Chapter Twelve
An Illusion of Hope? Sasuke, Avenged!
挫折
{{Soundtrack Start: Main Theme (Piano Version), Fairy Tail OST}}
"Sasuke."
Sakura couldn't move. She was frozen there, cradling Sasuke's head in her hands, fingers slipping through the silky locks of hair like fish through water. There was blood in them, no doubt from some sort of head injury, and the skin beneath was ice cold, but Sakura didn't care. She simply told herself that he was alive, and forced her mind to believe it even under the overload of external stimuli that screamed how wrong she was.
"Sasuke."
His name was a murmured mantra, whispered gently, reverently, said as if it were made of the most fragile crystal and would break at the slightest provocation.
"Sasuke."
Her bangs and ponytail hung over them as she bent over, nestling herself in his neck since his chest was demolished. Tears dripped down her pale cheeks, leaving white streaks in brownish dirt. They spilled down onto his angular face, and for a moment she could almost believe he was crying, too.
Crying for a life lost. Crying for a world of wasted years, wasted chances, wasted bonds. That was when it really hit her: Sasuke was really gone. He would never open his eyes again. They would never again hear his voice, or see his smirks, or watch him train. Sasuke would be stuck in a wooden box and buried deep underground, never to be heard from again, while they were left with the crushing grief and the weight of guilt and a new teammate who wouldn't, couldn't understand them. That is, if they remained shinobi at all.
The thought brought her a fresh wave of tears. What if they were deemed mentally unstable and discharged from the Corps? What if they became civilians? What if they could never truly honor Sasuke's memory by becoming the best ninja they could possibly be?
"Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke."
Someone was calling his name, Sakura realized. Belatedly, she wondered if it was her.
She hiccupped softly, and jumped slightly as a hand came to rest on her shoulder. She recognized the texture of the palm. Naruto.
The blonde sank down beside her, slinging his arm around her ribs and squeezing tightly. Normally, she would've thought it a bold attempt to win her affections. Now, though…it had a different sort of feeling. Now, he was acting as her teammate and, dare she say it, friend. He was offering her comfort.
Naruto was a strange one, she reflected, as she leaned against him with Sasuke's head still resting between her palms. She knew he had a crush on her, but had figured out that it was really only puppy love. He didn't love her, at least not in that fashion. He just needed to feel like someone cared, and so flirted with her because she was the only girl who didn't outright dislike him or faint in his presence.
"Hey, teme."
Naruto's voice was soft, a rarity to be sure.
"Hurry up and wake up."
Sakura turned her head to look at her teammate.
"We're waiting for you, you selfish bastard."
There was a grin on his face.
"So come on."
It did nothing to mask the agony in his eyes.
"Get up."
They glittered with unshed tears, held back by sheer force of will.
"Get up so I can kick your ass into next week for worrying Sakura-chan."
Why wasn't he crying?
"Or are you scared you'll get beaten by a dead-last?"
She wouldn't judge him for it.
"That's it, isn't it? You think you can run away from your problems, don't you?"
And then it hit her, like a ton of bricks.
"News flash: that shit doesn't fly anymore."
The reason why he hadn't broken down…
"So stop being a coward…"
…was her.
"…and get up."
Oh Naruto…always trying to stay strong…when will you realize that you need a hero sometimes, too? It's alright to cry…you don't need to be strong for me. You don't need to be strong for Sasuke. You just need to be yourself. Don't mask your emotions…because I can see right through your eyes.
He sniffled, and Sakura leaned more into his chest, offering what support she could. They stayed like that for a while, with Tazuna watching on, before he finally pulled her into a bear-hug and buried his head in the junction of her neck and shoulder as his resolve shattered.
Sakura removed one of her hands from Sasuke to gently rub his back in a soothing, comforting manner as they clung to each other like limpets, lost in a storm of emotion and pain and devastating loss.
She didn't know whose voice raised in its howl of agony first. She would probably never know, she reflected. Her reality was simply composed of herself, her teammate, and the beautiful corpse between them.
挫折
Kakashi's world was a blur.
Sasuke had fallen from the scaffolding fighting Haku.
No, that wasn't right. Haku had kicked him from the scaffolding.
Sasuke had hit the concrete with enough force to shake the entire bridge.
Sasuke was dead.
He had failed.
Again.
Dimly, in the back of his mind, he realized Zabuza was attacking him, and he was defending, but it was so far away that it seemed like it was happening to another person, because he had just lost his student and he was too torn with grief and guilt to move, let alone fight.
The worst part had been the sound. The dull thump, followed by those echoing cracks…he knew that it would haunt him forever. That and the keening wails of his two other Genin, weaving a song of sorrow, winding through the mist and wind and metal to paralyze him with the potency of its raw, unadulterated emotion.
And Zabuza simply kept on swinging his Kubikiribocho. A part of Kakashi wanted to scream at him to stop and let him grieve in peace, to abandon the fight and run to his dead charge's side. He, however, had two more to protect, three if he included Tazuna.
