Disclaimer: Yea, I don't own Naruto.
Thanks to all of my reviewers. Sorry for slow updates I had a bit of trouble writing these chapters and I've been pretty busy. Sorry if not everyone is a fan of the fight scenes I've been writing, but, there is a fairly long one in this chapter. Sorry if it bugs you, but, I just wanted the fight to be really intense and interesting. Anyway, let me know what you think.
The Way Things Are
Chapter 11
Tsunade walked slowly into the hospital room that Anko and Naruto had been inside. Just as she was about to open the door she heard two people conversing quietly. "That's Anko's voice…… and the other is Kakashi." Tsunade decided that she would listen to their conversation before going inside to check on Anko.
"He abandoned you?" Kakashi asked warily.
"Yea………….I was the only survivor of that seal……and when he discovered that I wasn't quite as……."Anko paused. She chose her next word carefully. "Malicious as he needed me to be to fuel the seal…………He wiped my memory and left me." Anko sighed.
"But if he erased your memory…….How did you remember any of that?" Kakashi asked.
"My memories came back to me about two and a half years ago…..when I was on a mission with that knucklehead Naruto actually." Anko's lips curved into a small smile. "Had I had the kind of personality Sasuke has…………" Anko's speech trailed off.
"Then he would have taken over your body…..Right?" Anko nodded at the question. Kakashi knew Anko couldn't provide him with much information on Orochimaru that he didn't already know.
"He'll try to take Sasuke's body soon………I just know it." Anko looked at the door. The knob turned and the Hokage walked in.
"Sorry to eavesdrop, but, Anko is probably right about that." Anko grunted angrily at both the Hokage and Kakashi.
"Don't you both already know all this?!" Anko asked; her voice was full of irritability. She received a slow nod from both of the two people in the room. Anko scoffed dejectedly. She was about to retort with a snappy comeback, but, suddenly felt her neck sear strangely in pain. The jonin gripped at the curse seal and tightened her muscles reflexively.
"Anko?" Tsunade asked softly. The Hokage's eyes widened slightly when she looked at the jonin's neck. "The seal is back…….But that doesn't make any sense. Sasuke and any trace of Orochimaru are gone from the village. Why is the mark back?" Tsunade was completely baffled.
"Something's wrong…………Something's different." Anko grunted out through a clenched jaw.
"It's already begun, hasn't it?" Kakashi asked calmly. Anko nodded weakly.
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Sasuke didn't wait a second to counter the snake sanin. As soon as he saw Orochimaru charge forward, Sasuke activated his sharingan. With rapid speed, Sasuke darted nimbly past Orochimaru and had already created numerous hand signs. He appeared before one of the Kyodaija. The giant snake opened its gaping jaws and prepared to swallow the Uchiha.
"Firestyle: Fireball Jutsu!" A roaring burst of flames erupted from Sasuke's mouth. It soared vengefully inside the Kyodaija's massive mouth. The snake's mouth charred instantly and the creature writhed in pain. By the time it came to its senses, Sasuke had landed on its head. Sasuke ripped his sword from its sheath and stabbed it ruthlessly inside the Kyodaija.
The snake disappeared in a quick, but immense cloud of smoke. Sasuke began to fall swiftly to the ground below him. Just as he prepared his feet for impact, Sasuke felt a slimy object slap his sword from his hand. The object hurled itself tightly around Sasuke's body and held him in place. Sasuke, still shirtless, felt the revolting object's composition all over his body. "That bastard and his tongue!"
Sasuke felt the tongue contract. It turned so that Sasuke came face to face with the Orochimaru. Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched Orochimaru's pupils glint.
"I'm so happy that my new body will taste as good as it looks." Orochimaru hissed. His tongue tightened around the Uchiha. Sasuke swore he felt it caress him a few times. "However, maybe I don't want your body after all. Your sharingan failed to foresee this attack. You couldn't properly dodg-" Orochmaru's eyes widened at the sight of the bright, crackling aura that engulfed Sasuke's body.
"Chidori Current!" Sasuke yelled. The chidori surrounded the Uchiha's body, lighting the boy up in a dangerous burst of lightning. The attack was too fast for Orochimaru to evade. His wet tongue felt the biting pain of the sharp current.
