Blind Between the Lines Chapter 5: Delicate glass bonds, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If I could roll my eyes through a computer screen, I would.

"Where do you think you're going?"

A frown, a scowl.

His voice was deep, manly. His figure tall and toned, so manly. His dark eyes solid, narrowing; even manlier. A block of testosterone, nothing more; a heart wasn't included in the packaging. A soul probably wasn't included either.

"Like you even care, Sasuke!" Naruto balled his fists as he glared ahead at the man. If looks could kill anyone—anything, Sasuke just might have been falling to his knees as he breathed his last breath.

But he wasn't, and he didn't plan on it either.

"It's not like you even care what happens to me or Sakura-chan anymore, right!?" Naruto continued, shaking his fists in Sasuke's direction.

I never cared, he had convinced himself. Bonds were an easy thing to fake; he was an Uchiha, he could copy anything.

"I don't."

Sakura frowned, not her dazzling smile. She flinched inwardly at his blunt words, they burned. Hot like fire, steaming like boiling water. Just because he was a monster did not mean she didn't care for him.

Unfortunately, it was a one-sided feeling.

"You're a real bastard, you know that?!" Naruto's cerulean eyes grew darker, angry.

"Hn." One word.

"I'm going to rip you apart where you stand, you arrogant ass!"

Naruto's words would've hurt anyone, but not him. Not the Uchiha. He was immune to them, to words… to feelings. He had been called too many things in his lifetime to have Naruto's words affect him now.

"Devil."

"Satan's child."

"Itachi's twin."

"Hellraiser."

"Fallen angel."

"Murderer."

…

It was an endless list…

An unpleasant list.

Naruto prepared himself to jump at Sasuke, fists clenched tightly. He was going to shred him, make him wish for them; make him wish for them to help him out of the murky water he was drowning in so he could see the light.

But just when he was going to maw Sasuke, someone beat him to it.

Sakura jumped first.

Her courage spiking aggressively, guts growing. Maybe she wasn't weak, maybe she wasn't pathetic? Only time would tell. But time can be fast or slow; a day could be forever, a night could be five minutes. Time could be a miserable thing… or a marvelous thing.

Sasuke narrowed his now crimson eyes at the woman, her fist held to punch him. One hard blow; and he would be dead. But that would never happen… not to him. He took a small step forward, then another.

She didn't retreat as he advanced on her, she was too determined; she had gotten this far… she wasn't going to back down now. That would be foolish—proving how weak she really was to her horror. She gathered the small amount of chakra she had left to her first, infusing it.

The pink haired beauty had always dreamed of fighting in front of the two that had always protected her when she was younger, but she never dreamed that she would have to fight one of them. This didn't fall into her plans. This wasn't supposed to happen.

They were supposed to be the happy team seven. The high quality team seven. The team with the two prodigies and the Godaime's apprentice. The legendary team seven.

Kakashi's angels. Kakashi's excellent students. Kakashi's professionals.

Konohagakure's elite.

…

Dreams die hard…

…But this dream died the hardest.

…

Look above honey! A meteor shower!

And the mother smiled.

Hai! It's so pretty, mommy!

And the child grinned at the falling dreams that reflected in her green eyes.

…

Her fist connected with his chest, hard.

Very hard.

She wanted to wince in pain at the harsh connection, but she didn't. She wouldn't. Now, she was going to be strong, she was. When she put on her fake face, she could do anything.

It was a blessing.

…From the devil.

Sasuke didn't avoid the coming punch, he had advanced towards it; he had walked to it. He slid back, heels skidding on the stone floor violently as he kept his balance from the hit.

Why?

Why?

The question was dancing through everyone's head, the question that required an answer. The question that would receive no answer, not now, not later; never.

…

Why would Uchiha Sasuke walk towards a punch?

No answer.

…

Only the Sasuke knew the answer; and forever only him. It was a simple answer, one punch wasn't going to take down him; he was an Uchiha. A name known for its strong shinobi and deadly eyes. So what harm could one punch do? Not much, not to him. He took it like a man. Like the arrogant man that he was. Sure, his chest was sore; but he wasn't dead. And he smirked.

