Disclaimer: Yea, I don't own Naruto.
Minor characters are going to begin to play a role in the next few chapters. Sakura, Tsunade, and others will continue to play minor roles. However, a new bunch will come into the mix soon. They will include: Orochimaru, Kabuto, Anko Mitarashi, Kiba Inuzuka, and more. Let me know what you think. Thanks for recent reviews and sorry about the slow update. I will begin to veer away from the anime and manga soon. I won't do anyhting weird or unusal but I will start to change things, but just a little. Oh and I hope it doesn't bug anyone but I will be using the english names for jutsu. Let me know if it really bugs you.
The Way Things Are
Chapter 7
Orochimaru sat on a large chair within a silent chamber. His eyes were closed and his body was so still that he could be confused with a statue. "He has been gone for about two days now." A malicious grin formed on his pale face. "I wonder what he could be up to." His eyes opened with a glint. "I know where you are, Sasuke. You can't hide from me." He let out a short, sardonic sneer as he thought about the body he would soon inhabit. "I can't have my future host running around and being reckless. Can I?" Orochimaru chuckled slightly and waited in his secluded solitude.
Kabuto walked through the dank hallways of Orochimaru's newest hideout. He scraped his hand wretchedly at a dew covered cobweb that floated before him. The smell was unbearable at times inside the clammy corridors. "Luckily, we're only here for a week." The hallways had very little light, and were only dimly lit with pale blue and gray shade. His eyes caught the blaze of fire in the distance. He trudged over the wet, rocky floor until he reached Orochimaru's chamber.
Kabuto's eyes squinted reflexively at the glowing torches. His pupils tried to adjust from the pale, watery hallways to that of his master's corridor. The flames danced about fiercely, constantly concealing different parts of the room in shadow. Kabuto watched through the mesmerizing, flickering flares and the strobe-like shadows as his master's mouth began to move.
"Is this about the Uchiha, Kabuto? Is that why you're here?" Orochimaru's tongue flicked out of his mouth. It sat sleekly upon his lip.
"Yes." Kabuto answered kneeling. "He has been gone for-"
"Two days, yes." Orochimaru hissed almost corrosively towards Kabuto. "You know that I am aware of this. You certainly have been concerned with anything regarding the Uchiha." Orochimaru added. His words wickedly toyed with Kabuto.
"I was merely trying to-" Kabuto had to hide his clenched jaw as he was interrupted a second time.
"Do not fret, Kabuto. Sasuke would never leave us at this point. Not at this stage of the game. I believe he has a few simple frustrations to get over. He has a certain craving he needs to satisfy. After all, I hardly want any tensions in his body once I take control." Orochimaru finished his sadistic sounding speech.
"I have reason to believe he has traveled to Konoha to-" Kabuto knew another interjection was coming.
"Of course he has!" Orochimaru spat irritably, as though he was mocking his pupil's intelligence. "Stop this foolishness, Kabuto." A calmer tone came this time. "If I believe that Sasuke needs to be retrieved, then I will let you know."
Kabuto nodded, resisting the urge to speak his mind. He hated the Uchiha. The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled into a maniacal grin. He found Kabuto's behavior quite amusing.
"After all, why should I waste any unnecessary strength or time by sending someone?" Orochimaru's devious eyes narrowed. "You forget, Kabuto. We have some old friends in Konoha." The medical ninja lifted his head curiously. "There is one in particular that I will always have the ability to control. If Sasuke stays much longer, I can always use that person to scare him away from Konoha and send him back here. I doubt that he wants his presence in the village to be known." Orochimaru finished.
Kabuto formed an identical smile and stared back at his master. "I see, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto realized Orochimaru's trump card. "I forgot about that."
"I suspect that the seal must have been causing her some minor pain the moment Sasuke arrived." Orochimaru's sadistic imagination went to work. "Let's see how quickly she finds him when I apply some of the more searing pain that the seal is capable of." A sharp laugh flew from his mouth.
"Fuck. What the hell is wrong with me?" Sasuke's eyes were closed. The shade in the forest kept his body relatively comfortable. However, the memories of the last two days filled him with anger and regret. He sent his elbow into the tree behind him forcefully.
