Standard disclaimer applies
Warning: SasuNaru, yaoi, OOC and unbeta-read
Author's note: We apologize for the delay, as usual. Thanks to notperfectXbutXhonestcritic for the corrections.
Chapter 6: Acciaccatura
"When are you going to capture the Kyuubi?" Sasuke's question echoing in Akatsuki's west hideout.
''Why are you so impatient?" Madara asked indifferently and wasn't even affected when those piercing black eyes focused on him with a calm malice. So much like Itachi yet so different.
"That Jinchuuriki... I need him out of the way."
"He's weak. All Konoha shinobis are weak."
The younger Uchiha snorted, "You don't know him. He has a different power and I'm not talking about Kyuubi here."
"We are Uchihas, powerful beyond anyone's comprehension." Madara leaned against his chair, arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't bragging, but stating a fact that was recognized throughout the years. "Besides, I plan to capture him after your attack. By then, he will be exhausted. Everyone will be too exhausted to protect him so it's easier." He noticed the scowl that settled on the lad's face. He fell quiet for few moments before suggesting, "Why don't you do it?"
"My mission is to crush Konoha, not capturing its tailed beast for you."
"Is that why you're meeting with the jinchuuriki in one of the clan's hideouts?" He knew that Sasuke was volatile, but nothing had prepared him for his descendant's reaction. It was only his quick reflex that saved him from Itachi's Amaterasu that had been planted on those cursed eyes.
"That is none of your business," Sasuke told him coldly, eyes flashing and tomoes swirling dangerously.
Madara became wary and beneath his indifferent demeanor, he was tensed. Like Itachi, he was aware of the lad's potential to be stronger than any Uchiha... even him. "I don't know what you're doing with him in that place," he told him, but he had a good idea what. "I only told Zetsu to follow you after that time when you didn't show up for our meeting. It was a one time thing."
Sasuke stood up and stared down at him. "Regardless what I do with him, I will not fail in my revenge. You better remember that." Then his form wavered like a heat wave before disappearing completely, leaving his ancestor frowning. Madara knew he had won the boy over, but perhaps, he needed to keep him on a tight leash, but was that a good idea?
-SasuNaru is love-
Having anticipated the attack, Hinata moved two steps backward just as Neji delivered a blow with his palm. However, that was not the end of his attack and the Hyuuga heiress knew it. With one hand, she flipped backward but her opponent was behind her in a flash so she threw herself up in the air. Mid-air, she saw Naruto being led by one of their servants towards the training ground. Her heart skipped a beat.
Neji upon seeing her gaze diverted away from him, took that as a chance to deliver another attack. Contrary to his expectation, she managed to block it and she was even able to land gracefully on the ground. She took her stance, but Neji just stood erectly while regarding her.
Neji looked at the servant and so did Hinata. The servant bowed to them before addressing him, "You have a guest, Neji-sama." A pair of calm lilac eyes regarded the blond who seemed to be agitated before they zeroed in on Hinata.
"Let's take a short break, Hinata-sama," he said, made a slight bow and walked towards his guest.
Naruto immediately grinned at Neji who just nodded. He sat beside his quiet friend and held a scroll towards him. The other man just regarded the scroll, but he didn't make a move to receive it.
"It's a technique," the blond explained.
There was a slight creasing of Neji's forehead. Was Naruto learning another technique? That wasn't new to him. It had become a pattern for the blond to learn techniques every time there was a big battle looming at the horizon. However, he knew that except for the Kage Bunshin no jutsu, all of his techniques were learned by close supervision and word of mouth.
Neji finally took the scroll and unrolled it.
"I showed this to Sakura," Naruto told him. He ignored the guilt that tugged his heart when he remembered that he showed this to her as his secret. "There were ancient characters being used, but she couldn't read them."
Neji scanned the writing and just as the blond said, there were a lot of ancient scripts and they were almost unreadable. He read them carefully and the further he got, the more he realized what the technique was all about. He looked at Naruto, "Do you know what-"
The blond nodded.
"Why?"
And the blond looked away, keeping his mouth shut. Neji sighed, but in the face of dilemma, he made a decision which he thought was right. He chose to tell Naruto rather than have the blond perform this technique by himself and end up killing himself. "No one in Konoha can perform this technique because this is a sacred one. A priestess-"
"A priestess?" Naruto echoed and a name came to his mind.