Sakura's eyes narrowed at him, her arm falling silently to her side. Her pink pastel tresses blew, curling around her face as someone ran by her.

Orange, yellow, blue, black.

Naruto.

That idiot.

"Sasuke!"

He was going to get himself killed, and she'd have to pick up the pieces. Gluing him back together again with her hands, with her filthy hands. She frowned, watching him run into a senseless battle. He wouldn't win, not in his current state.

He ran at Sasuke, using the last of his chakra to summon a clone to his side. His steps were hard, loud and sloppy. They echoed throughout the hall with his battle cry as he ran, pulse racing through his veins. If he didn't fall now from chakra depletion, he'd surely fall soon.

Sasuke shook his head, hardening his jaw and grinding his molars against each other. His brows met as he deflected a kick Naruto had tried to get him with. He punched him square in the face only to have him disappear in a poof.

The clone.

His dark crimson eyes narrowed, this was boring. Why couldn't they just keep still like good prisoners until they were needed? Because they had too much will.

A fiery will. Strong.

A will that would make them do anything.

…Even if it resulted in their deaths.

Oh—

"I'll bring him back Sakura-chan, I promise!"

"I'm going to stop you with my own power!"

—how silly of them.

Look where it's gotten them… nowhere.

Tsk.

Sakura's frown deepened, she had to stop Naruto. She had to save him from the doom that he was running into… again. She couldn't deal with mending his broken battered body back to health, not now. Not again.

Her hands would shake.

Her mind would race.

Her heart would ache… too much.

Save him—

She shot a glance at Sasuke, green eyes narrowing slightly.

Nothing. He looked at Naruto with a sneer, with hate.

—now.

"As the council, we've chosen who will resume the spot as the Hokage."

The voice… it was screechy and loud.

Very loud.

Tsunade wanted to squirm in her seat at it, her ears protesting its volume with a buzz. She sat with the council, she had every right to; she was a part of it as she was a former Hokage herself. But that didn't mean she wanted to. No, she hated these people… with passion.

Kakashi shook his head, watching the busty woman's eagerness to leave already. The way she shifted her legs and glared around… it was obvious she wanted to leave. He wanted to snicker behind his mask at her as he stood next to an exit, keeping guard.

"Yes, the candidate as already been spoken to and has agreed to take the role." Another voice, calmer than the first.

And quieter, to Tsunade's approval.

"The village of Konohagakure should be very pleased with this choice. Mature, responsible, authorized, and wise. Everything a Hokage should be."

A glare at Tsunade.

"We've elected Danzo, the head of Konoha's ROOT, to become the Kage of Konohagakure."

Silence.

Whispers and cheers.

Silence.

Slam—

"What?!"

"Tsunade-sama!" Kakashi.

She ran at him, heart pounding silently in her chest. But to her, it was loud. The thumping hummed through her ears, mocking her, reminding her.

Save.

Save him.

Protect.

Protect your precious people.

Guard.

Guard them with your life.

…

Because they're all you've got.

They're your everything… your world.

Remember honey, you're friends will be your everything. They'll be there for you, care for you, and love you. Treat them back with love and friendship and your life will be full of happiness.

The mother gave a soft smile.

B—but I don't have any friends mommy.

Tears fell from the child's green eyes, taunting her.

You will honey, you will. And they will love you like I love you.

She cooed softly, wiping the tears with her thumb.

And you will cherish them with your whole heart.

Small green eyes looked up.

I love you mommy.

…

I love you too, Sakura.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto roared; falling to the ground violently, sliding away from where he had been standing.

Sakura didn't bother to hide her wince when she received the blow that was intended for Naruto before she shoved him out of the way. It hurt.

It hurt badly.

She was right with what she thought earlier; Sasuke was stronger, deadlier, and darker. But that could've been predicted; she was Haruno Sakura, the Godaime's intelligent apprentice. She just didn't like being on the receiving end of his wrath.

It was painful.

