Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, graphic adult themes, violence, angst, a good friend, and eventually yaoi love.

Hard to Read:

Chapter 12

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Naruto had a tough time being in any bed without memories of what Itachi did to him forcing their way back, so he quickly got up when Sasuke left. He found his clothes clean and folded on the dresser, along with a fresh pair of boxers. While he was slightly uncomfortable using Sasuke's, he was happy to have clean ones to change into. He stripped quickly and threw on his clothes, and then paused. He didn't want to be anywhere near a bed, but he was also feeling anxious about facing Sasuke again.

How am I supposed to act? he thought to himself. I mean- he kissed me! Plus he knows something happened with Itachi, a wave of revulsion shivered through him just thinking his name, and I tried to kill myself in his kitchen. But also.. he freaking kissed me!

He thought about what Sasuke had said after, when Naruto had pushed him away.. I am not Itachi.

Fuck.. how am I supposed to face him now..?

But after some time pacing in the room and fidgeting with his hands, the fear of being enclosed in a bedroom won. He walked over, took a deep breath, and threw open the door.

"Are you sure it was Itachi?"

The two were sitting at the kitchen table across from each other, sipping hot tea and avoiding looking at the spot where Naruto had nearly ended his life. An awkward silence had settled between them, and Sasuke was the one who finally broke it.

Naruto's head shot up, and he stared at the raven in horror and absolute bewilderment. "What..?"

"Itachi isn't who I thought he was.." Sasuke said quietly, fingering his tea cup as he carefully chose his words, attempting to not say the wrong thing. Though from the look on Naruto's face he wasn't so sure he hadn't already fucked up. "He didn't destroy our clan for power. He was forced into choosing between protecting the village or our family-"

"I know."

Sasuke stared. "Madara told you?"

Naruto shook his head. "No.. he did."

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Itachi told you..?"

Naruto nodded.

The Uchiha studied him. "I want to hurt the people who hurt him", he started. "When I found out what the leaders of the Leaf had done, I wanted revenge. For us, for our clan. I still want revenge. It's just.. it's hard to believe that he would do something awful to you when he's not.."

Sasuke leaned forward, meeting his eyes. "He's not the monster I thought he was, Naruto. It's just hard to believe that he was one to you."

Naruto could feel his body trembling with anger, his eyes watering with a rush of emotions. "What do you want me to say Sasuke?! I get it. He didn't want to kill your clan. But he did want to-" Blue eyes widened, horrified by how much he had said, how much he had almost said.

He looked away. "It was him, ok. I.." God.. how much do I have to say..? He swallowed back the lump forming in his throat.

"I was there for a while, Sasuke."

The raven looked down, clenching his jaw.

He doesn't believe me.., Naruto thought, the realization weighing heavily on his chest. Even with how he feels about me.. he would rather believe him.

Naruto quickly stood, toppling over his chair in his haste. Sasuke looked up in surprise. "Take. Down. The. Fucking. Barrier." the blonde ground out, his fists clenched as he struggled to force back his tears.

When Naruto's throat had healed, while he was still unconscious, Sasuke had resealed the house, making sure to keep his captive inside once more. Naruto had hoped all of this would have changed the Uchiha's mind about keeping him locked up in here, but it had basically done the opposite. He was even more insistent that Naruto had to stay.

"I'm not going to do that, Naruto" Sasuke said, simply.

The infuriated blonde slammed his hands down on the table. "You can't keep me in here forever!!" he screamed. "You want to believe that Itachi did nothing- fine. But I'm not going to just fucking sit here and pretend that's true. Now- LET ME OUT!!"

Dark eyes narrowed. "I never said that it wasn't true. I said it was hard to believe."

"Then don't!" Naruto shouted. "I didn't want to fucking tell you anyways!"

Sasuke jumped to his feet, his own chair falling. He slammed his hands onto the table, matching Naruto's, as he leaned in towards him. "You haven't fucking told me anything!" he screamed back. "You're fucking terrified of me-"

Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but he cut him off.

"You flinch every time I get near you, you screamed that horrible fucking scream when I held you down- I mean- Christ, Naruto. You act like..."

Sasuke stared, horrified. "He didn't.." he breathed. He searched Naruto's face, desperate for a different answer than the one he was thinking.

"Naruto.." his eyes filled with pain as they watched fear widen Naruto's. "Did.. did Itachi.." He didn't want to say it. He didn't want to even think of it as a possibility, and he was suddenly terrified to know the truth.

He swallowed, steeling himself for Naruto's answer. "Did Itachi force-"

The horrified blonde slammed his hands over his ears, backing away from the table. He shook his head, refusing to hear the rest. Sasuke moved away from the table and took a step towards him, and Naruto quickly backed further away, trying to keep distance between them.

"Naruto- don't shut me out." He walked closer as the blonde continued to back away, shaking his head. He pressed his palms against his ears as hard as he could, not wanting to hear Sasuke's questions, his guesses. He just couldn't handle hearing him say it out loud. The one person he didn't want to ever find out.

"Sasuke- stop. Please." he begged, stepping further away

But the Uchiha kept moving toward him. "Naruto, what did Itachi do to you?"

Another step back. "I don't want to talk about this.. I don't want to talk about this.."

Sasuke quickened his steps to close the distance. Naruto tried to step away from him, but his back hit the wall. He was trapped. He stared up at Sasuke, his eyes pleading, begging him not to say it.

The Uchiha grabbed his wrists and pulled his arms down, forcing him to listen. Naruto hurriedly looked away, not wanting Sasuke to see the truth in his eyes.

"Please.." Naruto whispered, "please don't ask me.."

"Naruto.. did Itachi.. force himself on you?"

He bit his lip hard, refusing to answer, refusing to look up at him, refusing to face this.

Sasuke let go of one wrist and gently grabbed his chin instead. He pulled his face, forcing the distraught blonde to look up at him. "Naruto.. look at me."

He bit his lip harder and tried to resist, but Sasuke's grip was insistent. Sad blue eyes met the raven's intense gaze. "Did he..?" he asked again.

And as he watched silent tears slip away from those huge blue eyes, he knew the answer.

His brother had raped his best friend.