Orochimaru's blood-curdling scream pierced the room. The chidori blinded everything in an overwhelming blue light. The lightning surged jaggedly down Orochimaru's tongue and down inside his body. Sasuke's foot reared backed and slammed into the sanin's face. Orochimaru was sent flying backwards into a wall.
Sasuke landed softly on the ground and began whipping the beads of sticky saliva off his bare chest and arms. He looked across the room and almost chuckled at the sight before him.
Orochimaru was sprawled across the floor like a rag doll. His long, wretched tongue was lying limp and lifeless aimlessly across the floor. Thin lines of steam and smoke flowed from the sizzling, burnt attachment of red, slick flesh.
"My sharingan never fails." Sasuke sneered. "Especially against the likes of you." Sasuke heard Orochimaru shift slightly. "I let you grab me with your tongue so that I could attack you with my chidori current." Sasuke picked up his sword and closed his eyes for a brief moment. "I thought that you, one of the sanin, would be a bit smarter than that." Orochimaru's sadistic chuckle was Sasuke's only response.
"Good. This is good, my dear Sasuke. I'm so glad that I get to play with you one last time." Orochimaru's entire body stayed limp. Everywhere except his neck. Orochimaru leaned his head backward and his injured tongue flew rapidly back inside his mouth.
The sanin made a wretched gulping sound and then reopened his jaw. The Long Sword of the Heavens, the Kusanagi, spouted slowly out of Orochimaru. The sanin pulled himself to his feet. His hand gripped the sword's handle and he pulled it free from his mouth. He smiled in a crazed fashion and began laughing uncontrollably. Orochimaru charged forward, the sword stayed behind the rest of his body as he ran. His insane laughing ensued.
"CLANK!" Sasuke and Orochimaru's swords met abruptly. The remaining Kyodaija slithered swiftly toward Sasuke from behind. With his free hand, Sasuke concentrated his chakra. His chidori channeled itself into thin needles. The lightning needles soared accurately into the snake's body, piercing it with multiple, steaming gashes and wounds.
The snake hesitated briefly from the attack, but kept moving. Sasuke took a side step away from the deadlock he was in with the sanin. He shifted himself on the balls of his feet and turned toward the snake. He repositioned his sword so that the blade jutted sideways away from him.
Sasuke forced his body into the second level of his curse seal and allowed his chidori to channel through his sword. He charged forward, keeping his body parallel to the snake's jaws. His chirping sword tore into the side of the Kyodaija's mouth. Sasuke ran forward, allowing his sword to cut through the giant snake like butter. Before he had even reached the end of the snake, it had disappeared in a blur of smoke.
"Behind me." Sasuke's precise senses went to work. He expertly shifted his body in order to gracefully duck under Orochimaru's sword. In the midst of his evasion, Sasuke swept his leg behind the sanin's feet. Orochimaru easily leapt over Sasuke's attack and retaliated with a backward swing of his arm.
"Hidden Shadow Many Snakes Hand." Sasuke watched as a countless number of snakes weaved rapidly out of Orochimaru's sleeve. The Uchiha wasted no time in slashing through the creatures with his sword. The elegant strokes of Sasuke's blade sent small bits of the serpents flailing about. Sasuke moved forward with finesse as he evasively avoided and ripped through the snakes. With a final slice, Sasuke tore a gash through Orochimaru's arm.
"Substitution." The revelation came before Sasuke's sword had even completely torn through the sanin. The figure of Orochimaru turned slowly into a mud brown color. It melted in a revolting manner towards the ground.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Orochimaru's voice traveled corrosively on the air towards Sasuke. Without a second to react, Sasuke felt the air behind him twist and turn into a powerful gust.
Sasuke turned his body to face Orochimaru and crossed his forearms in front of his face in defense. His feet slid across the ground as the vast whirlwind pushed him powerfully across the room. His body lifted off the ground and he was forced unwillingly into the air. His long, dark locks whipped around his face in a frenzy as he soared painfully like a helpless leaf on the wind. A raw grunt escaped from the Uchiha's body as Sasuke's back vigorously hit the wall on the opposite side of the room.