Sasuke sighed after his short outburst. "Fucking dobe." He grunted. Naruto, it seemed, would not leave his mind.
Just when he thought he was beginning to handle situations regarding Naruto correctly, his mind changed again. He was at constant war with himself over his actions and feelings.
"I love You, Naruto." His memories and the things he had said had been floating in his subconscious relentlessly. "I really fucking said that to him didn't I?" Sasuke hit the tree in frustration again. "I couldn't have meant I? No. I hate that dobe. I was just……..I just needed some relief………….That's all……..I was just horny."
Sasuke's head peered into the sky. He scoffed at himself. "That's not true." Another opinion formed in his mind. "I meant what I said to him. I just have other things I need to do. Other tasks I have I have to complete before I can really love Naruto." Sasuke closed his eyes tightly this time as more images flashed into his head. Itachi. Orochimaru. "I understand what needs to be done. I can't let Naruto distract me."
Sasuke stood in the middle of the forest and walked forward slowly. The sky was dark on the horizon. A storm was coming. A cloud moved away from the sun slightly. Warm rays shone down through the layers of brush and leaves. A few landed on Sasuke's arms, chest, and head. It felt like someone was holding him. It felt almost like love. "Do I even know what that feels like?"
Sasuke stared up at the dancing light that was fighting to make its way down to him through the canopy of leaves and foliage in the trees. He swore he felt a small ray land on his lips. It was warm and comforting, almost tender feeling. "Feels like Naruto………." Sasuke stood like that for a moment longer.
"Who'd have ever thought I'd turn out to be ga-" Sasuke's mind stopped itself. "Is that really the point?" Sasuke asked himself. "It's not about whether I am attracted to guys or not. I've never really been attracted to anyone, men or women. Except one person. The point is the fact that I'm attracted to a knuckleheaded dobe. Naruto, he's the point."
Sasuke had never remembered feeling as content as he did when he was holding Naruto. "He was……I-I didn't want to let go. I don't want to leave. He's been hiding in my thoughts for three years….." Sasuke's eyes began to sear strangely. He choked as he tried to swallow. "Am I gonna fucking cry? Am I a fucking child? Forget about that dobe!"
Sasuke's eyes angrily narrowed. He held back the sad sensation that was filling his body. At this stage in his life he was used to suppressing his emotions. He was always good at it. But, recently, something was making it harder. Namely Naruto. "You're making yourself weak. You're as pathetic as Itachi said you were."
The Uchiha's breathing increased. His lungs took in sharp, tattered inhales. His body disposed of shredded, blunt exhales. His muscles tensed slightly. "I told him I'd talk to him. I'll see him one more time. Just to explain myself and the situation, one last time. Even if that means changing Naruto's opinion of me one more time. If stopping Naruto from following me or distracting me means I have to make him hate me again then I'll do it. Hell, I think a part of me hates him enough to do it anyway." Sasuke gasped at his thinking.
"Do I hate him? Do I love him? Why am I admitting to feeling either of these for him?" Sasuke began to think he would always be confused about himself and his feelings. "Maybe I am heartless. Maybe I'm not meant to understand myself. Maybe I'm not meant for feeling anything except revenge. Did I lose humanity after what happened in my past? After the decisions I've made………………after what Itachi did…………After the love and friends I lost………After Naruto…………What's left underneath? Anything? Will I die when my revenge is complete? Will I cease to be?"
Sasuke's knees bent slightly. He pushed off his feet and flew into the air angrily. He landed forcefully on a tree branch only to have it break from underneath him due to his reckless rage. He landed roughly on the grass and felt the wind being knocked out of him. His body rose slowly, his arms hung limply at his sides. He wanted to scream. He tried to scream, but, his body prevented him from doing so. Instead he stood calmly and walked through the forest.
An odd feeling surged through Sasuke's body. It traveled strangely, organizing its flow towards Sasuke's upper body. The pain centered and focused on a particular point in Sasuke's body. His neck throbbed and pulsed intensely. It was the curse seal.
"The damn snake bastard knows I'm here." Sasuke almost laughed at Orochimaru's command to return. "He thinks he can control me. He thinks he owns me, like I'm a dog and the cursed seal is his return command." Sasuke leapt towards the canopy of branches. He landed successfully and moved swiftly from tree to tree. He had to hurry now. The situation was becoming more and more dicey.