Shion.
His lips curled in a cat-like grin that made Neji wonder what he was thinking.
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto looked up from the stew he was stirring the moment he felt Sasuke walk into their cave. He let out a snort to find the scowling man dripping wet from head to foot.
"You're early," Sasuke told him in a slightly irritated voice while he wiped away the strands of hair that were plastered to his face.
"I didn't want to be caught in the downpour," he replied. "Rainy season sucks."
"Hn."
Naruto followed him as he moved around the area. He didn't even look away when Sasuke started peeling his wet clothes from his lithe body. He licked his dry lips seeing more portions of pale skin. His blue eyes slightly widened in pleasure to see his marks staining that alabaster skin. He leaned his head against the palm of his left hand, lips quirking in a smile while he wondered what Sasuke's subordinates would say if they saw their leader's body carrying the marks of another person.
"Stew is ready, bastard," he said, his voice slightly thick.
Like always, they had a quiet dinner. That was until Naruto stated, "You're going to die, Sasuke."
Sasuke paused in his chewing to cooly regard him. With an eyebrow quirked, he asked in an almost amused tone, "Yeah? Why is that?"
The blond gave him an irritated look. "In case you've forgotten, you're going to attack Konoha." He took a more serious look as he continued, "The village is ready, Sasuke. All preparations were completed before I left to come here. I saw the defense. I saw everything and even you will never manage to leave Konoha alive."
Sasuke put down his bowl and really looked at Naruto. "Why are you telling me all of this, Naruto? Isn't this confidential?" The blond looked away from him, but Sasuke had seen the guilt and he wondered why he was going this far for him. "Or are you telling me all of this, thinking that I'll tell you what I plan to do?"
Naruto whipped his head around to glare daggers at him and those blue eyes of his... Oh God! They were so full of anger and hurt. "Are you saying that I'm using you?" he asked quietly, a complete opposite of the ferocity in this eyes.
Sasuke straightened up and his eyes were boring into Naruto's, no longer accusing, but believing that he was using him. "Aren't you?"
With that single reply, all the frustration, depression, anger, confusion and hurt joined as one and reach their crescendo and it was that reason that propelled Naruto to throw himself over Sasuke and swung his left fist for his first punch.
Sasuke couldn't elude or deflect the attack and in a second, he saw stars while the right side of his jaw throbbed in pain. He tasted blood too. Even before he could completely see, he swung his arm and he let out something akin to a shout when he hit something. But even then, Naruto didn't budge. He was still straddling him, gripping his yukata.
"Fuck, Sasuke. I told you something that shouldn't be told to an enemy and you accused me of what? You don't trust me. You never trusted me from the very beginning!" he screamed, his voice echoing around the place, drowning out the sounds of rain outside.
This time, Sasuke grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pushed them over. "Aren't I right?" he screamed back. "Your comrades were preparing while you... you being very protective of Konoha, spent your time with me, having sex with me- your enemy!" His words stung even to his ears. Were their meetings all about sex? What about those- His grip on Naruto tightened. He hated him. Hell, he even hated himself. Where was the line between friend and lover? Comrade and enemy? Brother and traitor?
Naruto took a deep breath and let out a shaky breath.
It hurt to be accused, but what hurt more was the fact that Sasuke didn't trust him. Why was he still fighting for this guy? Why was he still trying for him? He really was an idiot. An idiot with an obsession.
Sasuke pressed on even though the answer was already written in those eyes. He wanted, no, needed to get away from Naruto and all the things he provoked in him. Naruto was a distraction. A distraction that caused him trouble.
Naruto looked at him and his heart almost stopped. Itachi...
It's not about techniques and strength. A ninja should have the ability to make the right decisions and choices, Jiraiya once told him. If you're going to be a ninja, you have to be smarter.
And his reply had been, If that's what being smart is, I'd rather stay stupid forever.
And in his confrontation with Sasuke's brother, the latter had said, I'm asking you what you'd do if Sasuke were to attack Konoha... If that would happen would you be able to stop him even if it meant killing him? Could you weigh his life against Konoha? It was obvious to Naruto that Itachi didn't want Sasuke to be killed, but if that was the way... Itachi had chosen the village over his brother then.