Oh, so painful.

It was meant to be though.

But Naruto was safe.

…

Yes, he was safe.

Mommy, mommy!

The girl grinned.

What honey?

The mother looked down.

I made a friend today! He's funny!

Her grin grew wider, happier.

That's wonderful, what's his name?

And the mother asked, picking up a spoon.

His name's Naruto! I don't know his last name… I should go ask him, be back later mommy! I love you!

The green eyed girl began walking away—

Sakura, stop!

—But she yielded her steps.

You're not to see that boy again, okay honey? He's a bad boy. You can find better friends, I'm sure. You're too cute; you'll have no problem making different friends, baby.

Green eyes began to tear.

B—but he's really nice to me, mommy! Everyone else makes fun of me. And h—he said he cares for me, you said m—mommy that a friend is someone that will care for y—you!

The small mouth sobbed her words.

Honey—

Clouded green eyes gazed up.

—Forget what I said.

…

And the girl's tiny little heart gained its first crack.

Sakura stumbled backwards from the harsh hit, struggling for her balance. Her hand grasped her shoulder where it hit, bones grinding together aggressively as she moved. It was fractured.

Of course it would be though.

It was a hard punch.

But what hurt more was that it came from Uchiha Sasuke.

Her childhood crush. Her thought-to-be friend. Konoha's infamous traitor. The handsome boy from team seven with a tragic past.

Him.

His dangerous eyes narrowed at her, inwardly smirking at the pained look on her humble features. He flexed his hand in a frightening way.

Pain.

Death.

Blood.

He liked it all too much.

It was a gruesome obsession, an unhealthy obsession—

More.

—But he didn't care on how it appealed to others.

He was just one man… one terrifying monster-man.

"Sakura-chan!"

And Naruto was his polar opposite.

Good-natured, loving, caring, funny, nice—Naruto had it all.

Things he didn't have.

Things he lacked.

Clenching her jaw shut from the tremor that shot through her body from her shoulder, Sakura wanted to yell in pain. The way the bones rubbed was excruciating. It was as if someone had lanced open her shoulder and was now playing with her bones, grinding them together, chipping them, and laughing at her. At her pathetic hurting face.

She didn't even hear Naruto call her, she was dazed. Her lack of chakra and poor health was definitely taking its toll on her, bending her to nothing. But she didn't go unconscious, she wouldn't. Her foolish fiery will prevented her from that black calming place.

"You! Sasuke you hurt Sakura-chan! Fucking bastard!" Naruto's loud, booming voice penetrated the hall. He jumped from his setting position; fists clenched tightly his knuckles turned white.

They were going to fight again.

Oh, what a shame.

Even when Sakura's standing right there in pain, no one came to help. She looked at them through her long sorrow lashes, frowning as Naruto swung a punch at Sasuke. Not even now could they cooperate… not even for her.

Falling apart all over again.

Team seven?

What a dysfunctional team, doomed from the beginning. Two prodigies that were absolute opposites and a young average girl thrown in.

What a messed up combination. Civilians would whisper as they passed down the streets as a team.

How predictable. They would whisper after Sasuke betrayed them and it was just Naruto and Sakura walking.

Doomed from the beginning.

Yes.

Yes they were.

The minute they were assigned together as team seven.

…

Oh, what a tragic tale it was.

…

"Bastard, stay fucking still!"

Sasuke smirked as he blocked a kick Naruto tried to bring him down with. So much might in one hopeless person… it made him want to chuckle. The kind of chuckle that would make children cry and dogs whimper, that chuckle. That demented sound.

He was no longer that small kid with a stupid ambition to kill his brother. No. He had grown. He had grown into a broody Uchiha man. Fitting the role as an Uchiha perfectly, living up the name.

Uchiha Sasuke, the devil's reincarnation. Feared by many, idled by many.

How sweet.

This chapter was shorter… much. I know; no need to complain about it. Also, updates will be sporadic from now on, sorry. Blame school, it's taking my life again.

Reviewing is like giving a simple cheap Christmas present. It's nice.