Many Masks

Written By - Treina

VIII

Sasuke's Mask of Hateful Love

Everyone knows about Sasuke's hate, and everyone knows why. But Sasuke would never admit that the hate for his brother has somewhat dulled over the years. It's hard to hate someone for that long, even if it was your entire family that was killed, after all it was his brother, and he still to this day has no idea what Itachi's intentions were. But no one was allowed to know this, and he would never admit it, even to himself, that he still loved his brother. He is reminded of this love every time that he spots Naruto, who is like the little brother that he never had. In a way that's why he hated the dobe, he reminded him of his love for his brother, which made him enraged on the inside and put him on the brink of insanity. In a way, the only way he has been able to live for this long was his hate for his brother, what would he do without that?

As the sun began to set behind the Hokage Monument, Sasuke gathered up his things and left his house for his certain spot in the woods where he watches the stars. It was amazing how a little place like that would give him so much pleasure. He knew that this was the ultimate mistake; think that place will effect how you live. But he didn't care, he loved the place, he would remember times when his mother would take him there.

He smirked as her image popped into his mind, but the smile was soon gone when he heard Naruto's voice.

"Oi Sasuke!!" Naruto yelled while running down the street, "what you up to"
Sasuke turned around and continued to walk, "nothing," he replied, not really wanting Naruto to follow him.
"So guess what happened to me yesterday?!" Naruto asked with an over enthusiastic tone, but Sasuke's mind was not on what Naruto was talking about. They continued to walk and finally Naruto noticed that Sasuke wasn't listening to a word he was saying, "ne Sasuke, are you even listening to me"
"Why are you following me?" Sasuke asked, "don't you have some ramen to go eat or something?"

Goodness, was Sasuke really like this with his brother? Constantly following him around and asking him all sorts of stupid questions? No wonder he went crazy, "what do you want Naruto"
"Geez Sasuke, what's wrong with you? I was just informing you about your brother"
"What about my brother?"

Naruto put his hands behind his head and stuck his nose in the air, "well I'm not going to tell you if you're going to be mean like that"
"Naruto," Sasuke gave him a warning glare while clenching his fists.
"Okay, its how your brother was spotted on the outskirts of town, but was chased down by a bunch of Konoha nins...I was there the entire time, but no one knew," Naruto grinned, proud of himself on the fact that he did not get caught snooping around.

Sasuke stood with his eyes widened, "what is he doing here"
"I don't know..." Naruto honestly told him, "all I know is that he was here, but he got away...by the way, where are you going?" Naruto knew it was an abrupt change of subject, but he knew how Sasuke felt about Itachi, and as his friend he felt it was his duty to inform him, but also knew that Sasuke didn't need anymore trouble by running off.

"I told you...no where," he began to walk again, this time with a frown on his face.
"Oh well, I have nothing to do, so I think I will join you." Naruto took in the fresh night air and kept up to pace with Sasuke.

Sasuke was in no mood to fight with the blonde, so he let him tag along, first thing tomorrow morning he would have to find out what Itachi was doing here. The first person he would have to talk to is Tsunade, then Kakashi. Naruto had already made a note to talk to Jiryaya about it the next time he comes back...if he could remember that is. The more the two walked, the more Naruto wondered where they were headed. He thought it a good idea to stick with the Uchiha, to make sure that he wouldn't go run off to chase after Itachi.

Sasuke was too enthralled in his thoughts to pay any attention to the blonde that was still following him until they reached the edge of the forest where Sasuke finally noticed that Naruto was still following him. Naruto, why are you following me? I thought I told you to go eat some ramen or something."

Naruto frowned, "your mean Sasuke, I was just bored and decided to see where you were going...I figured you would want the company," Naruto pouted, looking in the other direction.
"Does it look I want company?" Sasuke asked in the coldest tone he could muster.
"No...but you look like you need it," Naruto grinned.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and walked into the forest, still not in the mood to fight with the idiot. Every minute that passed seemed to make their surroundings darker and soon tricks began to dance in front of the two's eyes. "Sasuke its getting dark, don't you think we should get back?"

Sasuke said nothing, but continued to push back branches and dodge tree's until they came to a small clearing, when Naruto looked up, he was amazed to see how many more stars he was able to see from this area of the forest, "amazing! Look at these stars Sasuke!" Naruto looked at Sasuke but noticed that Sasuke took a seat on a log nearby and turned his gaze to the sky, in a way, Sasuke kept expecting to listen to Naruto talk nonsense the entire time, and ever second he kept telling himself that this is when Naruto would start talking, but he never did. When Sasuke looked next to him, Naruto's eyes were gazing deep at the stars, as if the blond was now unaware of him.

"Say Naruto," Sasuke began, looking back at the sky.
"Hm?" Naruto asked, not moving from his spot.
"Itachi...I think that-" but Naruto cut him off.
"You shouldn't worry about a guy like that Sasuke, it's not good, he's not good," Naruto frowned for only a second before he smiled and looked at Sasuke, "besides, you have us now," Naruto grinned and went to put a hand behind his hand, but lost his balance and wound up falling off the trunk. Sasuke at this point could not help but laugh, but at the same time, he heard someone in the bushes and instantly he ceased his laughter, and when he realized it was Sakura, he knew that she had been spying on him. She confirmed it with her idiotic behavior to Naruto, but what set Sasuke's mood alight that night, was when Naruto agreed that they would both attend this stupid party. That's when Sasuke decided that his only mission at this point was to not go to the stupid party.