Ode to an Avenger Chapter 5, a naruto fanfic

Ode to an Avenger

When Anko felt the dull pain in her left palm, she tried to open her eyes wide enough to see what had happened. It seemed as though her memory had abandoned her for the time being. She didn't know why she was so tired, or why her whole body hurt... and she really didn't know why Asuma was sitting on the edge of her bed, dropping cigarette ash all over the coverlet.

She angrily kicked at the small pile of gray ash that was dusting her black sheet. Asuma sat back, startled at the sudden reaction. She opened her eyes and glared at him.

"You awake, Anko?"

Oh please. "No. I'm just sleeping with my eyes open." Asuma nodded at her comment.

"Wouldn't be the first time," he said, inhaling deeply on his cigarette and chewing wetly. She kicked at him again before sitting up, keeping her waist down under the covers.

"You better not be implying that you watch me sleep, you sick freak," she warned. Seeing him about to answer she added, "For your own good." He grinned brightly at her and shook his head.

"No worries, Anko. My tastes run towards women." He made a noise of protest when the pillow she threw knocked his cigarette from his mouth onto the floor, where he watched it smolder pitifully. "I saved your life, you know."

"And I just saved yours, so we're even," she replied, adjusting herself against the wall behind her. She flexed her hands, then grimaced at the flare in her left palm. Again it stung slightly. She held up her left hand and splayed her fingers, showing the faint red scars to Asuma. "Mind telling me where these came from?"

Asuma raised an eyebrow as he vainly tried to salvage his cigarette. "You mean you don't remember what happened in the Hokage's tower before?"

"Obviously not if I'm asking you," Anko pointed out, her patience wearing thin. Asuma shrugged and sat back up on the end of her bed, leaning back against the board at the foot of the bed and idly toying with a fresh cigarette.

"Before we were training, and you used some jutsu the snake fellow taught you, and your curse seal just kind of went hay-wire," he explained, glancing not too discreetly at her left shoulder. Anko frowned and rubbed at the seal with her left hand. Immediately she felt an odd buzz run from hand to shoulder and back, but then it died down and she brushed it off as her muscles awakening.

"Hokage cut your palm up, you and the Uchiha kid, said something about it keeping your seals settled. I don't know, Anko, you know I don't follow this kind of stuff too well." Anko snorted and blew her hair from her face.

"Yeah, I know," she promised him. She frowned at the unsettled feeling radiating from her seal. It was flaring slightly, but Anko, being Anko, ignored it and hoped it would go away on its own. Everything always went away on its own if ignored.

Except, apparently, for Asuma.

When Sasuke woke up and felt the dull pain in his left hand, he immediately lay still and tried to bring his mind up to speed, and figure out why it was hurting. More importantly, where exactly he was laying down.

He took in the faint scent of leaves and spice and allowed himself to relax. Neji was close by, or at least had been fairly recently. Judging by the soft surface under him, he cleverly deduced he was on a bed. The heat on his closed eyelids told him it was either dawn or high noon, because of the brightness and all.

Then Sasuke decides that it must be someone he knows or trusts who is standing over him and creating that cool shadow on his eyes. He blinks and opens them fully, taking in the sight that is Neji. Neji with his black hair tied back like always. Neji with the small, barely noticeable crease of worry between his eyes. Neji with only a pair of long black pants on, and stray water droplets on his chest that proudly announce he had just stepped from the shower.

Sasuke unconsciously licked his lips.

Neji's eyes smiled at that and he stretched back, exposing his tight chest and lithe stomach, arms out in front of him as he twisted his back and made the most tantalizing little sound, halfway between a groan and sigh. He allowed his slightly damp hair to shake down the length of his back, wrapping soft tendrils around his waist.

Sasuke was up and on top of him before he could react. Neji was falling under their combined weight and landed with a soft thump on the blanket on the floor that Sasuke had apparently kicked off in his sleep. Sasuke blinked away the lightheadedness that fell around him and focussed on the smirking Neji, who had the look of I knew you couldn't resist.

"Shut up," Sasuke growled, and leaned down, threading his fingers through Neji's silky tresses. His right hand slipped it's way over his smooth chest, pausing long enough to rub at the dip between his collarbones before travelling up to lightly caress his elegant neck. Neji sighed into the kiss, his tongue darting up to push against Sasuke's.