Sasuke stayed glued against the wall as the wild explosion of churning wind ensued. He clenched his fists in anger as he waited impatiently for the prevailing gusts to stop. Orochimaru's attack forced the Uchiha to close his eyes. As the wind died down, Sasuke felt his body slide to the floor. As soon as he opened his eyes, he met Orochimaru's gaze. Before he could even think, Sasuke was trapped in a familiar genjutsu. "This is his death foreseeing technique……….."
Sasuke soon discovered that it wasn't the same as when he experienced it in the forest of death three years ago. "It's different this time." It wasn't his own death that he saw like the last time Orochimaru used it on him. This time, it was Naruto's.
They were holding each other. Naruto held tightly to Sasuke, and Sasuke held on even tighter. Their embrace continued with a tender kiss. Their hands massaged each others' supple bodies as their lips fought lustfully. Naruto was warm and the feeling of his soft skin caressing against Sasuke's sent a yearning throughout the Uchiha's body.
The feeling of the genjutsu compared to that of a wet dream. It felt real to Sasuke. For a few moments, he wasn't sure if he wanted it to end or not. But, suddenly, the feeling of the loving illusion changed wickedly into a sadistic nightmare. Sasuke quickly remembered that this genjutsu was supposed to show someone their death, or, in this case, someone else's death. The Uchiha watched unwillingly as the vision continued.
Sasuke's eyes glinted and he abruptly ended the passionate moment. He sliced his sword easily into Naruto's chest. The lifeless, cold metal extended through the blonde's soft flesh. It jutted out of Naruto's back. A gasp escaped from the blonde.
"Why?" A tear spilled helplessly from Naruto. Sasuke responded by removing his sword ruthlessly back through the blonde's body. The crimson color of fresh blood leaked down Naruto's tan body. Naruto fell weakly to his knees. Sasuke grabbed the boy by his blonde locks and dragged him towards a tree. A winding trail of dark blood flowed behind Naruto. Sasuke lifted Naruto and pinned him against the rough bark of the tree.
A snake wrapped itself around Naruto's wrists and forced the blonde's arms above him. The snake clung to the tree and successfully restrained Naruto. The gash in Naruto's chest had already begun to heal itself. Sasuke started to drag the edge of his blade maliciously across Naruto's quivering body. The cries of agony and distress that escaped from Naruto would forever haunt Sasuke's memory. By the time Sasuke finished torturing the blonde, his hands and body were coated a dark red color.
Sasuke couldn't watch any longer. He forced the genjutsu to release and the images dispelled themselves from his mind. When he came back to his senses, the first thing he heard was Orochimaru's voice.
"And that's exactly what I'm going to do once I have your body." The sanin's voice was a bit terrifying for a moment. He grabbed Sasuke's hair. "After I screw that Jinchuriki senseless with this tasty body of yours, I'll bathe myself in his blood. I'll make him suffer for hours before I actually let him die." Orochimaru chuckled viciously.
"I can't wait to hear him whimper. I can just picture it now." Orochimaru began to mock Naruto's voice as he impersonated the blonde. "Oh, Sasuke……It hurts! Stop! Please, no more…….I love you, why are you doing this!?" The sanin toyed with Sasuke.
Sasuke's breathing had far accelerated its normal rate. His rage boiled inside of him. He pulled himself free from Orochimaru's grasp and stood up quickly. He shifted his weight from the heels of his feet to his soles. He spun his body as his foot rose into the air. He dragged his heel powerfully across the sanin's face. Disorientated, Orochimaru clutched at the bruise. Sasuke disappeared in a flash of speed.
Sasuke returned before the sanin in a blur; His sword was back in his hands. Sasuke charged forward screaming vengefully. Sasuke sliced across Orochimaru's torso. A large gash appeared instantly.
"I'll never let that happen you bastard!" Sasuke yelled as he swung his sword a second time along the sanin's side. Orochimaru moved backwards. "I'm not finished with you yet! I told you this wouldn't be over quickly!"
