DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
Webs of Deception
Chapter Twelve
Crossroads
Naruto sat on the floor with his back leaning against his closed door. His knees were slightly bent while his eyes stared unseeing up at the ceiling. Wondering how he was going to keep on doing this. How he was going to survive when emotions were running through him that were trying to break him down into the mess he was in when he left. He didn't want to deal with these emotions. Not when he thought he buried them so deep that they couldn't be reached again.
But he was wrong. So wrong...
They weren't buried, just expertly ignored. Ignored to the point where he thought they didn't even exist anymore. These emotions, a part of him wanted to get rid of them...so badly he wanted to stripped them from his being and be emotionless. It would be so much easier than to deal with this pain that was coursing through him like acid eating away at his insides. If only he could make it stop...
But he was foolish to think he could. He was human, well...partly but with human emotions non the less. Though with these human emotions also came with this suffocating feeling when they were stimulated negatively. And it hurt. Oh god did it hurt...
Silent tears fell down his whiskered cheeks as he tried to will everything away. To push back everything into the empty void within him but it was pointless. He couldn't ignore them this time, not with the one that was stimulating his emotions was so close that he wanted to lose himself in him again. To selfishly take what he wanted for years.
He felt Sasuke's chakra ascending the stairs and he closed his eyes as another wave of painful emotions racked through his body. A sob caught in his throat as he brought his legs closer to his chest. His sensitive ears listening to the soft footsteps of the other as he got closer to the door to his bedroom.
When Sasuke stopped in front of his closed door, he held his breath. Hoping he wouldn't knock, he couldn't face him at this very moment. But when he continued to his own room he was relieved, letting the breath he was deliberately holding out. He lifted a shaky hand and ran it through his blond and red locks. Trying his damnedest not to pull those strands out by their roots. To cause some of his own physical pain to get rid of the emotional.
He shook his head roughly to get rid of the thought and let his hand fall to the floor limply. Oh how he felt pathetic right about now. But he wondered if he actually cared or not. And one answer came to mind, 'Nope.' he didn't give a shit.
Sasuke reluctantly opened his door and left his room. Clad in his Anbu uniform with his wolf mask hanging off his hip. He would of rather stay within it's walls until Akuma left Konoha but as Tara put it, he's Anbu Captain and had shit to take care of. Though she didn't use the word shit. But then again, he was so out of it that she could of said that Itachi was currently in a pink tutu and performing some form of a chicken dance, and he probably wouldn't of cared one bit. Even if it would have been interesting to see such a thing.
But then he wonders if such a thing took place--which is one in a billion chance--if he would be able to pull a camera from god knows where and take a picture like many of his fan girls that he's come across. Or more accurately they have come across him. Over the years, he's found it quite intriguing where those girls hide those cameras on their beings. Because it wasn't like they didn't try and wear the smallest of clothes, so where did they put it?
He mentally shook his head of such ridiculous thoughts. His mind must be fried, especially if he's thinking of Itachi in a pink tutu. That's creepy and will probably give him nightmares. His steps unconsciously stopped in front of Naruto's room. 'I wonder if he's in there or already downstairs?' he thought before checking for himself and found Naruto still within the room.
He swallowed deeply, time seemed to stop existing as he stared at the woodgrain of the door. His hand subconsciously rose to the wood, inching toward it like it was something that shouldn't be touch. But his hand jerked away quickly like it was just burnt when he was about to put his hand upon the door. He pulled himself out of his daze and hastily went down the stairs before Naruto decided that would be a good time to step out. And he didn't think if he could take having a one on one confrontation with the blond right now.
By the time he entered the dining room, his stoic mask was firmly in place and hopefully stayed in place when Naruto came down. All the people--except Shikamaru--who were sitting around the kitchen table stopped their chatter and turned their heads to him. Two of the stares were actually glares from Jiraiya and the white haired male, who he was guessing was Ryutaro.
Another female was positioned by Shikamaru at the table that he didn't recognize. Her hair was a pale lilac color that fell to the end of her rear and it was loosely french braided with a black hair tie holding the braid in place, and her eyes shown a soft purple. He could see a chain around her neck that disappeared underneath her cloak and a golden band on her left ring finger. She gave the youngest Uchiha a gentle smile and at that moment he knew that this woman was Tara.
He gave a curt nod to her as he walked around the table to the wall that Naruto threw him against earier that day. He leant his body against it and crossed his arms over his chest as casually as he could get his body to look. He's managed to perfect this art, to make his body look the complete opposite of what he was feeling. Though right about now he wants to run and hide somewhere dark without any other presences.
But no he has to be here--so near to the one that's tearing him up--trying to act fine when he wasn't.
Sasuke pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. If he was going to survive through this day, he had to not think about anything. To keep his mind blank, just like he keeps his face impassive. Too bad his heart doesn't take the hint though...
Ryutaro's index finger was tapping on the table in an annoying way. His chin resting in his other hand as he forced his head to remain forward, so he wouldn't glare at the youngest Uchiha behind him and to his left. 'The guy has some nerve to come out here like he did nothing wrong.' he growled within his mind as his teeth grinded against each other.
The tapping finger of Ryutaro was being watched intently by the red headed Hikko, who sat right across the table from the white haired Akuma member. She patiently waited for the other to stop the annoying tapping himself but when he only continued like it wasn't bothering anyone, she lunged across the table and slammed her hands firmly on the hand with that moving finger.
"What the fuck!" yelled a highly startled Ryutaro, effectively bringing him out of his vengeful thoughts about a certain young Uchiha.
