the chauffer exiting and opening the passenger door. A formally dressed Hiashi-sama exited the vehicle and following him was Hinata, clad in a summer's yukata kimono.
That was strange. Why was Hinata, the veritable heir for the clan, here in the first place? He watched carefully, the last time he had seen Hinata, about three years ago; she always walked with her head down, long bangs shielding her eyes and with a slight slouch. This version of Hinata walked head high, her long bangs cut short, her shoulders back and a small smile on her face. Seems like the wallflower had finally blossomed.
He shrugged. Taking in the serious expression on Hiashi's face he grimaced. He wasn't going to envy Neji after that visit. Turning around he made his way to Auto shop.
(*)(*)(*)
"That's impossible." Sasuke said in one of his usual debates with the teacher, "Ohm's Law specifically states that the current is directly proportioned to voltage and inversely proportional to resistance; due to it being grounded on a stable transitory circuit. There is no way of what you're describing to even occur."
"That may be Uchiha-kun," was the reply, "Then how does it apply to a Hydroelectric plant circuitry...think about it."
He went silent.
The man smiled, "Anyways...to answer the main issue of conductor circuits, similar phenomenon like the atmosphere's convection curre-"
(*)(*)(*)
Lunch time came with this:
"What a totalitarian bitch!" Kiba snarled flopping down beside Naruto. Sasuke snatched his glass of orange juice out of the Inuzuka's way.
"Naruto," he drawled, "Please control your pet... I suggest a leash."
Blue eyes rolled, "Who're you talking about mutt-face?"
Hazel eyes cut into Naruto's face, "Do you really have to ask? INO! DUHHH! Anko-sensei had this marvellous idea to pair us for the presentation. While I'm actually doing the work she's over there reading some fashion magazine. I swear if she says one more word about this Andre Seba-something guy I will be charged for murder."
"You mean Andre Sebaj.." Shikamaru yawned, "He's a male model...the androgynous kind."
Silence. "As in?" Naruto dared to ask.
The Nara barely lifted his head from his arms, "As in the 'Trannie' type."
"Ummm Shika...buddy... how do you know that?" Kiba said not even hiding the fact that he was edging away.
"My cousin." He replied tone indicative of the conversations end.
"Anyways," Kiba cut in agitated, "Back to my problem...ya'know...about the killin' the bonny blond bitch?"
"Really now." Sasuke asked flipping a page, "You do mean you're going to kill her after you have declared your undying love for her, right?"
Silence. "What the hell are you talking about Uchiha?"
"I mean...you're completely infatuated with her." Sasuke said simply.
The scandalized look on Kiba's face was worth immortalizing in time; hazel eyes wide, his left eyebrow twitching like crazy, mouth lopsided and a red flush climbing up his neck.
"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY!" Kiba shouted scaring half of the room into tachycardia. "I'm not in love with that heifer!"
Sasuke snorted, "Tell that to someone who can't read you like a book."
Kiba turned to Naruto and asked, "He's on drugs, right?"
Smirking Naruto returned, "Sorry Kiba...I think he's right. Every time you look at her you get flushed, your eyes haze over and your nostrils flare...all the signs of attraction."
"Okay." Kiba huffed sullenly, "Who are you and where the hell can I find Naruto's body?"
"Listen to him Inuzuka," another voice, Shino cut in not even looking up from his notebook. "it's actually painfully obvious."
Kiba shoved away from the desk muttering. "You're all idiots."
"Not as much as you are Romeo!" Naruto called over his shoulder.
The mist was especially thick the following morning. Sasuke leaned on a tree to breathe without the tight feel he had been feeling lately. His lungs had begun working better than the last few days. Hand braced on the tree his eyes caught on a low squat bush with huge dicotyledonous leaves bearing a fruit looking like wild strawberry.
That was weird. Wild strawberries didn't grow at this altitude with that kind of moist air and sandy soil. Plucking one berry off he pocketed it and resumed running.
(*)(*)(*)
"Where is the botany section?" Sasuke asked.
"Upstairs to the left." He was directed by the librarian packing out some books. Silently leaving he followed the directions and was now facing a huge shelf. Skimming over the index he searched for a catalogue of indigenous plants.
Plucking out a huge, dusty tome by 'Watashimuru Nagaiki, Ph.D.' he plopped the book on the table, pulled out the berry and started searching page by page. He almost reached the middle when he saw it; ''Tantulla Sativas' popularly known as 'Mordred's Bane'. An indigenous hybrid plant grafted from common strawberry 'Fragaria virginiana' and Japanese Ivy' fruit 'Parthenocissus tricuspidata'; this berry is virtual contradictor. It is a perfect antitoxin for poison ingestion and paradoxically extremely lethal when ingested after the turn of the full moon. It's stages in toxin content fluctuate with the moon cycle.'