Sasuke ran both hands slowly down his sides, tracing the ridges of ribs and sternum and finally, hips. Before his hand could travel any lower Neji broke off the kiss, taking a moment to gasp in air as he held Sasuke's hands where they were, level with his waist.

"How about you don't?" Neji suggested softly, commending himself mentally for his excellent show of self-control in the face of a lusty eyed and eager Sasuke. At his confused look Neji explained, "You don't have the stamina to do...that for me."

Sasuke's dark eyes glinted in the rising sunlight. "Sounds like a challenge."

"Sasuke, I–"

"Need to shut up and take it like a man." In one swift movement he had slipped his hands from Neji's hold, one sliding under the untied waistband of Neji's pants, while he brought his right hand up to run his thumb along Neji's jawline, turning his head for better access for another kiss. Neji took a shuddering breath as Sasuke's cool hand, the left one ridged with the day-old cuts wrapped around him. Sasuke's left hand...

"You–you're right-handed," Neji managed to say, turning his head and licking his lips. Sasuke sighed at him and shook his head, moving his head back toward him.

"Tch. You should know by now, Neji. I'm a man of many talents..." he moved his left hand quickly down Neji's length and grinned. "Ambidextrous, you know. Now shut it."

Neji could only comply as Sasuke kissed him again with a fierce determination, plunging deep into his mouth and sucking lightly. With his left hand increasing in speed, a white noise began to make itself known in Neji's brain. He blinked to try to see past the shroud of bright white that hung over his vision, seeing the dark angel above him doing things that an angel most certainly would not do.

Sasuke grinned over Neji's warm lips, feeling the tension underneath his hand and mouth. He relished in the feel of their tongues sliding over each other, the heat in him that he knew was from Neji, the feelings that he had whenever they were together. Neji's eyes had slipped closed, his breaths coming shorter than before as Sasuke's left hand worked faster than before, increasing in both speed and grip.

All at once air refused to enter his lungs, and the white buzz had increased to a roar and it seemed like a white veil had been thrown over his eyes, leaving him in a sterile world, and Neji was only faintly aware of Sasuke's weight on top of him. Warm breath in his ear brought him back, and the fog lifted to reveal a proudly grinning Sasuke, licking one hand as the other smoothed Neji's sweat-damp hair.

"How's that for stamina?"

Kisame dug his blade into the ground and settled back against it, watching his prey carefully. The snake Sannin's bitch, Kabuto, had been circling around the northern perimeter of Konoha since before dawn, and it was now about three hours after.

Kisame had his orders, plain and clear: keep Orochimaru and Uchiha separated. It would not, the Leader had explained, do him any good to have the two of them join up again. Not if Akatsuki wanted a new member.

It was not, Kisame had long ago decided, the fact that Uchiha was vital to Akatsuki or anything; rather that this whole affair had turned into a personal matter between the Leader and Orochimaru. Nor would it do any good to fail the head of Akatsuki. Kisame wasn't exactly eager to meet with the same fate as Uchiha Itachi, after all. Whatever that may be.

So Kisame stood as he had for the past four hours, his spine protesting at remaining so rigid for so long. He watched as Kabuto skipped about, setting up a ward here, a trap there. He would have dearly loved to put Kabuto out of his misery, because if there was one thing Kisame loathed more than anything, it was seeing a man so disgustingly servile and obedient. Sadly, though, he had orders not to–

Wait a minute...Kisame thought to himself, feeling his stiff cheeks crack as he slowly grinned. I have no such orders. With a spring in his step and a swing of his sword, Kisame was bounding out to meet Kabuto.

The white-haired medic nin smiled up at Kisame as he stood in front of him, straightening slowly. "Kisame, if I'm not mistaken."

Kisame smirked back at him, feeling the excitement of an upcoming fight broiling in his gut. "Didn't know you were allowed to talk without a certain someone's permission, Kabuto."

Kabuto said nothing, choosing to drop the friendly facade and draw out three slim senbon. Kisame nodded and waved Samehada at him. "Mine's bigger than yours."

Three minutes, twenty-four seconds later, Kisame was wiping at the viscous liquid covering his shimmering blade. He grinned down at the panting Kabuto, his teeth biting into his bottom lip. "I told you, bigger is better."