"Naruto." Sasuke sighed. "I can't get you involved in this. Not with Orochimaru and not with me." Sasuke rushed on. He had finally realized his biggest mistake. By telling Naruto he loved him he had made his second departure from Konoha even harder than the first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"It is not just a coincidence!" A fist slammed onto Tsunade's desk. "It began to throb yesterday and it hasn't stopped! The pain is getting worse!"
"Calm down." Tsunade placed her elbows on her desk and folded her hands, hiding her stress. "I forgot about her. I shouldn't have allowed as much to happen as I already did."
"I feel something. The seal doesn't act up like this unless there's a reason." Anko Mitarashi was frustrated to say the least. She was actually pretty pissed off. It didn't help either that the Hokage was acting so strange. Anko snorted angrily. "Someone is in the village. I can sense them. And that means it can only be one of two people, possibly both of them."
Tsuande's eyes narrowed reflexively. "Don't say anymore, Anko, please. It's bad enough that she knows, but I can't let anyone else find out." Tsunade thought as she looked warily at the apprehensive expression on Shizune's face. "Anko, if the pain is bothering you I can fix that." Tsunade spoke calmly. She watched as Anko placed her palm on her neck. "She did that a bit defensively. What is she up to?"
"It doesn't hurt unless there is a reason." Anko cringed at the pain. Sweat fell from her forehead and her eyes widened in fury. "You of all people know that!" Tsunade sighed.
"Anko………" Tsunade trailed off, uncertain of what to say. "What do you plan on doing? You're smart…………….But you're also a bit too spontaneous. Trust me, just forget about this today. I know the pain will pass over soon. You need to swear to me that you won't do anything rash."
Anko was furious. Her face twisted and her fists clenched. "What's wrong with her?"
"Don't you understand what this means Tsunade-sama?" Anko was confused. "It means either Orochimaru or the Uchi-"
"Anko!" Tsunade's voice was calm but its tone sounded as though she was dismissing the jonin.
Anko exhaled loudly and turned towards the door. "Fine. Whatever."
Anko went to leave the room. She stopped at the door and kept her back turned as she began to speak. "I don't know what this is all about Tsunade-sama. You seem to forget who my former master was and you seem to underestimate my intelligence. I'm not foolish and I'm not stupid. Someone is still here in the village. I know that you know that. I can even sense that they were here last night in a medical room."
Tsunade's eyes widened slightly at this last statement. "I did underestimate how much she could sense." The Hokage watched Anko leave the room suddenly.
"What was that about?" Shizune asked worriedly.
"Keep a stealthy eye on Anko today." Tsunade commanded. "Don't ask questions and don't get too involved. Just make sure she doesn't do anything rash." Shizune nodded at the Hokage's instructions.
"But, please, Tsunade-sama. What did she mean about Orochimaru and the other person? Is someone really in Konoha?" Shizune asked nervously. Tsunade sighed in frustration.
"Don't worry about it now. Just do as you're told." Shizune went to leave the room. She was stopped by Tsunade's voice. "Let's just say that the Hokage made a small judgment error that is escalating into a bigger ordeal." Tsunade smiled slightly and took a hard swig at her sake bottle.
Even with the combination of the storm clouds, the sunset that night was still beautiful. There was so much to it. The sun's rays gleamed dimly through the darkness of the oncoming storm. This created dark orange, almost crimson colors that were narrow and sharply shaped. It was like staring into a blazing fire that was frozen in time. The darkness of the clouds hid some of its more appealing colors, but, in a way, that made it more interesting and mysterious. The smoky clouds would make it all look a bit terrifying to some people. But to people who tried to understand its unique nature, people like Naruto, the clouds only made the mystery of valuing its real grandeur more important to admiring and loving it. One had to look deeply at it to see the true radiance that was hidden behind the darkness. "Sort of like Sasuke."
Naruto let his head bob downward sadly. "Is he gone?" The blonde stared at the surreal sight again. His arms sat weakly on the railing of his balcony as he peered into the horizon. He had hardly moved in the last hour at all.