With a pang of resentment, he realized Sasuke would still be alive had Tazuna not lied about the mission rank. Sasuke would have lived had Kakashi not taken the C-rank at all, or dragged the three back to Konoha when the bridge builder revealed his deception.
The blame, no matter how he stacked it, lay with him.
Sasuke's blood was on his hands.
His irresponsible actions had killed a thirteen-year-old boy with a future brighter than the stars, who had had the potential to rise high in the Konoha ranks.
He had cost them all a shinobi genius.
He had cost them the last of the Uchiha.
He had cost them an entire clan's might.
Most of all, he had cost them an innocent life.
And he would never be able to look himself in the mirror without remembering it. It was the same with his father, with Obito, with Rin, with Minato-sensei, with everyone else he'd ever failed.
Kami…I just can't seem to do anything right, ne Rin, Obito, Sensei, Chichiue…Sasuke…gomen. Even as a shinobi prodigy I couldn't protect you all. That makes it an empty title, doesn't it…no matter how you say it, I'm only a failure when I can't afford to be.
Zabuza's blade sliced through the air once more, and Kakashi dodged it half-heartedly.
He had enough blood on his hands to last a lifetime.
挫折
{{Soundtrack Start: Vogel Im Kafig, Attack on Titan OST}}
It all feels vaguely familiar to him. He's been here before, he realizes. In a dream of a dream, a long, long time ago, so long ago he can barely remember it.
But the darkness is warm and inviting, and he welcomes it as it rushes past, a coursing river of the night's blackest skies and the world's murkiest corners. He doesn't know if it's him moving or his surroundings…maybe neither, maybe both, but all he can tell is he's surrounded.
"You seem to have a knack for getting into these situations, gaki."
The deep voice reverberates around the area, and he feels like he should know its source.
"You're giving me quite the headache, with all of your shenanigans."
And suddenly everything stops, and he's lying in the palm of a huge white hand, staring into deep, dark eyes filled with blue fire. Shinigami chuckles slightly at the look on his face.
"Uchiha Sasuke, as much as I'd like to reap your soul here and now, it is not your time to die."
Sasuke, bedraggled and exhausted, looks into the eyes of the Reaper and shivers, for no one is safe from the ninjato of Death.
"Oh, don't look so surprised. You still have a role to play in this world, and while your death would be satisfying it would also cause the beginning of the end. So do me a favor and stop dying."
His voice shakes now, staring up as he is into the specter's bloody teeth.
"W-why? Why are you saving me?"
Shinigami's eyes narrow, and his other hand drifts to the folds of his white and red yukata.
"Because your purpose has not been fulfilled. The Unmei have ordained your destiny, and this is not it. So deal with it."
Sasuke shrinks back at the harsh tone.
"Again…stop dying. It gives everyone a headache. Me, the Kami, the Unmei, the Akuma, Lord Satan…everyone. It's the second damn time, and it's already twice too many. So STOP IT."
Not sure what else, Sasuke nods. Shinigami sighs, and looks down at him.
"Tell me, what do you think is going on out there?"
Sasuke cocks his head.
"What do you think your teammates are doing? What do you think your sensei is doing?"
He feels as if he's been punched in the chest. The air leaves his lungs, and the world spins for a moment before righting. Where the hell had THAT come from?!
"…Kakashi probably doesn't give a shit, as he already thinks I'm a psychopathic murderer who likes messy kills. Naruto is most likely trying to comfort Sakura to get in her good books and get himself a date. Sakura is probably either fighting Haku or protecting Tazuna."
Shinigami raises an eyebrow.
"And no one grieves?"
Sasuke laughs, a sardonic sound.
"No. Why should they? I've been nothing but a bastard to them. If anything, they're happy I'm gone. I certainly would be."
Shinigami shakes his head.
"You have much to learn, gaki. However, this was not the only reason I deigned to talk with you."
Sasuke cocks his head.
"The Council (no, you don't need to know who we are or what we do) has decided that you should be informed of your future…but there are certain laws that prevent us from interfering too much in mortal affairs. So we've decided to give you a riddle of sorts. Or, rather, a prophecy."
Sasuke stared at the death god, not exactly sure what he was hearing. A prophecy? As in…a foretelling of the future, in the form of a riddle?
"That's exactly what I just said."
"H-how did you—?!"
"I'm Shinigami, kid. I can do whatever the hell I want (no pun intended). Just ask your little mental companion, Zian-chan."
"Zian…chan?"
"Long story. Now, as for that prophecy…
When the time comes, and the skies weep blood,
Seek out the watchers, the shadows,
Those who are both dead and alive,
Who will teach the two to become one once more.
For in even in the driest of deserts,
A storm may still bring forth its wrath.