He sheated Samehada again and sauntered off, stopping only when he felt a faint pulse of chakra as Kabuto tried to heal the gash that had nearly sliced him in half. Kisame pulled the senbon that had, slick with its' wielder's blood, stuck to his left bicep and twisted it between his fingers. "Before I forget..."

He spun around and the needle whistled through the air, neatly sliding in Kabuto's throat, poking out the back. With a dismayed and bloody gurgle Kabuto's glowing hands dimmed and fell, and he hit the ground from his crouched position, fertilizing the grassy dirt with red, red blood.

Kisame waited while his eyes glazed over, and there was no breath left in his body, to move forward again as inspiration struck. His eyes gleamed with his idea as he once again pulled forth his blade, tongue flicking away the dots of blood on his face.

When Orochimaru woke, he was standing where he had been when he allowed himself to sleep. After dawn already. He sighed to himself and glanced around for Kabuto, already knowing he wasn't anywhere nearby. This was, he knew, the day he'd been waiting for, and he wanted to take his excitement out on someone. Namely Kabuto.

Orochimaru heard the wind parting, and with a quick spin on his heel he had moved twelve meters from the flying projectile, whatever it was. Where he had been standing seconds ago, a roughly shaped sphere landed. He tested it from afar, determined it was safe, and moved forward after a cursory look around.

He sighed in disappointment as Kabuto's lifeless eyes stare back at him, mouth slightly parted and still-warm blood rolling down from it, onto the bloody tendrils of ripped cartilage and flesh. Damnation. He still required Kabuto's disguise to find out how Orochimaru's favourite little curse seal bearers were holding out.

Ah well. Orochimaru mentally shrugged and kicked the head away, lips curling in disgust as some of the blood clung to his tan sandals. He'd always thought that boy more of a mess than he was worth.

Sasuke pushed back the black shower curtain and stepped out, shaking the water from his eyes as he reached for a towel. Neji had left, thankfully, saying something about needing to speak with Lee about. This made it actually possible for Sasuke to get the towel wrapped around his waist and keep it there for more than three seconds.

Rubbing the condensation from the small oval mirror Sasuke glared at the vivid redness of his skin, that seemed to glow like a signal in the bright light and heated air. He absently ran his left hand over his seal as it stung sharply and ignored the buzz that shot from palm to shoulder and back. It had done that since he first touched it with his healed hand, after Neji had told him about last night's events in the Hokage's office.

He sighed and dropped the towel, reaching for the black pants he had brought in with him. He tied them then attacked his wet hair with a smaller towel, shaking it vigorously and feeling the water droplets slap his chest. He stretched his arms over his head, tossing the towel behind him to slump in a wet pile with the other.

Sasuke sighed to himself after seeing that he'd forgotten to bring in his shirt with him after Neji had so kindly taken it off for him. Even though it was his house, Sasuke never felt comfortable walking around half-dressed unless there was a reason. Like the presence of a certain Hyuuga. But, no such luck today, so he'd have to scamper off to his room quickly and grab a top there.

Cool air hit him as he opened the bathroom door, the heat pushing him from behind and the combination of the two made him feel lightheaded. It was only when he felt the wind part on his left that he realized someone was there and had just leaped at him. That, or thrown a chair at him.

"Sexual assault!" The loud yell was accompanied by a crushing weight wrapping itself around Sasuke's upper body. He staggered to the right and reflexively dropped to the ground, rolling the person above him off and into the wall behind him. Sasuke brought his chakra into action, letting it pulsate around his body and was surprised at the sudden whoosh of hot air that spread from his back and entwined around his limbs.

There was a loud laugh to his right that Sasuke knew all too well. "Aah, Sasuke, you should have seen your face! You were all 'duhh...' and I was all amazing until you over-reacted and made my head smack the wall. Ow, by the way," Narutp yelled in his typically breathless-from-laughing way.

Sasuke stood and glared down at the blonde sprawled against the wall. "Idiot. You should have known I'd do that." With a grunt Naruto leaped up and pushed himself away from the wall.

"Yeah well, it's like I say–" He stopped and raised an eyebrow at Sasuke. "Don't tell me I'm that much of a threat." At Sasuke's look, he ran his hands up and down his own arms.