"This is stupid." Naruto grunted and moved his hands behind his head. "Here I am wasting time, hoping something good will happen. Worst of all I'm staring at the sunset! What's happening to me?! I can't just sit here thinking. I need to do something about it." A quick breeze slapped softly at Naruto's face. It tossed his hair about in a frenzy. The temperature was dropping slowly. The rain would come soon.
The wind stopped momentarily. There was silence except for a soft rumbling in the distance. Naruto's ears twitched, his mind reacted quickly. "Behind me…………Someone-" Naruto put slight pressure on the balls of his feet. They slid nimbly as he pivoted his body. As he turned, his eyes glanced at an all too familiar emotionless face. "So he is still here."
Sasuke stood a few feet away from Naruto on the blonde's balcony. The two boys stared at each other, there bodies completely relaxed. Sasuke felt the wind pick up again. He watched the cold gust push Naruto's golden locks from side to side. He thought it looked like a yellow wheat field dancing about in the wind.
Naruto's foot moved in front of him slowly. He calmly walked forward, as though he was approaching Sasuke. The wood of the balcony creaked rhythmically under Naruto's gentle footsteps. The sound was unusually comforting when it was combined with the placid music the wind created.
The boys' eyes never glanced away from each other. Just as Naruto reached the other boy's position, the blonde pushed his way past Sasuke. Their shoulders touched softly as Naruto walked back inside his apartment. Sasuke didn't move a single part of his body an inch. His eyes stared past the balcony towards the oncoming darkness on the horizon. His arms hung limply at his sides.
"The dobe acted like he didn't even see me." Sasuke's head tilted slightly. He peered out of the corner of his eye towards the archway behind him that led inside. He turned around completely. His chest heaved outward slowly as he took a deep inhale. His sudden need for air was a strange secret to him. He didn't know if he had inhaled like that out of anxiousness, fear, anger, or calmness. "Everything is so fucking confusing."
Sasuke released his pent up air in a dejected huff. He walked towards the entrance Naruto had just moved into. It was quiet inside. "Where's the dobe?" Sasuke let his eyes scan the room. He noticed the massive rubble in what had once been the apartment's front door. "Wonder how that happened." A crushed chair was towards his right. A few ramen cups were scattered about the room carelessly. "Geez, what a slob." Sasuke couldn't help his lips from curling into a small smile as he thought about Naruto.
Sasuke's eyes peered lastly at Naruto's bed. The covers lay raggedly upon the disheveled mess. A pillow was on the floor. It looked like he never slept peacefully.
Sasuke heard quick footsteps coming from the bathroom door. Before he had time to prepare himself, he felt multiple hands clutch at him strongly. Sasuke's knees buckled as he was pushed to the ground. He struggled a bit, but, eventually allowed whatever Naruto had planned to happen. Sasuke felt rough ropes pull his wrists and ankles together tightly.
A group of laughs came from above Sasuke. "You fell right into my trap teme!" Naruto's shadow clones disappeared in several small explosions of smoke. Naruto lifted the restrained Uchiha and led him towards his cluttered bed. He pushed Sasuke on top of it forcefully and glared at him.
Sasuke almost chuckled at Naruto's pitiful attempt to bind him. He could have escaped whenever he wanted, but, allowed Naruto to think he had overpowered him. However, this didn't stop Sasuke from toying with the blonde.
"What are you gonna do, Naruto?" Sasuke spoke teasingly. "Are you going to hurt me?" Sasuke asked a bit sadistically. "Cause I might like that." Naruto rolled his eyes. Sweat fell from his forehead. "Come on dobe. I'm not really into submission, but, if you want to try being in charge then I'll let you. We can take turns if you want." Sasuke edged on.
"Just stop for a second Sasuke!" Naruto sounded aggravated. "We are going to talk now. I am not gonna let you leave again." Naruto was beginning to sound dominant.
Sasuke scoffed irritably. "Ok, this isn't fun. If we're gonna play this game then Naruto should be the one that's helpless. Not me." Sasuke pulled at the poorly tied ropes on his limbs. They ripped apart quickly. Naruto only had a second to let his eyes widen before Sasuke grabbed his shirt forcefully. Sasuke slammed Naruto into the nearest wall and lifted the blonde off the ground slightly. Naruto grunted painfully. Sasuke smiled. He tugged at Naruto's black undershirt.