"Anyway…you won't be able to move for about ten minutes after you come back, and you'll still be in transformed state, so you won't need to breath and your heart will not beat. Basically, you'll be a conscious corpse. Alright? Good, because you don't get a choice. Off you go, now."
He drops Sasuke into thin air, and grins to himself as the boy's yells fade into the distance.
"WHAT THE HELL, YOU BASTARD?! WHAT'S WITH YOU?! YOU'RE FRICKING BIPOLAR, JUST LIKE ZIAN! ONE MINUTE YOU'RE ALL, 'IMMA KILL YOU BECAUSE I CAN,' AND THE NEXT ITS, 'I WON'T KILL YOU BUT YOU'LL LOOK DEAD.' WHAT. THE. HELL!"
It really is fun messing with the mortals, the Reaper muses. It's almost as refreshing as a nice, healthy soul.
挫折
{{Soundtrack Start: Soundscape to Ardor, Bleach OST}}
The first thing that Sasuke felt when he was suddenly slammed back into his body was the pain.
Words couldn't describe the sheer volume of the agony in his chest and back, and his arm (to a lesser extent). The back of his head hurt, too, probably from a concussion.
Then he felt something else, combing through his hair, and it was only when nails brush his scalp that he realized the sensation was that of someone gently tugging their fingers through the mane of spikes at the back of his head.
His hearing kicked in next, and immediately a soft series of eerie wails rang in his ears. He recognized his name, over and over and over, as if the speaker were in shock.
Why is this happening?
You're more of an idiot than I first thought if you can't figure it out. Use that Uchiha brain of yours, gaki. Welcome back from the dead, by the way.
Z-Zian?! You sound…
Refreshed? You've been "dead" for about half an hour. You should've seen them when you first fell. Your sweetheart was sobbing all over the place. So was whiskers.
…What? Why?
Kami, give me patience.
WHAT?!
You've been blinded by trauma for too long, Sasuke.
You're using my real name. Ooooh, so scary.
Stop it. I'm serious here.
Stop screwing with me.
Son of Kami, Sasuke! What will it take for you to listen to me?!
Just get to the point.
You've been alone for so long you've forgotten what it feels like to be cared for, to be treasured as a person and not a tool, to be loved. You know the extent of your bonds with Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi in your heart, but your mind will not accept it. Your mind has learned that bonds only cause pain, and that they should therefore be avoided.
…
You're afraid to love, Sasuke. You've already lost everything…so why take the risk again?
…
Listen to them, dammit. Sakura still hasn't let you go, Naruto is still by her side and yours, and as for Kakashi…I can feel the guilt from here. He blames himself.
Why? I'm the one who died.
Idiot. Kakashi was, and still is, responsible for all three of you on this mission. He thinks that because he allowed the team to follow through with the job, he basically sent you to your death by having you fight Haku.
That's completely illogical. I'm the only one with Fire nature here, and I have a natural resistance to Water and, by extension, Ice. I'm the only one that COULD fight Haku, just as he's the only one that could fight Zabuza.
Kakashi has lost people before, Sasuke. His entire Genin team is dead, two of them because of him. His sensei died combating Kyuubi. His father committed suicide after he was shunned for failing a mission, but saving a comrade's life. And each time, he has blamed himself. I've watched it through the eyes of Uchiha before you, and I will continue to do so. It's his nature. Death, I think you know, twists logic into irrationality and, slowly, insanity.
…
Just accept it, Sasuke. You're stuck with them, for better or for worse. They're your team.
…Aa.
And as for the girl…Sakura, was it?
Mm?
She may try not to show it, but she cares for you. A lot.
In his head, Sasuke let a small smile past the emotionless mask. Then a wince as Sakura moved, jostling his broken arm.
Oh…shit. Son of a…
Heh. Hurts, ne?
Go screw yourself.
He wished he could open his eyes, but Sakura had brushed his eyelids shut sometime during his state of death and subsequent conversation with Shinigami. Speaking of which…he still wasn't sure what exactly to make of all the "it's not your time to die" stuff. Deciding he'd think about it later, Sasuke turned his attention back to the situation at hand.
Not that he had much choice.
{{Soundtrack Start: Louder than Thunder, The Devil Wears Prada}}
Sakura had bowed her head, her bangs tickling his face and the tail of her tied-up hair brushing his collarbone. She was so close he could feel her warm breath on his cheek, her forehead tucked in between his chin and shoulder.
Then she spoke.
"Kami, Sasuke…why? Why did you leave us behind? Were we not good enough for you to stay?"
His heart just about broke then. They thought…they thought that he'd left them behind?
Never, one part of his mind roared, would I leave you behind. Never.
What of Itachi? That tiny, dark corner whispered. What if they hold us back? Will we still stay with them?
Sasuke snarled mentally and banished the thought. No matter what the cost, he'd seen…he couldn't afford to leave them. He simply couldn't.