"The curse seal? I don't think you should be using that so soon after yesterday." Sasuke glanced down and found the surface of his skin crawling with the fiery marks. He frowned to himself. That shouldn't have happened so easily...

Naruto watched in silence as Sasuke closed his eyes and his body stiffen, reigning in the seal. It crept back reluctantly, as impossibly slow as if he'd ordered the rain to fall up. With a loud exhalation the seal was retracted fully and spun lazily on Sasuke's shoulder before stopping.

Sasuke was brushing past him when Naruto snapped himself from his reverie. He turned and banged down the hall past Sasuke, pushing his way into the bedroom he knew his friend was heading for. Naruto threw himself face-first on the bed and sighed loudly, before inhaling and ultimately gagging.

"God, Sasuke! This whole room smells like sex!"

Sasuke pushed open the closet doors and reached in for a black shirt. He tugged it over his head before replying, "Well, Naruto, it's like this: When two people love each other very much and live together, there are things they do in their bedroom that–"

"–are not suitable for anyone to know about! Thank you, I get it." Naruto flipped over on his stomach and pulled a face at Sasuke's outfit. "Must you wear all black? That's the reason you're so pasty you know. Not enough exposure to the Sun. Unlike me. I live in the light."

"Explains why you look like a defecation of the Sun then," Sasuke answered, pushing the sleeves up past his elbows. He sighed as he saw Naruto mouth defecation to himself. "Don't worry about it. Now what do you want?"

"Ah, the old hag wants you to go see her. Follow-up, don't you know. Plus I brought back the pervert from his scouting expedition." Naruto lowered his voice and leaned forward conspiratorially. "Him and Kakashi have been talking for a few hours already. They both seem real happy about something but I don't know what."

"Did you find Jiraiya in a brothel?"

"Course. Where else? Surrounded by tons of women... at least I think they were women..."

"And he had pen and paper?" Naruto nodded.

"Uh huh."

"There you go then."

Naruto blinked at him for a second, then grimaced. "Ugh. Those two really need to be confined to the jail. Maybe they can stop corrupting innocent youths."

"Doubtful. Anyways, what do I need to see the Hokage for?" Naruto rolled off the bed and stomped to his feet, knocking on Sasuke's head.

"Hello? Dunce, did you already forget? She needs to see you about yesterday. Anko has to go too. So come on, already." He spun around and leaped over to the open window, jumping on the sill and sat expectantly.

Sasuke slipped on his sandals and weapons pouch, opting to leave his katana behind. Naruto pushed off the windowsill and landed in the yard, followed closely by Sasuke. Together they ran towards the center of Konoha, running along the rooftops to avoid the crowded marketplace with it's brightly coloured awnings and wandering customers.

Sasuke followed Naruto up the outside of the tower, jumping from ledge to ledge until they reached the large round window of the Hokage's office. They stepped inside and subsequently had to duck from the metal drink coaster that sailed towards them, embedding itself in the wood-panelled walls with a loud thump.

"Brat! What the hell took so long?" Tsunade's annoyed voice broke over the quiet murmurs of conversation that were going on between Kakashi and Jiraiya. "I sent you to Uchiha's over half an hour ago!"

"Pssh. Relax, woman. I had to teach Sasuke a very important lesson on the very real dangers of sexual assault in one's own home," Naruto explained, grinning brightly. Tsunade looked to Sasuke who only shook his head, and she nodded.

"Right, I won't ask. We have a slightly more pressing matter to deal with at any rate." She turned to Jiraiya who had produced a scribbled page of drawings and was showing them to a rather enthusiastic Kakashi. "Jiraiya."

The two continued to ignore her, both eating up the unfolding plot that Jiraiya had discovered on his recent travels. "Jiraiya! Dammit man!" Tsunade stormed over and ripped the paper from their sweaty grasp, throwing it on the floor and slamming her foot on it so hard the wood groaned underneath it.

"Tsunadeeeeeee..." Jiraiya whined loudly. The Hokage's only response was to backhand Jiraiya across her office. She looked mildly satisfied as he crashed against the wall and slid to the floor, moaning to himself as he rubbed at the tender back of his head. Kakashi wisely stood at attention, fighting to keep the pleased grin from his face as Jiraiya got his punishment.