I'd protect Konoha and find a way to stop Sasuke without killing him.
... There are times when a ninja must make painful choices. Itachi had spoken from his experience. Naruto didn't know it then, but even if he did, his answer would have been the same.
But there's no choice, I won't bend my words. That's what being a ninja means to me.
Itachi had smirked. He remembered it vividly. Back then he thought Itachi's tone was full of mockery, belittling his words. Now, however, he realized that it wasn't mockery, but relief. It hit him then that Itachi had believed him... trusted him even to save his precious little brother.
Except that he couldn't do it; couldn't keep his word. The acceptance of it brought self-disgust and made bile rise up to the back of his throat. Itachi had been right. He was still a child who talked of nothing but dreams.
In one attempt, he threw Sasuke off of him with a cry and ran, leaving a very confused Sasuke. "Hey, Naruto!" the dark-haired man shouted after him before giving chase.
-SasuNaru is love-
Sakura straightened when she saw Naruto dashing out of the cave. Finally, she thought because she was tired sitting on a branch under the pouring rain. She scowled when the blond stumbled on fours and remained like that. Worry gripped her when she realized that he was vomiting.
She immediately rose to her feet just as Naruto staggered towards the nearest tree to rest. She was about to jump when another figure dashed out from the cave.
The streak of lightning showed the man's identity, Sakura could do nothing but gasp.
S-Sasuke?!
Was he attacking Naruto? She believed it to be so, until the missing-nin kneeled in front of the blond and gripped his shoulders.
"Naruto?" an oblivious Sasuke murmured, voice thick with concern. "Hey, dobe. Dobe, look at me."
And Naruto did, but all he saw was Itachi. Dammit! He had trained a lot, but he was still useless... still weak. "Sasuke..." he breathed.
Nothing could prepare Sakura to see Sasuke leaning forward and pressing his lips against Naruto's.
No way!
She expected Naruto to explode, but the blond wrapped his arms around Sasuke and kissed back instead.
What is the meaning of this, Naruto?
Sasuke moaned and when he tried to move away, the tanned hand on his nape pulled him back. Then they were tilting their heads, deepening their desperate kiss. They were breathing into each other's mouths, drinking rain and tasting the other's sweetness. Sharing the other's pain.
With heavy breathing, they pulled away. Sasuke brushed his lips against a left tanned cheek and tasted saltiness.
"Naru-" he stopped short upon seeing Naruto pressing the heels of his hands against his eyes. His chest tightened. Naruto was indeed crying. Was his accusation that painful? He pried those hands away and in a rare display of affection, he pressed a kiss on both eyes then brought his mouth to Naruto's right ear.
"There's no need to cry, usuratonkachi," he whispered between nips then he flicked his tongue to trace the shell of his ear.
Although Naruto shivered at Sasuke's voice and caresses, he was far away from Sasuke, mentally. The face that filled his mind at the moment was Itachi. Why did he feel this intense guilt? He hadn't promised Itachi anything, right?
I won't bend my words. That's what being a ninja means to me.
Dammit! He did. In his own way, he did. He was stupid.
And useless, a voice told him.
And weak, another one added.
Those voices were ganging up on him until his self-loathing, disappointment, exhaustion and guilt blended into one sentiment that rushed up past his lips.
"Kill me."
And Sasuke froze while his world completely stilled. Then as quickly as it had stopped, it resumed, but the blond's words were pulsating in his head and humming in his veins. Desperation and the fear of losing someone again clawed sharply within him, almost making him dizzy. "What are you saying, dobe?" he growled. He tilted the blond's head and saw how distant those blue eyes were. You're not with me. He held his face in his hands and murmured fiercely, "Where are you looking at?" His eyes stung in a very strange way.
Blue eyes flickered to a focus and zeroed on him. Sasuke... With trembling hands, Naruto reached up and cupped his friend's face. "Sasuke," he breathed, fanning pale skin.
"I'm here." With you.
While he didn't say the last two words, they hung heavily above them.
But you won't be for long.
Then they pulled each other's heads and crushed their lips for an open-mouthed kiss.
Sakura pressed her hand harder on the trunk of the tree she was hiding, unconsciously leaving a mark. She couldn't believe the scene playing in front of her. Her heart throbbed. Did they mean so little to Naruto that he sold them to Sasuke? Was this what betrayal felt like? Bitter and burning?