He wondered when he'd changed. Before, he'd been entirely willing to sever his bonds if need be and just disappear. Now, though…what he'd dreaded had occurred. His teammates had somehow wormed their way into his ice-encrusted heart and melted a hole for themselves.
The rest of that ice was melting, too, little by little. He had been getting more talkative…
Sasuke concluded that he was changing and that he didn't know the full extent of it. He then concluded that the best course of action was to sit back and let it happen. Itachi did tell him to survive in the most despicable way…so he would do the exact opposite. Why follow his renegade older brother's orders, anyway? It would show a certain type of respect, respect for a leader and one of higher rank, that Itachi didn't deserve.
Mind made up, the Uchiha tuned back in to the outside world.
"Damn it, teme. I know you're faking it. Just get up already."
Naruto. A jolt of something like fear ran through him, and Sasuke would have shivered had he been able to move. Either the whiskered boy knew he wasn't actually dead, or it was the shock talking.
Sasuke prayed to all the kami he knew that it was the second. He didn't exactly want the loudmouth of Konoha stumbling upon his secrets, after all…
He felt an odd sort of warm liquid soak into his shirt, and felt Sakura's hands gently clasp his own, her delicate fingers lacing through his calloused ones and tightening slightly. He controlled the impulse to squeeze back, before realizing (again) that he was completely immobile and it didn't matter anyway.
It was then that he heard a swoosh of fabric, and the tapping of feet against the ground. Haku's voice rang through the silence, calm, cold, and clear, like the ice he was ever-so-fond of.
"Is this the first time a comrade has died before your eyes?"
Naruto snarled.
"Sasuke isn't dead, dattebayo! He can't be! He's too much of a bastard to die!"
Briefly, Sasuke wondered if he should be touched or offended. Only Naruto could weave an insult into such an emotionally-charged moment.
"He is dead…Naruto, was it? Yes. Accept it, Naruto-san. Your friend has passed into the void, and no amount of anything will bring him back. He was a worthy opponent, even if he passed in such a…graceless fashion."
He could almost hear Naruto shaking with anger on his behalf. Sakura let out a choked sob and snuggled further into his cold body.
"You…you bastard. How dare you insult him?! Sasuke may have had a kunai lodged over nine thousand miles up his ass, and he may have been a distant, stubborn piece of work, but he was still Sasuke. He was our teammate. He was our friend. He was our nakama."
Sasuke didn't think he could've been more shocked had Itachi suddenly spun out of the mist in a pretty pink tutu, with butterfly wings and bows and high heels, and announced that he was pursuing his secret passion of becoming a fairy princess in the Candy Mountains high above the clouds. Nakama…Naruto considered him nakama?
Oh my Kami. Zian was right. They…they care.
"So don't demean him, or I'll kick your ass even more than he did, you piece of dog shit."
There was steel in Naruto's voice, more steel than he'd heard there in a long, long time. Sasuke smirked inwardly.
"Then let us begin."
Haku said, before leaping away. Naruto gave a wordless shout and followed, steps fading quickly as they took the battle away from them. Sasuke could hear Tazuna shuffle a little, adjusting his stance slightly to most likely afford the most comfort. He could practically sense the old man's gaze, and wondered if he felt guilty at all. He had, after all, under-ranked the mission that had resulted in his "death".
Feeling was returning to him, the tips of his fingers and toes tingling with sensations other than pain, nerves beginning to fire once more. Sakura's hands were warm. A lot warmer than he'd thought at first. It wouldn't be long before he could move. About three more minutes, he estimated.
It's actually been around eight minutes since you came back from the dead. So you've only got two. Well, about one and a half now.
Way to sound melodramatic. What's happening with Haido?
He's agreed to refrain from attacking your teammates. Basically, you've got about a day before you go completely batshit.
Good to know.
One more minute. Make sure you make it believable.
I'm thinking just saying that one of the senbon ended up hitting that pressure point, then fell out on impact. I did go limp in the air and there're a bunch of senbon lying around, so it's plausible.
Alright then, gaki. Make sure to release your transformation in three…two…one…NOW!
{{Soundtrack Start: Fleur de Lis, Evening Star}}
Sasuke forced himself out of his vampiric state at the same time he took a shallow breath. It came out a gasp, thanks to the intense pain that curled in his chest, but it was a breath nonetheless. Sakura's head came up, almost in a daze, and she whispered,
"S…Sasuke?"
She sounded almost afraid, as if it were all just a cruel illusion placed by some ninja to cause her even more pain. She moved until her face was over his, his head in her lap as she knelt there. He didn't even think, not as her tears pattered gently against his cheeks, before reaching up with his intact arm and brushing the side of her face with his hand.
"I…"
He coughed. Apparently there was more blood in his lungs than he'd thought.
"I won't…die that easy…Sakura…"
"Sasuke…no. No. No. This can't be real. This isn't real. You're dead."