"We'll have to do something about this." Sasuke muttered as he ripped right down the middle of the shirt's thin material. He watched Naruto's suddenly exposed chest thrust outward.
Naruto tensed his leg as he prepared to kick Sasuke swiftly in the face. However, before his blow could land, his struggling was stopped when Sasuke placed his palm tenderly on Naruto's chest. Naruto relaxed his limbs as Sasuke continued to caress him lightly. He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Teme……….Why can't you just talk to me Sasuke?" Naruto spoke sadly. He felt the balls of his feet land softly back onto the ground as Sasuke loosened his grip. His eyes opened slowly.
"You're cute, Naruto." Sasuke scoffed teasingly. His expression made Naruto feel more comfortable than he had been in a long time.
"Sasuke's almost smiling…………………at me…and it's not one of those Orochimaru-like sadistic grins……It's warm." Naruto sighed peacefully.
Sasuke placed his palms on Naruto's shoulders and pushed the tattered shirt off of the blonde's torso slowly. His hands slid down Naruto's smooth arms until the ripped shirt slid off the blonde's body. It fell gracefully towards the floor like a leaf floating aimlessly upon the wind's serene current.
Naruto felt one of Sasuke's arms warp around behind his legs. Sasuke scooped the blonde into his arms and cradled him. He carried Naruto towards the bed. Naruto was expecting a soft landing onto his bed. "No……I almost forgot about what Sasuke was like." Naruto thought a bit jokingly. "Any second now he'll go back to normal and-"
Naruto felt his body fling forcefully out of Sasuke's warm grasp. He landed on his bed roughly.
"OW!" Naruto yelled irritably. Sasuke had done that on purpose.
Naruto felt Sasuke land on the bed next to him. Sasuke grabbed the blonde's wrists with one of his hands and pinned them above Naruto's head powerfully. Naruto squirmed for a second at his new arrangement. His eyes widened fearfully as he watched Sasuke's free hand fly swiftly towards his cheek.
"SMACK!" The blow landed right on target. Sasuke smirked.
"OW! DAMMIT! THAT HURT!" Naruto's stentorian scream made Sasuke chuckle a second time.
"That's the point dobe." Sasuke reassured and kissed Naruto's already red cheek lovingly. "Don't you like it, Naruto?" Sasuke whispered into Naruto's ear. Naruto blushed like he was embarrassed.
"It doesn't matter whether I like it or not!" Naruto spoke shakily. He regained his composure quickly. "What the hell is wrong with you? You're delusional. It's like you're a schizo or something"
Sasuke brought his head up and gazed warmly at Naruto. Naruto, surprised, almost smiled back. "Aw, come on Naruto. I just wanna have a little fun with you. You don't always have to be so angry. Relax, I won't hurt you. And I gave you a chance to try and dominate me but you failed." Sasuke mocked cruelly and ran his hand along Naruto's side and oblique.
"Besides, if I remember correctly, last night and the day before you seemed to like being roughed up. Well, at least before I did something like this." Sasuke chuckled and moved his lips to Naruto's neck this time.
"You're……..uuh…..sometimes like two different people. I have……ahhh…… a hard time… …….deciding…mmmmph….whether I hate you…….ahhw……Or I like you." Naruto spoke between moans as Sasuke sucked and kissed at the blonde's neck. Sasuke's head rose to meet Naruto's. Their eyes gazed longingly into each others'. Naruto's tongue touched his top lip softly as he tried to figure out the other boy's motives.
"You could try loving me." Sasuke cooed softly. Naruto blushed a second time. He didn't know what to say. His lips twitched as he tried to find words, but, were stopped as Sasuke pressed his own lips on top of the blonde's quivering ones. They kissed each other for a while until they both lost track of time. Sasuke released Naruto's wrists and got off of the blonde. He went to leave but was stopped when Naruto's hand lightly touched his thigh.