"Now," Tsunade said, brushing her hair from her face," Jiraiya, my dear, dear friend, why don't you tell all assembled here what you've learned on your latest reconnaissance mission?"

"The women of Lightening are Easy with a capital E– and that's a disgusting thing," he amended, grinning sheepishly at the glowering Hokage.

"Well, since this brat here dragged me away, I wasn't able to collect all the data I require for volume forty-eight: Merry Brothel Adventures. But I did–"he ducked under a rock paperweight–" ahem. I did make some interesting discoveries about Akatsuki. It seems as though one of their top members has gone missing. "He glanced at Sasuke and continued. "Uchiha Itachi had been sent on a mission four days ago. When I heard he didn't return, I had some sources find out that no one in Akatsuki knew what happened to him. Perhaps the leader does, but you know how impossible it is to find out anything about him. Took me two years to find out he was a man."

Tsunade sighed and nodded. "So the Uchiha is MIA, no one knows where the hell he is, if he's even alive...what did you find out about his partner, Hoshigaki?"

"He was supposed to be in Snow for two weeks before meeting the Uchiha, but far as we can tell, that never happened. It's very possible that he's with Akatsuki now, trying to decide on a new partner or dealing with the Uchiha," Jiraiya answered.

Sasuke shifted from his position against the wall, trying to decide if he should tell them about his encounter the day before with Kisame. If he did, then maybe they could find him and see what he knew about Itachi. If Sasuke were to tell them what he'd been offered, he had a feeling that their shaky trust in him might fail completely. The last thing he needed was to be kept under house arrest again, when this whole issue with Orochimaru was on-going.

If he didn't tell them, however, then Kisame and Akatsuki would have the advantage of a surprise attack. This all could be a ploy to get Naruto, Sasuke admitted that much to himself. But if it wasn't, and they became violently insistent about Sasuke joining the organization, then Konoha could be at risk. Sasuke sighed to himself as his conscience won out.

"Hokage-sama, there's an incident I think you would like to know about, while we're on the topic," he said, reminding himself that this was probably for the best. Perhaps he could find out about Itachi from it. Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi and Naruto looked to him. Sasuke absently noted Anko wasn't there yet as he continued.

"Yesterday at the training fields, I was waiting for Neji to practice with. I sensed a certain chakra, and when I came into the clearing it was Hoshigaki Kisame." Sasuke paused and decided against telling them of the offer or the ring. "He said that Itachi wasn't dead, but I don't believe he knows what might have happened to him. He said that he would need a new partner to work with now."

Tsunade put her hands on her hips and glared at him. "Why the hell didn't you mention this before?" Sasuke sighed to himself. How did this woman get to become Hokage?

"This is the first time I've been conscious since then, Hokage-sama. I couldn't have told you before now."

Tsunade stared back at him, wheels turning in her sleep-deprived head as she worked out what he said. Finally she nodded. "Right you are."

"What did he want, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked Sasuke'e eyes flicked to him. He felt a small ball of dread form in his stomach. Of course Kakashi would assume something.

Sasuke shrugged. "He just wanted me to know that I was responsible for him having to work alone. He didn't try to fight or anything; he knew how close we were to Konoha. I don't think even he's that dim-witted."

Sasuke could tell from Kakashi's skeptical look that he didn't believe that was the whole story. Sasuke stared back steadily, daring Kakashi to try to make him say something he didn't wan to, but the other man only nodded once. Sasuke sighed again. He had a feeling that he would not be left alone when he got home.

"Wait, this is Kisame, that ugly shark guy, right?" Naruto asked, glancing from Sasuke to the Hokage. "He's so weak! I say we get him back here and make him tell us what he knows about this whole Itachi deal. Tell you what. I'll go drag his sorry ass here and–"

"No." Tsunade's sharp voice cut in. "We still need to find out who was disguised as you, Naruto. It may have been him, or one of Orochimaru's men. I have ANBU on that already, so you, brat, are not to horn in on their investigation. Am I clear?"

"But that's not fair, you old–"

"Am I clear?"

"Mmm...fine. But if your ANBU get him before I get a chance to see him, then I blame you," Naruto warned, crossing his arms and casting the Hokage a stern look.

"Of course you will. Right, Uchiha and Anko. Now...where the hell is Anko?!" Tsunade glared at Naruto. "I thought I told you to bring them both here!" Naruto raised an eyebrow at her.