She laughed brokenly, a choppy rise and fall of sound with no humor behind it whatsoever.
"You're dead, and this is all just an illusion. I won't fall for it, though. I am a kunoichi of Konoha. Genjutsu doesn't work on me."
"Then…why am…I…here?"
"I am a kunoichi of Konoha. You aren't real. You're dead."
She sounded convinced. Sasuke allowed himself a small smirk.
"I'm real…ugh."
He broke out in another fit of coughing that stained his hand crimson. He showed her the blood there, lifting his hand to her eye level with a challenge glinting in his eyes.
"Would…would a genjutsu…hahh…be able to copy that?"
She stared at him for all of three seconds, then folded in on herself, her cheek touching his for a brief moment before she pulled back up.
"Oh my Kami…it is you…"
Sasuke opened his eyes to a puffy red face, with eyes like summertime and hair like bubblegum, and she tugged his body to rest against hers and hugged him. He let his head loll to the side, resting at her collarbone. The position was oddly familiar, from the aftermath of the fight with the Demon Brothers, and strangely comforting, even though he usually abhorred physical contact.
It was almost like being back in his mother's arms as a small child, but better in ways he couldn't describe. Sakura's body was smaller, and had more muscle than he remembered Mikoto ever having in his lifetime, but the sentiment was the same.
He awkwardly moved his arm to rub her back as she sobbed into his collarbone, wincing when she got too close to his injuries, be they those on his chest, back, arm, or head, but didn't move away. She needed to have a good cry, though she'd probably deny it later. That was just how she was.
In the background, Tazuna smiled softly in relief. Sasuke glared at him.
He'd nearly collapsed the team, the bastard. He didn't deserve their help. Honestly, if he wasn't currently lying on the ground, incapacitated and in severe pain (the likes of which that damned bridge-builder would never even dream of experiencing), he would be strangling the breath out of the old man this very second. Or maybe he'd gut him like a fishmonger does his goods and watch as blood spilled slowly to the pale concrete, accompanied by internal organs and a still-beating heart, which he would crush slowly in his fist. That sounded…nice, for lack of a better term. Yes, he would have gone with that one.
...Damn, gaki. You got some serious problems. How many, exactly?
Ninety-nine, and thank god a bitch ain't one.
I see what you did there…didn't know you had a taste for Outsider music, but whatever, right?
How could you not know about my taste in music? YOU LIVE IN MY HEAD!
…Oh. Heh. Right. My mistake.
Honestly, you're worse than Naruto.
HEEEEY~! I RESENT THAT!
挫折
{{Soundtrack Start: Lose My Life, Papercut Massacre}}
"Fight me seriously, 'ttebayo!"
"Do you wish to suffer the same fate as your friend?"
"You bastard…"
Naruto leapt again, dodging another series of punches, trying to get enough distance to use the Kage Bunshin. Haku pressed him back with more and more volleys of taijutsu, fists and feet flying in a whirlwind of color. A shard of porcelain crunched under his feet; they had arrived at the battleground where Sasuke had broken the other boy's mask. With a hiss of fabric against skin, the one in question lunged, three senbon in his fist for extra damage. Growling, the blonde evaded yet again; it was getting old, and fast.
He didn't know how Sasuke had done it; scratch that, he did, but there was no way in hell he was that fast. He hadn't even known the Uchiha had that kind of speed. Naturally, he arrived at a singular conclusion: Sasuke had been holding back during their training spars, and had been training himself outside of Kakashi's regimen. Naruto clenched his fists. There was nothing to be done about it now, but it hurt his pride that Sasuke had never gone all-out with him. Was he not good enough for the Uchiha genius?
Shaking his head and reminding himself that such thoughts would do him no good, Naruto rolled to the left, avoiding an attempted blow to the solar plexus. Swerving again, the subsequent kick grazed his side, before momentum kicked in and he soared back.
He would avenge the Uchiha if it was the last thing he did. He wouldn't die, couldn't die, because it would only cause Sakura more pain, but he was willing to go through hell and back for his nakama, few in number as they were, and he'd be damned if he stopped now out of a measly thing like fear.
That didn't stop him from being afraid.
Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the triumph over it. You would do well to remember that, kit, lest you get us both killed. If you live without fear, you live a prodigal life indeed. Fear is essential, for without it you will never learn to truly live, but will merely survive in a pitiful excuse for existence.
...So now you decide to go all philosophical on me?
Shut up and fight.
Sasuke would probably have laughed at him if he told him about the "voice" in his head (that was actually the Kyuubi). He'd almost definitely never heard someone in his mind, chatting idly while he fought. Otherwise, Naruto doubted he'd have been the ninja he had been. Kyuubi's voice was damn distracting, and the demonic fox knew it. Which was why he went out of his way to pipe up whenever Naruto needed to concentrate.
Some days, it seemed as though the entire world was out to get him, like everyone and everything hated him and wanted him gone. Every carbon-based life form wanted him to die a slow, painful death on these days…and today was one of them.