Sasuke hacked and slashed at Orochimaru repeatedly until the sanin was covered in gashes and wounds. As Orochimaru stumbled backwards, Sasuke continued slashing wildly at the sanin's body in a frantic fury. Blood splashed about in all directions. The relentless hacking continued until Orochimaru was finally backed into a corner of the room. Sasuke stood before him, ready to land a killing strike. He swung his sword behind his head. His last strike was stopped by Orochimaru's psychotic laughter.
Sasuke watched as the sanin's body contorted and twisted in an inhuman manner. Orochimaru's muscles surged and his skin began to rip apart. His body grew and enlarged strangely. His limbs molded inward and joined with the rest of his body and he raised high into the air. His entire being formed into a giant, slithering mass. His pale skin was now constructed of millions of snakes sliding and weaving together. He grew until his entire being resembled that of a Kyodaija. His once straight hair had surrounded his serpent like head in rough, dark spikes. His pupils appeared on his face, as well a large grin. A long, thin tongue slithered out of Orochimaru's jaws.
Sasuke looked upward into the creature's eyes. His demeanor had shifted back to normal once Orochimaru had transformed. He was calm again and felt unthreatened by the sanin's surprise.
"So this is your true from then?" Sasuke asked smugly. The creature laughed maniacally and whipped his back end toward the Uchiha. Sasuke dodged the attack by leaping over Orochimaru's tail. However, his effort was in vain. Orochimaru plunged downward with his vast mouth open. Sasuke felt the shadow of Orochimaru's jaws loom above him. Before he could even move, Sasuke was swallowed whole.
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"And what about you, Kiba?" Choji asked a bit obnoxiously. "Who's the lucky lady that you're after? Huh?" Kiba chuckled at the question.
"Geez, I don't know." Kiba closed his eyes and let a small smile from on his face. "Maybe I just don't want to tell you."
The steam in the bathhouse had completely clouded Naruto's vision. He'd lost track of how long he'd been there with Kiba and the others. However, he came to the conclusion that if he didn't leave soon, he'd pass out from heat exhaustion.
"Aw, come on, Kiba! You just spent the last hour questioning all of us about girls!" Choji roared. Kiba smiled wider and opened his eyes.
"No, I didn't ask everybody. I only asked you and Lee." Kiba turned to Shikamaru. "And what's all this I hear about you and that sand kunoichi girl? Her name's Temari, right?" Kiba chuckled at the sight of Shikamaru rolling his eyes.
"Eh, women…….They're too troublesome to be concerned about. Besides, that girl is scarier than my mother." Shikamaru dunked his body lower into the hot water with a grunt. Lee raised one of his bushy eyebrows toward Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto? What is wrong with you? You are being very quiet. It is strange for you to act this way." Lee wondered about Naruto's strange behavior.
"Geez, it's called a contraction, bushy brow. Learn how to say them." Naruto thought a bit irritably. "Why am I being so mean? Damn teme is always messing with me."
"Naruto?" Lee asked again. Naruto came back to his senses.
"Uh…..Haha well it's just that this place is so…….uhhh… relaxing that I can't stop myself from being quiet!" Naruto said with a large grin on his face. Shikamaru sighed.
"Well if it'll stop you from being a complete spazz like you normally are, we should bring you here more often." Shikamaru teased with a hint of seriousness.
"ARGH! Why you lazy-!" Naruto yelled angrily at the mocking comment Shikamaru had made.
"Hey it's only fair if you tell us if you're interested in somebody, Naruto." Choji interrupted Naruto's stentorian voice. "So is there anybody that you like? Or anyone that likes you?" Naruto began to stammer at the question worriedly. "Don't say Sasuke! Don't say Sasuke! Don't say Sasuke! Don't say Sasuke! DON'T SAY SASUKE!"Naruto's mind went into a comical panic.
"Sas-" The name appeared strangely in Naruto's mouth.
"Naruto." Kiba stopped the blonde just in time. "I think I've reached my limit. You've been here just as long as me. Do you wanna head out now?" Kiba asked as he began to move out of the water.
"Uh…..YEA! Sure! See you guys later!" Naruto leapt out of the pool of water, splashing Lee, Shikamaru, and Choji in a tidal wave of hot water. Shikamaru sighed.