He skimmed down, '..it's also known to produce coma-like symptoms and/or complete paralysis, including the complete ceasing of aerobic respiration, heart functions and reticular dilations mimicking the appearance of death.'
He whistled lowly. 'After being prepared with 0.10% cyanide and set to ferment; it can be used as an anaesthetic for heart surgery mimicking the symptoms of complete paralysis.'
"Interesting." Sasuke said out loud. "..and useful."
Replacing the book he examined the dark reddish-purple berry and murmured, "Plan B."
"Dude." Naruto said walking into small side room in the gym. "What's that?"
Sasuke lowered his leg from the air and faced the blond, an idea springing into his mind about how to level himself with the blond, "It's called a 'kata'...the basic formations of Karate."
He shook his head, "I meant before that...you looked like ...water."
Sasuke slapped himself, "Oh...that's Tai Chi...I use it to centre myself before I start practicing."
Blond brows quirked, "Isn't that some old people shit?"
A tick immediately formed in Sasuke's left temple, "Do you want to learn it or not?"
"Yeah, sure." Naruto said dropping his knapsack, "Hey...did you know that the Neji guy had a cousin?"
Wait...
"Yes...I do..." he replied carefully, "...her name is Hyuuga Hinata...Why?"
"She's cute."
Sasuke went stock still, body tensed like a pole of iron. "You...find...Hinata...cute?" every word grated out.
"Yeah.." he replied shrugging, "I was talking to my parole officer when she and this guy who looks scarily like Neji walked in."
"That's his uncle.." he filled in, "..get back to the Hinata part." A part of his mind recognized that specific tone of his was insanely jealous but he ignored it.
Peach lips twitched in amusement, "She didn't talk to me or anything...she just smiled at me..she's cute."
Sasuke grunted, "Cute...she's...cute." The last part was murmured under his breath.
"Yeah teme...cute..." Naruto cut him off, "...are we going to spar or what?"
"Fine," he replied. "But we need a bigger room than this one...the main floor."
Grabbing his own bag they left to the main gym room and pushed open the door to find Kin and TenTen sparring. The two demonstrated some moves most people would deem impossible, like how TenTen managed to twist into some kind of human pretzel to land a kick on Kin's shoulder or how Kin performed a double backflip and a spinning kick in the middle of the flip.
"Whoa." Naruto said, eyes wide.
Still pissed off Sasuke didn't see anything to fawn over and delivered a slap to the back of Naruto's head, "Stop fawning, clean up you drool and lets fight."
No response. The tick in Sasuke's temple grew, "The little monkeys spinning the clogs in your head have died, haven't they."
That got a reaction. Sasuke found himself on the floor after being the victim of a tackle. Naruto arms were on either side of his head and his knees pressing Sasuke's hips together.
"You were saying?" the voice was husky and raw.
Sasuke swallowed...hard. Pushing against the stone hard chest he grated out, "I was saying stop mooning over them, we have work to do."
Blue eyes narrowed for a second then filled with mirth as he pushed off, "Work...Suuuurrreee."
Sasuke sat up, trying to settle his clenching stomach, tight with attraction and desire. He pushed the memory of Naruto's stone hard abs to the back of his mind and buried it.
"Ready?" he asked, "Tai Chi was developed so the human spirit can attune with the mind and the body in equality and pe-"
The early morning fog nearly blanketed the whole scene but he saw it. The majority of the camp was assembled on the front quad quietly watching the paramedics settle the body on the cot.
"What happened?" Sasuke asked quietly watching the E.M.T's hoisting the gurney into the truck.
The look on everyone's face was grim. "Suicide attempt." Naruto filled in for him. "Ariko Conner...they found her this morning after she didn't report for Cali." His face was bloodless, lips pressed to a thin line, "Found her with her bed sheet wrapped around her neck and hanging from a rafter in her room."
The ambulance's doors closed and the vehicle drove away.
"Why would she do that?" he wondered not realizing he had said it out loud.
"Why would anybody do that..." Naruto replied mirthlessly, "I can think of a thousand ways why someone would do that. This isn't a playground anymore...is it."
Sasuke, silently turning away from the scene mentally agreed with the Uzumaki. "You don't know the half of it."
A/N: Okay, I've left you a morbid ending...but come on people...do you really not expect something like this to happen? #Shrugs
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(*)(*)(*)