Gritting his teeth, Naruto whipped away from another chakra-enhanced kick. He was in for a long fight.
挫折
{{Soundtrack Start: Reminiscence ~Awakening Soul~, Fairy Tail OST}}
"Shhh…don't try to move or speak, Sasuke."
Sasuke's breath hissed through his clenched teeth, like wind through dead branches. Sakura's brows knitted together with worry—for him, simply breathing caused terrible amounts of agony. Now that most of the adrenaline had worn off, she knew he was feeling the full extent of his grievous injuries. Blood was everywhere now, staining everything either of them touched, but Sakura didn't stop the flow of her chakra.
One of Sasuke's shattered ribs had collapsed his right lung, and she was having trouble healing it. She reminded herself once more that she couldn't give up or he would die again (for real this time, irreversibly), and grimly pressed her lips together, biting her tongue to keep her focus. Time passed like the gentle flowing of a stream, calm, cool, and ceaseless, indefinable by mere mortal standards. Then, the green light at her fingertips flickered and died. Of course she would run out of energy at a time like this, when it was so vital…
Sakura half-swooned, upper body going limp for a moment as she fought to stay awake. Sasuke's hand slid over to her, his warm touch at her stomach shocking her into meeting his half-lidded eyes.
"You're out of chakra, aren't you."
He accused her. She nodded, defeated. She knew he hated weakness in others almost as much as he hated it in himself, so it wouldn't surprise her if he turned away from her with a sneer and sound of disgust—
"Use mine."
Wait…what? WHAT?!
Well…that wasn't what we expected.
I thought you left?
Naah, just decided to take a nap since all your crying was annoying the shit outta me. Take his offer, girlie.
But he don't have enough chakra…he needs to use it as a numbing agent, to soothe himself.
Have you sensed his signature?! Believe me, he has more than enough for you to heal him, especially with your level of chakra control.
"Trust me."
He added, seemingly knowing her train of thought. Sakura nodded and closed her eyes. Reaching out with the last of her energy, she twined her way down Sasuke's arm and into his chakra core.
Massive swirls of power greeted her, the same dark purple that had coated him earlier. Somehow, though, it felt less demonic and more…well, loving was the word she would use to describe it. It was more of a happy puppy than a hungry wolf.
How does he still have so much left?! There's at least twice the amount of mine when it's full!
Sakura coaxed the chakra from his system and drew it into hers so that she could continue healing him. She removed the bone shard from his lung, before quickly channeling chakra to close up the wound. Sasuke's breathing eased, though it was still rough with pain.
Shaking her head, Sakura began to divert the energy to his rib cage, to regrow the pulverized bone and cartilage there. She was in for a long healing session.
So deep was she in her trance that she didn't notice Sasuke had moved his hand to rest on her hip, and was caressing it with a rather dazed look on his face.
All she knew was that his life depended on her ability to heal, and that she couldn't fail him again.
挫折
{{Soundtrack Start: Rage Valley (Original Mix), Knife Party}}
Naruto…give me your soul…
What the hell, fox-bastard?!
I will not be denied.
NO! NOT NOW!
Then I will take what I want by force.
Stop, dammit! I don't have time for this right now!
Do you want to avenge Sasuke?
…
Then you will give yourself to me, gaki…feel the hate that burns in your heart of hearts, the sorrow that engraves itself in your mind, the pain of failure and loss. Let me make it all better…
…
Let me take away your pain…let me help you escape…
…No…no…no…I…I can't…
You have the power, gaki. Use my power. Erase everything that hurts. Wipe it all away, and start anew.
…Y…yes. I will.
…
I won't be hurt anymore.
Naruto could feel the Kyuubi smirk in his head as burning, wild, delicious power wound its way through his veins. He could feel the beast's intent taking control, pushing his rationality to the back of his mind, but somehow he didn't care. All that was left to him now was anger. Anger and power, anger and power. A delectable combination, to be sure…more dangerous than a warehouse of paper bombs and gunpowder, yes, but still absolutely intoxicating. He'd felt this strength before, when he defended Iruka against the traitor Mizuki, and quite frankly it scared him. Or it would scare him, if fear had a place in his primal mentality.
Naruto dropped to all fours, snarling, whisker marks deepening and hair growing steadily wilder until it resembled a hedgehog's matted spines. Beautiful blue eyes darkened with hate until they flared a deep crimson, revealing pupils slit like a cat's. He was sure Haku was feeling a sort of déjà vu; he'd faced Sasuke in an analogous state, after all, and they probably exhibited quite a few similarities.
And as his vision went black and he surrendered himself entirely, he smiled sadly.
The things I do for my nakama…even if you hate me, even if you despise me, I'll be here for you. Even if you think of me as a freak, a monster, an abomination…I won't give up on you.
