Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
10. Truth
The air smells faintly of lightning and singed hair.
There are numerous scorch marks on the earth that led to large crater-like holes in the rock wall. His arm hurt like there's no tomorrow. And he could tell, without looking at it, that the skin there has burns on it, probably minor ones.
But the burns on his skin are nothing compared to the ones that scorched his pride. He would like to think that he didn't know why he feels like this. But he does.
Sasuke pants, bone tired.
It's the first time he has seen Naruto as more than the dead last.
That Dobe, Naruto, single-handedly defeated that insane sand nin, while Sasuke hadn't been able to do anything but watch the entire fight with awe and all-around uselessness.
And Sakura just had to thank the wrong person for saving her. Talk about rubbing salt into open wounds (in his case, his damaged pride). He didn't particularly give a flying fig who she thanked, but admitting that Naruto was the one who deserved it rankled.
Sasuke guesses that at this point, it's safe to assume that he's jealous of Naruto.
He isn't used to the feeling of not being able to take credit for something, especially if he had to give it to someone he thought of as incompetent. Someone he had thought inferior to him for such a long time.
Humility is a bitter pill to swallow.
During that fight, he had felt Naruto's endless supply of chill inducing chakra. All he could think of at that moment was how he could use that kind of chakra…that kind of power…for himself.
It seems Naruto has what he needs to avenge his clan. Naruto, whom Sasuke used to take pity on because he owned nothing but a loud mouth, hideous orange clothing and an ugly cactus (being the idiot that he is—was), has everything Sasuke wants.
Envy doesn't fit him. It feels oily, uncomfortable, and generally not good for his health. This feeling adds fuel to his already crappy mood.
Sasuke brings a shaky hand up to wipe at his brows. He still has enough chakra for another charge of Chidori. But a movement at the peripheral of his vision makes him stop.
He narrows his eyes at the intruder.
Hyuuga Hinata stands at the edge of the training ground and twitches nervously when she meets his glare. Probably here for the Do—Naruto—again.
Sasuke scoffs grumpily, "Naruto's not here."
"U-Umm…I-I know, I-I just—I w-was passing by a-and…" she stutters incomprehensibly, making Sasuke's blood pressure sky rocket in irritation.
"Spit it out."
"Y-Yes…!" Hinata stands straight, grasps the pack she is wearing, and marches towards him.
He watches impatiently as she opens the bag and takes her sweet time fumbling around in it. Kami, it's like watching a turtle. It's that annoying. What does she even have in there, furniture?
"A-Ah…no, it's m-my mission pack." Sasuke blinks as Hinata answers the question he had said aloud.
Finally, her face lights up and she unearths a familiar looking wrapped object. She offers it to him wordlessly.
His puzzled expression makes her explain, a slight flush on her cheeks, "I-It's a lunch b-bento…"
Sasuke frowns at her. "I can see that. Why give it to me?"
She flushes even more, if that is possible. "Eh…a-ano…"
He sighs in exasperation. "I told you. Naruto isn't here. I won't be your lap dog, give it to him yourself."
She merely stares at him, wide-eyed. Then quickly drops her pack on the ground and roots inside it. She reveals another wrapped package. "This is for Naruto-kun," it's his turn to stare at her, his eyes widening slightly. He observes silently, feeling a little off-balance, as she returns the bento inside her bag and offers him the first one again.
His scrutiny makes her fidget. "I thought…I just…"
Is this her way of thanking him for 'saving the village?' Sasuke wonders, realization dawning on him. Did she, like Sakura, mistakenly think he had been the one to defeat the sand shinobi?
Sasuke turns his attention at the various holes he had made on the rock surface using his Chidori. If only he could take credit. But he has pride, although it's currently taking another beating.
"Didn't you hear?" He quietly asks her.
"E-Eh?"
"Naruto saved the village. Not me." The bitterness in his voice is difficult to mask.
"I k-know Naruto-kun defeated Gaara-san." He avoids looking at her face but he could hear the pity in it. How dare she feel pity for him? Uchihas don't accept pity from anyone, especially from a weak Hyuuga! Anger boils in his blood and he finally turns to rail at her.
And stops short at her expression.
Because it wasn't pity at all. Sadness and compassion. It's as if she knows the feeling of helplessness choking him, of envying something he desperately needs—wants—for himself.
As if she knows all of these and understands.
A lump forms in his throat and he tries his best to stifle the gasp wanting to break free from his lips.
"Naruto-kun did h-his best." Hinata says softly, eyes gazing at the craters he had created. "As did S-Sasuke-san, Sakura-san, Shino-kun, and e-everyone else. Y-You were all so b-brave in protecting the v-village."
His pulse gives a weak jump. "Brave huh," he mumbles.
She smiles gently at him then and offers the bento once again; Sasuke feels the lump slowly disappear. Hinata beams at him when he finally accepts the package.
It feels heavy in his hands.
In the past, he had also thought that perhaps he could accomplish his goals simply by being a good leaf shinobi.
Bravery for the village and all that crap.
He had believed that just doing his best and training until his knuckles bled would somehow miraculously make him sufficiently strong to be able to defeat Itachi. But obviously, doing just that isn't good enough if someone like Naruto has managed to surpass him in such a short time.
His dark eyes are drawn back to the pockmarked earth. It's not enough. Not even close.
"I don't need bravery," he bites off, the words feeling thick on his tongue. His eyes meet hers, "What I need is power."
Her stare is unfathomable. Sasuke feels as if she's looking deep into his soul with her white eyes. He could see his face reflected on them. The two of them stay like that for what feels to him like years, looking quietly into each other's eyes.
Then, in her quiet manner, she says at last, "I always thought they were the same." For some reason, the way she said it makes him feel as if he had kicked her puppy. "I-I have to go."
He doesn't respond and she doesn't stick around to wait for it.
Seconds turn to minutes. Her words weigh on his mind as he stares blankly at the direction she had disappeared to.
For some reason, the bento she had given him weighs heavier.
.
.
.
A/N:
There you go, another chapter! A lot of thanks to my lovely reviewers, XxshippingsMfreakxX, Saki-Hime, MeltYouWithOneKiss, Hinatafan, mac2, lala's world, UchihaMistress723, MissLuppi, daydreamer102308, Shippooliver, FallenRaindrops, and Captain Bitch Ninja, you guys make writing every word worthwhile!
This story takes place in conjunction with the manga. You may notice that chapters jump from one event to another (e.g. Sasuke's fight with Gaara, Hinata's fight with Neji, ets.), readers should take these events with the presumption that time goes on normally behind the scenes. So events that happened in the manga that I don't incorporate or mention in chapters (i.e. the cursed seal of Sasuke, the fights in the forest of death, Naruto's fight with Neji, Tsunade being made into Hokage, etc.) should be assumed to already have happened behind the scenes.
When a chapter deviates from the timeline in the mange (or from canon), I would alert you readers at the start so you won't get confused.
On a side note, expect an update on Pathways soon :D
Thanks for reading! Drop a review and tell me what you think!