"See Lee? He's already back to normal." Lee nodded firmly as Shikamaru sighed dejectedly.
Naruto followed Kiba through the steam filled bathhouse. Since Naruto had soaked their towels from the moment he entered the water, they both had to find a pair of dry ones. Naruto couldn't seem to look away from Kiba's backside. He watched as Kiba's ass flexed with each step and then loosened itself slightly. It was a bit hypnotic.
Naruto felt his blood begin to race. He looked downward to see the same annoying body part from before begin to twitch and enlarge. "Damn it! Not again!" Naruto's mind whined. Kiba turned his head to meet Naruto's gaze. "Don't look down! Don't look down!" Luckily, Kiba's gaze never faltered.
"Naruto? You sure you're alright? Did you wanna stay in the water longer?" Kiba asked with a strange look on his face.
Naruto blushed and tilted his head above into the air to stop himself from staring at Kiba's nether regions. "Nah! I'm fine Kiba!" Naruto laughed nervously.
"Ok……….Well here." Kiba handed Naruto a white towel. "You'd better cover yourself up." Kiba leaned forward and placed his palm on the side of his mouth in a discrete manner. "Dude, you're hard." Kiba whispered and then punched Naruto in the shoulder lightly. Naruto's eyes widened like saucers. He grabbed the towel and covered as much of his body as he could with it. Kiba began to laugh hysterically.
"KIBA! Shut up!" Naruto whispered frantically. "Let's get out of here."
The two boys dried themselves off hastily. They got dressed and left the bathhouse. Kiba had never stopped laughing for a second. They walked outside into the dim light of the setting sun.
"Hey! Akamaru!" Kiba yelled toward his dog who was obediently sitting outside waiting for Kiba. Akamaru ran up to the two of them and started walking off into the woods with them.
"So…Where are you going now, Naruto?" Kiba asked.
"Well, I guess I'm just gonna head back to my apartment. There's nothing else for me to do today." Naruto placed his palms on the back of his head while he walked.
The boys walked on a bit further. They remained completely silent. Kiba coughed uncomfortably a few times before finally asking Naruto a question.
"So…….About the last couple of days…..I mean I know something was going on in the village. I mean, Lee saw Sakura crying the other night. When he asked her what was wrong she just said that an old friend was on her mind." Naruto began to narrow his eyes at Kiba's speech. "And remember that scary proctor from the chunin exams three years ago? There were some rumors about her getting into a fight in the forest." Kiba's voice trailed off.
"Yeah, so what's your point?" Naruto asked nonchalantly.
"COME ON, NARUTO!" Kiba couldn't remain calm any longer. "I know you know what happened! I mean especially after whose name you almost said in the bathhouse! And after hearing Sakura say that an old friend was on her mind. So tell me!" Kiba yelled in an overly curious manner. Naruto stammered.
"What!? Whose name!? ……………Uh… I don't know what you're talking about!" Naruto yelled back. Kiba grunted. "Why do you even care anyway? It's none of your business." Naruto crossed his arms on his chest. Kiba sighed and put his arm around the blonde's shoulder.
"Hey, relax Naruto. I was just trying to get you to talk a little. I mean you've been so stiff recently. I guess I was just a little…………..concerned…. that's all. And I guess I'm a little curious too. I mean, some people think that Sasuke was here……….and that is sort of a big deal." Kiba asked one more question. "Was it him? Was he here?" Naruto grunted and moved away from Kiba.
"I already told you that I don't want to talk about it. It's none of your business anyway." Naruto began to walk away. "Sorry, Kiba……….I guess I'll see you later." Naruto left Kiba in the woods and headed for his apartment. He wandered about aimlessly for a while.
"Why did Kiba even have to bring that bastard up?" Naruto slammed his fist into a tree. He'd almost forgotten about the way Sasuke left him. Naruto punched the same tree a second time. "I could be dead right now…………All because that I thought maybe Sasuke….that maybe he cared……." Naruto looked at his bloody knuckles and laughed at himself.
"I've become such a mopey person….. Fuck Sasuke. If that's the way he wants it….. Then fine. I'll just have to rip his limbs off to bring him back home." Naruto smiled slightly and looked at the setting sun. "And I will bring him back."