挫折
Kakashi and Zabuza both froze as a wave of intent washed over them, like a huge, suffocating blanket.
Oh Kami no…not now, not now, this is the worst possible time for the seal to fail…!
Kakashi screamed in his head, looking over to where Naruto crouched in a pose reminiscent of Sasuke's, growling like the demon he held captive.
Shit…
Naruto lunged. Haku wasn't fast enough to dodge, and long claws ripped their way through his already-injured arm.
Dammit Naruto…
The other boy screamed as spectral flames cauterized the wound, courtesy of Naruto's growing red aura.
Take back control…
The blonde roared to the heavens, hand dribbling blood that was not his. His eyes were wild; Kakashi couldn't see them, but he knew the look in a Jinchuuriki's eyes when it succumbed to its demon. He had seen it in his sensei's wife, the former wielder of Kyuubi, the one time she'd lost control. It was a terrifying sight, and one he knew he would be reacquainted with should Naruto fail to shut the nine-tailed fox demon away.
He'd heard tales while on joint missions with shinobi from other countries…tales of Jinchuuriki who went too far, who took too much power from their tenants. The demon often took advantage of a Jinchuuriki who strayed too deep into their hold, reversing the seal to lock the human's soul away and roam the world once more as a free being with a will of his or her own.
Or you may never reclaim your body.
挫折
~Tsuzuku~
A/N: And on that somber, cliff-hanging note, Chapter 12 ends. I seriously have been driving myself insane trying to write lately. With school and training, I barely have any time anymore! I'm not going to put this on hiatus, though…you guys mean too much to me. Honestly. Thanks for all of your support, and sorry in advance for any late updates. I'm about a chapter ahead of schedule right now, though, so it should all be okay as long as I keep this pace. Next update (mark your calenders!) is OCTOBER 22.
Also, I'm going to be doing a Halloween special, which will be put up on the 31st. So you'll get an update the 22nd, 31st, and (hesitantly) two weeks after the 22nd (because I'm too lazy to math right now XD).
Now for some FAQs:
Q: Nakama means friend, right? So why is Sasuke so shocked when Naruto refers to him as "nakama"?
A: In Japanese, nakama does translate directly to friend, but it has a deeper meaning. It basically means an extremely close friend, almost like a sibling or part of a family. To call someone nakama is to claim them as your unofficial family.
Q: Why is Sasuke such a Gary Stue in this story?
A: He may seem that way, but just trust me on this: he isn't. Sasuke has advantages that he didn't have canonically, but he also has quite a few dilemmas. Mainly, the fact that he has to hide his vampirism from his teammates without them getting suspicious of him, while helping them out with his crazy-ass senses. He's only human, as will be explored more later.
Q: When will Zian explain himself?
A: After the whole Team Seven vs. Gatou arc is done, Zian will be telling us his story. I already have it all mapped out, and it'll take a whole, 3000-word chapter to get through. Hopefully it'll clear everything up, and tie up any loose ends while filling the plot holes that run rampant through the story.
Q: Earlier, you mentioned that the plot would deviate severely from canon later in the story. When will that start?
A: It already has, but the super huge major obvious stuff begins…NEXT CHAPTER! YAY! My anonymous reviewer finally is getting what he/she/it (can't rule out the possibility of hermaphroditic alien races who somehow know about Naruto, after all…we don't discriminate here on ! No sarcasm intended, BTW. Don't be offended! D:) wanted, and I'm cheering right along with ya!
Q: Were the mysterious people from Chapter Ten important?
A: VERY. They will play their parts soon enough, and we'll get to hear more about them later. All you guys get right now is that they're OCs, but are necessary for the story. I personally dislike stories with pointless OCs, so I have them in here for a VERY GOOD REASON, which will be revealed later. No flames on this, please!
Q: How is Sakura so good at healing? Canonically, most medic-nin can't heal such extensive wounds, let alone with so little experience…
A: There are several reasons for this:
1: Sakura has amazing chakra control (as seen in the manga and anime), therefore she can heal more with less chakra because nothing is wasted.
2: (MY HEADCANON) Sakura's chakra is unique in that it has a healing factor, making it more effective. Think of it as a sort of kekkai genkai, like the Uzumaki vitality. This would explain her caliber in canon; Tsunade has the same level of control, gets the same results, and has a shitload more chakra. Therefore, Sakura's chakra is more potent than Tsunade's, because she doesn't use as much (as for how I know this…have you noticed she heals a lot more often than Tsunade?).
3: BMS!Sasuke's chakra is extremely potent (as I think I mentioned before) and he has a lot of it.
4: (MY HEADCANON) Uchiha chakra also has a healing factor, though it's more evident than the Haruno one. Think about it: how else is Sasuke able to survive (SPOILER)
Killer Bee's Lariat to the throat when it caught him with a hell of a lot of momentum (not to mention like 200 pounds of weight and Jinchuuriki strength) behind it? And yes, Juugo DID start healing him immediately, but during the process he stayed stable and alive.