"When would you have done that? Remember, I came back with the pervert and you freaking attacked me because that seemed better than asking questions first." Naruto shook his head. "Honestly hag, you're getting to be so old that your memory is going. Better watch that."

Tsunade kicked his shin and jabbed her finger to the window. "You have three minutes. And counting." Naruto glared. "Now, brat!"

Naruto sighed and muttered darkly under his breath, over exaggerating the limp in his leg as he jumped from the window. Silence reigned in the office as they waited. Jiraiya tried discreetly to salvage what was left of his story, but soon straightened under Tsunade's glare. After what seemed an eternity Naruto came bursting through the office door, with Anko and Asuma in tow.

"Two minutes and fourteen seconds! Count 'em!" He crowed triumphantly as he barreled past Tsunade and took up his former post next to the window. Asuma leaned against the shut door and took a long puff on his cigarette.

"And never mind the old fruit vendor Yahiro's decimated stand," he drawled, giving Naruto a meaningful look. Naruto shrugged and replied, "He should have known better than to set up his stall where he did. Honestly, who just plunks it down on the corner near Ichiraku? That's just plain rude."

"Naruto! Ten hours community service!" Tsunade snapped, glaring at the blonde. Naruto's mouth dropped as he instantly began to protest.

"That's not fair! It wasn't my fault I tripped–"

"Twenty hours! Now shut up and sit down." She turned back to Anko. "Now, Anko. How is it today?" Anko shrugged her shoulder and nodded.

"It's fine, Hokage-sama. Dormant. As usual." Tsunade nodded and faced Sasuke.

"What about yours, Uchiha? Same?"

"Yes. Same." Tsunade took a deep breath and closed her eyes, face marginally relaxed.

"So it seems like we have a break, no matter how short-lived. Now, this is important and pertains to both of you, so listen good. I don't want either of you to be active for the next few days. This means no ninjutsu, genjutsu, or taijutsu. Neither of you will take any missions for at least one more week, at which point I expect the both of you here." Sasuke and Anko both nodded, adding in a murmured "Yes, Hokage-sama."

Anko and Sasuke exchanged glances, and for a moment were stuck, looking at each other. They each felt a deep burning on their left shoulders, and it seeped heat around them.

Sasuke suddenly realized that Anko was possibly the greatest threat to him right now. Itachi was missing, likely dead, Orochimaru...well, he'd never posed much harm to Sasuke anyways. But Anko, she had the same curse mark as him, the same abilities as he had. Well, not yet. He knew, Orochimaru had told him, that she had never had the opportunity to develop anything past the first level. Sasuke smirked to himself. Point to him.

Anko glared at the Uchiha, feeling a deep resentment to him. How dare the little bastard be chosen over her by Orochimaru? How dare he study under the Sannin and learn more than she did, and gain more skills with the curse seal than she could ever hope to? Smug jerk, flaunting the fact that he was the favoured one right in front of her. She wondered if he hated her as much as she hated him right now.

Both felt the angry burn of their curse seals as they fed off the contemptuous feelings. Both saw the stiffening of each other's postures, and neither missed the hateful look in their eyes.

Somewhere through all this, in the logical parts of their minds, where Sasuke's voice was saying why are you thinking like this and Anko's told her this smug little jerk doesn't deserve such attention, but the instinct of the seal overpowered their inner voices, the instinct o hunt. Kill. Revel in bloodshed.

Deeper they were both told to have patience. Now was not the time. Later though; later offered many opportunities that worked well. So instead of saying anything, the two glared at each other and allowed their instincts to fester and control their impulses, and wait excitedly for the promise of later.

Later would be...interesting.

Sorry for the long wait. Little over a month. Originally this chapter was forty-seven pages long and I was stilll working on it, so I stopped myself at this part, and the next chapter, posted in one week, has the full action parts. Lots of action, yes. I'll give you a hint: Death. Gasp! I know. So chew on that for a while.

So, sorry if the ending seems abrupt, and just know that the next chapter will take off right where this one did, or didn't, leave off. And feel free to leave a review. No pressure, really, only I will doubt and damn myself forever if I get none. Ooh, and happy Hallowe'en! Six days early, but whatever.