No, her inner Sakura growled in denial. Naruto was never good in betraying someone and if he did, he only betrayed himself. Always himself.
Watching them desperately clinging unto the other like this, she realized that this was Naruto's secret and not the scroll he showed to her. This was Naruto's lie. His treason against Konoha.
With Naruto's shirt bunched against his armpits, Sasuke drew a circle around one nipple with the tip of his tongue before enclosing said nipple with his mouth while his left hand was busy showering attention on the other nipple. His right hand had long disappeared into Naruto's pants... into his boxers where his three fingers were buried into the blond's cavern. The slickness of that passage made desire sing louder in his veins and the tightening of the muscles around his fingers made his cock twitch. Oh, God. It didn't help that Naruto's tongue... he groaned helplessly.
Naruto let out a soft gasp, blue eyes darkening more at the continuous stream of hot pleasure that flowed through. He raised himself slightly higher to give Sasuke more access. His pants was getting tighter and tighter, but the pressure from the tightness was welcome. However, he wanted more, especially when he was so close; when Sasuke was with him.
"Sasuke," he whispered against the man's swollen lips. "Close... so close."
Sasuke swallowed back his hungry moan to reply, "Shall we? Now?"
Their eyes locked together and Sasuke ended up answering his own question. "Fuck, yeah." He hurriedly pushed Naruto's pants and boxers away while the blond untied Sasuke's obi and parted his yukata in a flash and tugged his boxers down.
Sasuke dragged him onto his lap and when their erections kissed each other, a strained moan erupted from their chests. It would be so satisfying to rub their slick and angry arousals together. The temptation was so strong that Naruto had to clench Sasuke's shoulders tight and gritted his teeth while Sasuke resisted the urge by murmuring, "Not now" over and over again.
Although there was a good distance between her and them, Sakura still managed to see Sasuke's erection disappearing into Naruto and a hand went up to her mouth to stifle her gasp. She couldn't take her eyes away from them, even though she wanted to. Oh God! How much she wanted to. When they started moving, tears gently fell from her eyes. What was the name of this feeling that was gripping her?
Abandonment.
Sasuke wrapped an arm around Naruto's waist in order to gain more momentum for their feverish movements. He tilted his head slightly to look at the blond and ended up staring at him.
Naruto whose eyes were clenched tight.
So beautiful.
Naruto whose lips were swollen.
So tempting.
Naruto whose lips were slightly parted to cater his lungs' demand for more air.
So seductive.
Naruto whose face was filled with pleasure he created.
So breathtaking.
Naruto...
Mine. And it wasn't because, Madara promised to give him Kyuubi.
Before he knew it, he had guided tanned arms around his shoulders. When blue eyes stared at him in surprise, he just arched an eyebrow.
Naruto let out a short chuckle. "Better," he panted. "Much, much better," he murmured while he lowered his head and Sasuke could only moan his reply into the demanding kiss while being swallowed by the blond's heat and scent, completely oblivious to the emerald eyes that was looking at them with so much pain.
Loss.
-SasuNaru is love-
Emerald eyes instantly fluttered open and Sakura sat up from her bed. When she did, teardrops fell on her hands and she gripped the edges of her blanket.
It had been just yesterday when she saw Naruto and Sasuke together and yet the heaviness of her heart hadn't lightened at all. Right now, she couldn't face Naruto... especially when his pleasure-contorted face was still fresh in her mind.
What could she do? Her lips pursed. She feared for him. Only execution awaited Naruto if they would find out about this and she was certain that Tsunade, no matter how personally she favored him, would approve the punishment. No, she couldn't allow things to turn out like that. She couldn't afford to lose another teammate. Not this time.
She sighed and slipped out from her bed. Until she couldn't bring herself to talk with him, she would just have to cover for him in her own way.
She paled when another image of Naruto arching his body while Sasuke feasted on him came to her mind. She gripped her head and shook it.
"Sakura?" came her mother's voice from the doorway. The younger Haruno looked up and owlishly blinked at her mother who also blinked owlishly at her. Rubbing her nape, she let out a dry and sheepish chuckle.