(END SPOILER)
5: Zian's help. Zian and Sasuke have a relationship similar to that of Naruto and Kyuubi, but without the hate. It's in Zian's best interest to keep Sasuke alive, for reasons I will explain in the "big reveal" chapter (or, as you all know it, the one where Zian tells Sasuke (and by extension all of us) who/what he is, how he came to be, and all that jazz. Yay!).
Anyway, not much interesting stuff has happened in life for me lately, so I'm not really sure what to write. And I'm seriously pissed about the lack of SasuSaku in the manga lately. I. WANT. IT.
SasuSaku is my main pairing, which I have been shipping since I started watching Naruto about four years ago. FOUR YEARS. That's how long it's been, and now that it's ending soon…oh Kami. THE FEELS. DX
I shall not bore you with stories of my past and induction into otakuism, however. Time for this week's omake!
KBA-chan's Omake Theater!
This Week: Itachi's Misfortune
"KISAME! GET UP HERE, NOW!"
Itachi screamed for his partner from somewhere deep in the base. The shark ninja sighed and rose from his comfortable place on the leather couch, brushing past the armchair on his way up the stairs from the living room. He opened the door to Itachi's room, directly to the right of his own, and almost fainted in shock.
There was Itachi, in a ballerina costume, holding a sparkly fairy wand and sporting pigtails tied with pink ribbons. Add to that the pink butterfly wings and stilettos, and the Sharingan master of the Leaf looked like a fairy princess from some children's cartoon.
"I have no idea what just happened. One minute I'm sharpening my katana, and the next I'm dressed like this and spinning around the room."
Kisame couldn't help it. At the absolutely miserable and humiliated expression on his partner's face, he burst out laughing, not caring if Itachi would kill him a million times over in the Tsukuyomi later. It was worth it, anyway.
"Kami damn you, Kisame! Ugh, I'll just go and ask Konan or something…"
"Dressed like that?"
"…I can't get it off."
The shark bubbled into a fresh wave of giggles. Uchiha Itachi, who had never lost a battle, who had defeated his entire clan of elites in combat…was beaten by a frilly pink tutu?
The world had officially gone mad.
"THIS ISN'T FUNNY! STOP LAUGHING, YOU DAMN SHARK!"
Itachi: T-T This is so embarrassing…how will I face the Akatsuki now…?
Sasuke: It's alright, Aniiki. You probably looked good in it.
Itachi: KAMI DAMN IT SASUKE.
KBA: I think you're making it worse…
TDCT: Leave him alone to nurse his wounded pride. I don't think I know anyone who would willingly wear a frilly pink tutu.
KBA: You forget who we went to school with…
TDCT: Oh Kami, don't remind me. I needed a shit-ton of mind bleach to get those images out of my head.
KBA: …Sorry.
Sasuke: Do I even want to know?
KBA and TDCT: NO.
Itachi: *crying in corner anime-style*
Mikoto: Ita-chan, do you wanna talk about it? Kaa-chan is always here to listen!
Itachi: OKAA-SAN YOU'RE MAKING IT WORSE.
Mikoto: T-T
Sasuke: Did Aniiki finally get his man-period?
KBA: …Um…
TDCT: Yes. Yes he did. We're lucky he's not a pissy bitch like SOMEBODY I know…
Canon!Sasuke (from Shippuden): *from far away* I RESENT THAAAAAT~!
Sasuke: …That voice…it sounded…
KBA: NO! DON'T SAY IT! DON'T EVEN THINK IT! YOU'LL CREATE A PARADOX!
Sasuke: Oh. Alright, then.
TDCT: Dear Kami, KBA, are you trying to kill us all?!
KBA: …Maybe?
TDCT: *facepalm*
KBA: Well, anyway, I guess we'll bring in the next intro character now…
Tazuna: Hello, duck-butt no gaki!
Sasuke: …I will rip out your f—(crow sound!)—ing lungs.
Mikoto: SASUKE! *produces bar of soap and chucks it at Sasuke, who somehow catches it with his mouth* LANGUAGE!
Sasuke: *gags on the soap and falls to the ground, writhing*
Tazuna: …Um…alright then. I'll just get on with the intro, then. *Narrator-Voice-no-Jutsu!* Our hero struggles to survive as Zabuza launches the next stage of his attack, and Kakashi, frozen?! Find out what happens next time in Chapter Thirteen: Naruto's Light, Extinguished?!
KBA: Sasuke…go ahead.
Sasuke: *smirks* My pleasure. *jumps at Tazuna*
Tazuna: *screams like a little girl*
Mikoto: *smirks as blood starts flying everywhere* Thanks, Sasuke! I really hated that bastard!
TDCT and KBA: . . .lolwut?
Itachi: I'M SO EMBARRASSED! D:
This chapter's page break is zasetsu, or breakdown.