"I told you I'm not letting you leave." Sasuke sighed at the other boy. He removed his shirt nonchalantly and laid next to Naruto. He wrapped his arms around the blonde and held him closely in a similar way he had on the previous night. Soft noises patted the roof of the apartment rhythmically. The rain had begun to fall. It had already been dim because of the storm clouds, but, it got progressively darker as the sun faded away completely. Night had begun to take over.
"Can….Can we talk now?" Naruto asked nervously.
"Hn." Sasuke replied softly. "But I don't understand what we need to talk about. Haven't we covered all questions and answers in some way or another in the last two days?" Sasuke continued. "What's bothering you so much that we need to talk about?"
Naruto's mind raced. "He's right…….But I would still feel better just talking about some stuff. I've spent all this time trying to get him to talk to me. And now when I finally get him to talk to me………I don't know what to say…. Or what to talk about."
"Well-How about the fact that we just kissed Sasuke? You just kissed me. And I-I…………I" Naruto started pathetically. Sasuke chuckled softly.
"I liked it." Sauke said tenderly.
"Me too. I liked it." Naruto admitted softly. "But I don't understand why you and –"
"Yes you do, Naruto. You understand. Same as I do. That wasn't the first time we kissed Naruto. I practically gave you a blow job last night. You understand the way you feel. But I see what's wrong with you now." Sasuke's voice shifted to a whisper. "You're afraid. You're ashamed of what you feel."
"No!" Naruto interrupted. "It's not that. It's just that this is happening……..Well it's been….This isn't the way I expected-"
"Hn, I see. I'll agree with you there, dobe. You were expecting something more romantic for your first sexual encounter, right? Something more average?" Sasuke teased the blonde.
"I NEVER SAID I WANTED ANYT-" Naruto's quick outburst was interrupted.
"Dobe. I was just kidding." Sasuke pecked lightly at Naruto's shoulder with his lips. "And you say I'm a lunatic." Naruto grunted at Sasuke's last sarcastic remark.
"He was here."
Anko stood motionless inside the small hospital room. The crimson sunset glared on the rain soaked window. It was getting dark out. She closed her eyes and set her palm gently on her neck. The sound of the calm rain distracted her focus for a second. She opened her eyes after a strange blur flashed in her subconscious. The seal throbbed in response.
She walked calmly towards the bed and placed her hand upon it. It hadn't been made since its last use and was pretty messy. She closed her eyes again and tried her hardest feel something. She gasped loudly to herself. Images burst abruptly into her mind.
"Shhhhhhhh….Quiet dobe!"
"A-Aren't you…..ummm cold?"
"Sasuke-I….I didn't mean to-I'm sorry I did……"
The images Anko saw were sketchy. However, she could definitely hear the voices from the night before. An intense, scorching pain engulfed the jonin's body. She gasped again and fell abruptly to her knees.
"The seal………It's never felt like this before!" Anko grunted. It was obvious now that the pain she felt was not normal. "This is Orochimaru's doing! Why the hell is he screwing with my seal now? Why the hell is the Uchiha here? And what was he doing in this room last night?!"
Anko hurled her fist into the tiled floor, causing her to grunt again.
"Excuse me?" Anko turned her head swiftly. A nurse had entered the room. "What's wrong miss? Can I help you?"
"Yes." Anko sighed and picked herself off of the ground. "I need you to tell me who was in this room last night for treatment. I need to know. It's very important."
"Ummm…. Well, ok." The nurse sounded frightened. Anko's disheveled appearance and tense voice had scared her. "Well, based on this medial report it was……. Uhhhh, Naruto Uzumaki." Anko's eyes narrowed. Her mind suddenly remembered the chunin exams three years ago.
"Naruto……He and the Uchiha were on the same team……team seven. The Uchiha was with Naruto last night? What the hell happened? What were they doing? Naruto could be in trouble." Anko turned her body hastily.
"Thanks!" She yelled hurriedly as she dashed towards the window in the room.
"CRASH!" Anko tucked her body inward as she leapt through the closed window. Glass shattered around her as she landed on the wet grass outside. She rushed forward, allowing the seal on her neck to guide her towards the Uchiha.
Time passed slowly. The sound of the rain was soothing. There was a soft rumbling in the distance every now and then, but, it only seemed to make the whole experience more comforting. Naruto's eyelids felt heavy, he struggled to stay awake.