The older woman could only roll her eyes. Sometimes, she doubted her daughter's sanity.
-SasuNaru is love-
"Shion-sama," one of the servants voice filtering through the wooden blinds that surrounded her bed.
"What is it?" she said while yawning.
"A letter from Konoha."
"Hand it over to me."
The servant, with his head bowed, raised the blinds and extended the scroll to her. The moment she took it, he immediately retreated back. Because his eyes were cast down, he didn't see the young priestess untying the scroll hurriedly or the smile that crossed her lips upon seeing the name of the sender.
The letter was short. It only stated that the blond had a favor to ask from her and the minor part of that favor was for her to go to Konoha as soon as possible.
She didn't bother to ponder what the favor was. As long as she could be useful for him, then it didn't matter.
Sensing that the servant was still there, she said, "I'd like to reply to this letter first before eating breakfast and inform the officials and regents that I'll leave for Konoha in two days time."
"Right away, Shion-sama."
I'm coming, Naruto.
-SasuNaru is love-
Naruto's lips curled in a sleepy smile when he opened his eyes and found himself looking at Sasuke's sleeping face. So breathtaking. Itachi had been right when he said that Sasuke was pure. So vulnerable yet last night he was the one who was vulnerable. Sasuke never asked him what made him cry. Perhaps he had an inkling that he wouldn't tell him so he just leave it like that.
Last night too had been...
He bit his lower lip so as not to smile too much when he remembered that Sasuke allowed him to wrap his arms around his shoulders. And it certainly wasn't a fluke because when they had a second round, he did it again.
He didn't know what made Sasuke do it and the significance of said action, but he didn't care because he was happy.
He closed his eyes, ready to sleep once more until he remembered that he had a mission orientation. He sat up immediately, accidentally upsetting the arm that was comfortably flung over his waist.
"What the hell is your problem, dobe?" Sasuke growled in irritation, not the least bit happy to be awakened.
"I have a meeting with the old hag and I am running late," Naruto replied.
"If you are, then just be late."
"Very funny, asshole," Naruto bit out while he hurriedly dressed up.
"Two days from now?" Sasuke drawled while he sleepily looked at the blond.
"Can't." With sarcasm thick in his voice, he explained, "Thanks to you a lot of jounin and ANBU aren't allowed to leave the village, thus chuunin are sent to do some of their missions."
"Chuunins?" Sasuke echoed, an eyebrow arched.
The blond let out an irritated sigh. "Chuunins and genins like me... bastard."
Sasuke's lips curled in a satisfied smirk.
"Four days from now, let's meet."
"Yeah, let's."
Feeling mischievous, Naruto leaned towards Sasuke to give him a quick peck on the lips before disappearing.
Sasuke could only blink in reaction.
Stupid.
-SasuNaru is love-
An annoyed Tsunade tapped a finger on against her desk, already tired of waiting. Her dark scowl deepened. How long was Naruto going to make her wait? More importantly, where the hell was the idiot?
She growled. She had enough of this stunt and decided that she would not tolerate his tardiness anymore.
Tsunade perked up when the doorknob was turned from the outside. She smirked. When the door was pushed open, she tensed and lunged forward for an unrestrained attack.
"Naruto," she growled out.
Honey-brown eyes widened and so did emerald eyes.
With an effort, Tsunade pulled back while Sakura quickly moved to the side. With their chests heaving, they regarded each other.
Tsunade clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, "It's just you, I see," she stated dismissively while moving back to her chair.
Judging by what happened earlier and Tsunade's barely controlled anger, she didn't have to ask to know that Naruto hadn't arrived yet and she had a pretty good guess where he was. She mentally sighed.
"He's training harder recently so this meeting must have slipped from his mind," Sakura said and she didn't back down when Tsunade glared at her.
"There's more to being a shinobi than training. I'm sure you're aware of this."
"But, Tsunade-sama, he's training harder because he wants to protect Konoha from Sasuke," she pointed out. Did she herself believe that? "He's getting stronger for the village." Which one was the truth and which one was a lie? When did she start losing her comprehension on things? When did she falter in her decision-making? When would she start regretting for doing this for Naruto?
Why am I doing this?
"What's the purpose of strength if one's decision making is poor?"