"Hey kid!" A voice called out from the trees. Naruto looked around. His eyes met the gaze of Anko's.
"Do you mind if I talk to you for a second?" Anko appeared behind Naruto in a flash. She laughed at the fearful look on the young ninja's face.
"You're as freaky as ever………What do you want?" Naruto pouted slightly.
"It's about your buddy………The Uchiha." Anko licked her lips. Naruto grunted.
"What is everyone's constant obsession with him about!? He makes one small appearance and everybody acts like he's a movie star! I just wish somebody would stop talking about him." Naruto continued whining. "He arrogant and conceited and he's plays with people's feelings, and he can be a real tem-"
"I'm sorry." Anko said softly. Naruto turned and tilted his head slightly at her. "I shouldn't have acted so……spontaneously. I always tell people that Orochimaru is my problem to deal with. I guess I didn't respect that the Uchiha was your problem to deal with. I shouldn't have interfered." Anko bobbed her head downward. Naruto smiled.
"Wow, lady! Maybe you're not so scary after all. But, why are you apologizing? I mean it's part of your job to hunt down missing ninja, right?" Naruto asked. Anko nodded. Silence ensued for a brief moment.
"Can I ask you something?" Naruto looked at the jonin. Anko looked up and smiled.
"It's about Orochimaru, right? You're probably wondering if your friend will ever be the same after staying with that bastard for three years." Anko guessed at the question. Naruto looked a bit shocked and then nodded.
"Don't you worry you're goofy, blonde head. You're friend doesn't really seem to respect my former sensei. Besides, I think the last thing you should worry about affecting your friend's personality is Orochimaru." Anko continued. "From what I hear, he is much more concerned about his brother's death." Naruto's gaze faltered and he looked down at the ground.
"I don't know what to do………….I can't get through to him and I…….He's….He's important to me." Anko placed her palm on the blonde's back.
"He's a real ruthless person, Naruto. But, from what I've heard about his past, he has a reason for being like that." Anko smiled. "But just try trusting in him……..If he truly loves you….. Like he said he did." Naruto's ears perked at the words. He nearly jumped out of his skin.
"If he loves you, then he'll come back for you……And I think he does." Anko's eyes glinted. She leapt towards a tree.
"WHAT!?" Naruto's voice rang out. "HOLD ON! How do you……….How did you hear about- AHHHHHHHH!" Anko laughed.
"You don't know how much I really saw. I can sense the Uchiha and where he goes when he's near my location, after all. Sorry if I almost interrupted your reunion with him!" Anko laughed hysterically. Naruto stomped around wildly in shock.
"Don't worry kid! I won't tell anyone! But, you know, it really doesn't take a genius to figure out what was going on between you two!" Anko left in a flash. Naruto felt his face drain. He fell to the ground whining to himself.
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"How!?" Tsunade yelled; she demanded an answer. The news she was hearing was unbelievable. She had personally summoned Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Shizune for this meeting. Jiraiya spoke up.
"Tsunade…….If what you've told me about the last few days is true….then it shouldn't be that hard for you to believe." Jiraiya said calmly. Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
"What's this all about Hokage-sama?" Kakashi's voice was tense. Unknown to the others, two days ago Anko had told him that her curse seal suddenly felt at peace. After two days of agony it stopped hurting out of nowhere. Kakashi was the only person she told.
"How did it happen?" Kakashi asked sternly.
"From what it looks like, he tried to take the Uchiha's body by force. And the Uchiha countered." Jiraiya closed his eyes.
"No……….." Shizune's voice trailed off. "Are you telling me that………..that he's…….."
"Yes, Orochimaru is dead. He's finished." Tsunade shot Jiraiya a look.
"And it was Sasuke who killed him." Kakashi added. Jiraiya nodded his head.
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Again, sorry that this chapter mainly consisted of a fight. But I tried to make it interesting. And sorry if I seemed slightly morbid at points. Next chapter coming soon. So keep reading and let me know what you think…………(nervous laugh…)hehe you could always let me know what you think by……… well…….. reviewing! Give it a try! It builds my confidence. (Thanks to all my recent reviewers though!)