"The rain……….." Naruto mumbled drowsily. "It's nice…………….."
"You sound tired." Sasuke said as he massaged the blonde's thighs.
"Yea………… it makes me sleepy." Naruto droned on.
"This is my chance to get out of here." Sasuke had a sudden revelation. "Well then go ahead and sleep, Naruto. I'm not stopping you." Naruto's eyes widened suddenly.
"No……." Naruto shook slightly. "I won't."
"Shit. The dobe knows I have to go." Sasuke decided to continue his act. "Why not? What's wrong? You're shaking like a leaf Naruto. What are you so afraid of?"
A sharp sob came from Naruto's body. The blonde cringed and his torso convulsed. "I…….You're not gonna be here." Naruto shut his eyes tightly.
"What?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"You'll be gone……..You'll leave again……You won't be here when I wake up." A single tear streamed down Naruto's face.
"Naruto……" Sasuke tried to comfort the other boy.
"Don't leave." Naruto's jaw clenched. He spoke through his grinding teeth. "You don't have to leave, Sasuke! You can't!"
"That's my cue." Before things got any more emotional, Sasuke decided to take his leave. "I'm sorry, Naruto."
Something wrapped itself tightly around Naruto's arms and legs.
"No!" Naruto began to struggle as the snakes Sasuke had summoned ensnared and restrained him. Sasuke got up from the bed and gathered his things. He pulled his shirt on and went to leave the apartment. He tried desperately not to listen to Naruto's grunts and pleas.
"NO! Sasuke don't!" Naruto yelled hysterically. "Don't do this! Wait! Please, Sasuke! PLEASE!" Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He reapproached the bed and stared at the frantic blonde.
"Sasuke! Listen to m-"
"SMACK!" Sasuke didn't want to hit Naruto, but, he needed to get him to quiet down. He kept his hand on Naruto's cheek and caressed it once the blow had landed. Naruto winced sharply in frustration and sorrow.
"Naruto, I need you to listen to me." Naruto's body shuddered and shook. "Calm down." Sasuke stroked Naruto's face tenderly.
"Maybe…….Maybe someday you and I…….We can……." Sasuke sighed and wiped the stream of tears from Naruto's cheeks. "It wouldn't work yet……….Let's just say that I'm distracted…………I couldn't dedicate myself to you……..yet…….I can't really love you completely until……not until they're gone." Sasuke's speech tore at his own heart. He had never felt this before.
"Whenever I have a chance……I'll come and…….I'll come for you……I'll be able to see you every now and then." Sasuke tried smile. "I need you to swear to me-No-I need you to promise me, that you will stop looking for me. You and Sakura need to lay off for a while. Do that for me. It'll be easier that way……." Sasuke's voice trailed off. He stared at Naruto's eyes. The tears made the blue in them gleam and shine brightly. He was beautiful. "Don't say anymore…..It'll just be harder that way. You need to leave. Now."
Sasuke leaned forward. He attempted to kiss Naruto before he left. He felt his heart shred as he watched Naruto scoff loudly and jerk his head away in anger.
"Don't…..Don't be like that Naruto…….It has to be this way……I'm s-….. Just kiss me……...Please." Sasuke attempted a final time to kiss the blonde. He felt Naruto's lips willingly press against his own. This moment could last forever for all he cared. Their lips parted and brief silence followed. Naruto closed his eyes feebly as a tear slid from them. He kept them shut as he spoke.
"You can't leave. Please, not again. Don't do that to me again. I don't want you to go. Not after last time…………….Not after yesterday and today….Not like this…..Please." Naruto's hoarse whimpering had changed to hushed hysterical pleas and begs. He tightened his eyelids as he heard no reply from the other boy.
I love you, Sasuke." Naruto's voice cracked as he sobbed weakly. His eyes opened slowly.
But it was too late for him to hear Naruto. Sasuke had already left.
"She's moving too fast!"
The wind blew wildly through Shizune's dark hair. The rain whipped wildly at her face like small needles as she flew across Konoha's rooftops.
"There!" Shizune gasped as she spotted Anko standing on the roof of an apartment.
The plan had been for Shizune to pursue Anko with stealth. However, the purple haired jonin's relentless speed proved too much for her. It took every ounce of energy Shizune had just to stay out of sight.