Because... because Naruto is... He is-
Sakura slightly lowered her gaze. When she decided to cover for Naruto, was she the one who decided or was it her ego that was swayed by emotions? Rather than answering Tsunade's question which was obviously a rhetorical one, Sakura held out the clipboards. "I need your signature on these request papers."
Tsunade wordlessly reached a hand.
While Sakura stepped out from the building, Naruto slid into the hokage office through a window. The shaking of building while Tsunade lashed out to her most errant subordinate was the strongest so far since her incumbency.
-SasuNaru is love-
A few hours later, Shizune burst into Tsunade's quiet office.
"Tsunade-sama, I have good news."
That alone made the day a bit promising to a very drained Tsunade.
Unbeknownst to Konoha intelligence division, Sasuke received the same news.
"The Kazekage agreed to send shinobi to Konoha under the program of Military Exercise," Juugo reported. "Of course, he's part of the team to be sent."
"That's not surprising," Suigetsu commented, "because he's fond of that blond loudmouth."
"The high priestess of the Demon Country is planning to visit Konoha," Karin said, relaying the report she had just received from their contact.
A dark elegant eyebrow arched. "And what? Seal us away?" Sasuke asked sarcastically.
"She'll go to see one Naruto Uzumaki whom she has her eyes on."
Suigetsu was the only one who noticed the darkening of their leader's eyes and because he loved playing with danger, he said, "Even our otokage is interested in him."
Despite her intelligence, Karin missed the hidden meaning behind the statement and assumed the present particle to be a mistake on the idiotic man. "I heard about that, but Orochimaru-sama had his eyes set on Sasuke-kun as they should be." She gave their leader a seductive look which was ignored.
Suigetsu rolled his eyes and murmured, "Idiot."
Juugo just watched the seething Karin, waiting for that moment when she would attack their flippant co-member. Before she could, a dark aura flowed from their leader, silently warning them.
Dark eyes focus on Suigetsu. "Enough of that silly idea." Then addressing his team he said, "I know few ways to delay them." And the confident smile that graced his lips told his three subordinates that whatever his plan for delay was, it would be successful.
"When are we going to move out?" Juugo asked.
"Eleven days from now."
All of them nodded.
-SasuNaru is love-
Sasuke regarded the mess that was Naruto. The blond looked haggard, exhausted and he had few rips on his jacket. With mocking eyes, he said, "The mission was too much for you."
Naruto scowled. "Just so you know, I kicked their asses hard."
A knowing smile crossed the pale man's lips. He could sense it. Even in this distance, he could smell it- the residue of Kyuubi's chakra. Unconsciously, his gaze intensified. He didn't stop wanting it.
If only it wasn't you.
"And?" he drawled. "You hurriedly came here because you missed me."
"Keep telling yourself that," Naruto retorted before he stood in front of his friend.
Naruto looked down. Sasuke gazed up. Their eyes locked while they silently watched each other.
"Before I left for my mission, I received word from Gaara. Sasuke, you'll be outnumbered."
His friend just snorted. "Being outnumbered doesn't mean defeat. Besides, I will kill Madara after so I can't die."
"Why don't you kill him first? That loser is just using you."
"He isn't. It just happens that our goal is the same. And to answer your question, Konoha's annihilation takes precedence." Sasuke stood up. "Dobe, I won't tell you my strategy and tactics, but believe me when I say that my revenge on the village is hell." He didn't miss how those blue eyes went dull. Naruto was withdrawing from him.
Naruto's throat constricted. He pitied his friend for the monster that he had become, but the more he wanted to leave him, the more he wanted to be with him so when Sasuke pressed a kiss on his neck, he didn't move away. He welcomed it and deep inside, he hated himself for it.
Sasuke savored all the reaction he could draw from the blond because it just showed how the latter was attached to him and how he enjoyed his attention. However, subconsciously, he hated himself for touching Naruto like this... for craving him too much. He was utterly obsessed and so was Naruto. And when their obsession clashed and joined as one, there was nothing but utter madness. However, it was in their mad world, that Sasuke felt at peace and unburdened except today because today, he was the only one who had an orgasm, making the sexual act less intimate. Despite his post coital bliss, he felt strangely empty.
I don't like this kind of loneliness.
TBC
For those who are wondering who Shion is, Shion appears in the first Naruto Shippuden Movie.