"This is the first time she's stopped since she was at the hospital…….What is she doing-" Shizune's eyes widened as she had a sudden revelation. "That's Naruto's apartment! Why is she-" Before Shizune could even blink, Anko disappeared out of sight in a hazy blur.
"Oh No." Shizune dashed for Naruto's apartment. She leapt towards the streets and raced swiftly, arms flailing behind her. She jumped suddenly and almost lost her balance when she reached the entrance to Naruto's home. She was shocked at what she saw in the door less opening.
"Naruto!" She managed with a gasp. The usually hyperactive ninja was squirming about helplessly on his bed. Two large snakes had ensnared themselves around his arms and legs, preventing him from moving. "Snakes…….So this does have something to do with Orochimaru." Naruto's eyes were red; he looked as though he had been crying.
"Gotta get out of here fast." Sasuke had never moved faster as he tried desperately to run away from everything. The last few days were an emotional overload to his usual controlled, almost apathetic feelings.
A sudden flash caught Sasuke's eye. It lit up the eerie forest illuminating everything with a soft blue aura. "That lightning struck clo-" A sudden crash of thunder stopped Sasuke's thinking. It was so powerful that it shook the tree he had just landed on.
"Ahh!" Sasuke's body convulsed and he feel to his knees on the large tree branch. The seal felt like it was on fire. "BASTARD!" Sasuke screamed into the air. He swore he heard his neck hiss as the cool rain landed sharply upon the scorching seal. "This is more than just a warning to return to Orochimaru. I know for a fact that he is causing all this pain in my seal. But, this time…………Right now I feel more than just pain………I sense something-someone."
Sasuke jerked his head, whipping his drenched dark locks from side to side. He stood up slowly and continued bounding through the forest, ignoring the pain. "He is pathetic…I am stronger than this." Sasuke felt the same odd sensation from a few moments ago. He felt someone again. "Is he trying to tell me someone's coming? Or is this a side-affect of the seal?"
The forest was blue again for half a second. Sasuke awaited the loud sound of the coming thunder after reflexively squinting his eyes from the lightning. The deafening blast came, but, in the midst of the reverberating explosion of sound, his ears picked up something else. "Behind me!-"
"SWISH!" Sasuke tensed his legs and took an agile side step. A single kunai flew by his shoulder as he effortlessly dodged the weapon.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!" More weapons came. But the sounds they made had a higher pitch. They were smaller and moved much faster than the kunai had. "Needles. Three of them."
Sasuke turned his body in flight as he leapt. He tilted his head inches to the side as he dodged the needles that were aimed for his neck. In his mind, he smiled at his superior skills. "Pathetic." He thought deviously.
"Swish!" Sasuke moved his chest backward as a single needle passed him from the right. He had underestimated his unknown opponent's speed. "Clever…….But this person stands no chance against me."
Sasuke landed with a slight skid on a branch behind him. A fierce grunt came out of nowhere from above him. Sasuke's body prepared itself as he activated his sharingan. His attacker flashed momentarily in sight, the figure's foot was at level with Sasuke's head. The person's body was tucked inward. Sasuke's arm shot above his head instinctively in time to block a strong kick aimed towards his face. The attacker disappeared quickly after immediately realizing their blow had been blocked.
"I don't have time for this!" Sasuke prepared to leave again.
"UCHIHA!" A voice bellowed at the opposite side of the forest.
"Sounds like a scary version of the dobe." Sasuke scoffed. Someone came leaping towards him with a killing intent.
"I guess I have time to let off a little steam." Sasuke charged towards his strange opponent. The rain got heavier and danced wildly between the trees. Lightning struck a third time as the two ninja approached each other.
"This is gonna be fun!" The voice projected again, but, sounded calmer than before. The thunder roared as though it were encouraging the oncoming fight.
Sasuke grunted angrily. He drew a kunai and prepared for a killing strike.
This chapter was supposed to end when Sasuke left Naruto in his apartment. But, I felt bad about slow updates and added a bit of chapter eight to it. Sorry if it ruined the original ending of this chapter, but I figured you'd all appreciate a little extra. Please let me know what you think. (that means review please.)