Hikko remained sprawled over the table as the older male attempted to pull his hand out from underneath hers. But she was relentless, "If you do not stop that damn tapping, I'll cut that finger off!" she threatened to the other quite loudly.
Ryutaro sneered back, "Hikko, let go of my hand! It's my fucking finger, I can tap it anyway I like!" Trying to pull his hand out again.
"It won't be for long!" retorted the red head, letting one of her hands let go of the other's hand and reached down under her cloak to one of her weapon's pouches.
'She wouldn't dare!' he thought franticly at her movement to her weapons for something sharp. "I swear if you cut my fucking finger off bitch...!" but unfortunately, he only managed to cut himself off one word too late. He cautiously glanced at Hikko and gulped when he felt the killing intent coming off of the young girl. 'Oh shit...'
"What. Did. You. Call. Me?" she growled out through clenched teeth. Her nails from the hand that was still on the other's, digging in his skin.
Jiraiya, who was sitting in the chair on the right side of Ryutaro, scooted his chair further away from the boy. He knew full well what would happen next and he didn't want to get caught in the deadly line of fire. 'You would think he would of learned after the first time...poor--stupid--boy...'
Itachi also put some distance from the two while Tara, who was sitting two chairs from the red head, lowered her head into her hand. Wondering why those two couldn't go at least one day without fighting with each other. Shikamaru sat on the other side of Tara, lazily flipping over yet another piece of paper and reading the next one underneath. 'Oh what a tedious job this is...' oblivious or just plain ass ignoring the ominous aura coming from his left.
"N-N-Now H-Hikko, calm d-down. Y-You know I-I..." That was all he managed to stutter out before Hikko lifted herself up on her arms and latched herself over the table, tackling Ryutaro to the floor. "AHHHHHH!!" came a very girly scream from under Hikko. "SOMEONE GET HER OFF!!"
Sasuke glanced over at the fighting duo on the floor. Currently Hikko was straddling Ryutaro's waist with her hands loosely around his throat, mainly she was shaking him violently. While Ryutaro had his hands around her wrists, muttering, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" his lip was already split with blood dripping from the wound and down his chin while his face had several scratches adorning it.
He was so caught up with watching the two fight that he didn't notice the extra presence that entered and stood in the archway of the dining room. Until, "Are those two fighting again?" Naruto asked to no one in particular. This caused Sasuke to snapped his attention from them to the blond across the room. His heart aching and his breath hitching in his throat at the sight of him.
Naruto wore a loose sleeveless blood red shirt with a large black kanji character for 'nine' on the back, another pair of dark blue jeans and black ninja sandals. His right arm was covered completely with a clean sealing wrap while his other hand had a sterling silver fox ring adorning his index finger. His black Akuma cloak and mask were being held in his hand. But what got Sasuke most was that there was hardly any damage down to the blond. It's not like he wanted more damage down to the other but...shouldn't there be...?
His nose that was previously broken, was almost completely healed, there was only a small ache at the moment. Most of the swelling that occurred to his face was mostly or completely gone. The only visible damage that was left was minor bruising and a few light scratches. But nothing that won't be healed shortly, if only the wounds that were hurting within could be healed like that. If only Kyuubi could heal those as easily as he does the physical...
Upon hearing her Captain's voice, she stopped her brutal harassment on the male beneath her and popped her head up, turning her head to him and exclaimed cheerfully, "Naru-chan!" her anger completely taking a one-eighty as she took her hands off of Ryutaro's neck. Which the latter breathed out "Thank god..." He took in deep breaths while glaring at the red head's back as she rose from her position on his lap.
She laced her fingers behind her lower back and innocently twirled half-way 'round, 'accidentally' kicking Ryutaro in the side of his face with her raised right foot. "Are you alright Naru-chan?"
Naruto tilted his head to the side to look behind Hikko. "Better than Ryutaro." Who was using his hand to clutch to his now bruising cheek while murmuring obesities to the girl's back. She lifted her hand and waved the condition of Ryutaro off like it was nothing. "Maa maa Naru-chan, no reason to worry yourself over that jerk." her voice and eyes hardening when the last word was said.
"Jeez, crazy woman." muttered Ryutaro as he pushed himself up off the floor and onto his feet, using his hand to dab at his bleeding lip.
Hikko swirled on the her heels upon hearing what he said and snapped, "What was that!"
The other immediately clammed up, stuttering, "N-N-Nothing..."
Naruto chuckled lightly, "Wise choice, man." he was trying to act like everything was normal--to bring back up a mask that was shattered over six years ago. Attempting to put those pieces back together with a low-binding glue. It wasn't going to happen. Especially when the pieces were hundreds, maybe thousands.
He walked over to the chair by Tara but his damn eyes went against his will and before he sat down, he took a brief glance at Sasuke. And what he saw, the deep guilt--pain and betrayal in those depths, tempted him to the bone to go over there and comfort him in anyway he could. He even found that his body was twitching to do just that. He tightened his hands into fists and broke the eye contact, forcefully lowering himself into the chair and placing his cloak and mask on his lap.
Sasuke's eyes remained on the blond as Hikko and Ryutaro--after picking his chair back up for the second time that day--and settled themselves down in their seats. He was using all his will to keep his face impassive and uncaring. Just being in the same room with him after everything thats happened and seeing all those emotions that passed through his sapphire orbs, it was overwhelming. He hated feeling like this--feeling so weak. Letting his emotions overtake his senses...
Tara reached into one of her pouches and brought out a couple of pills. She made sure she got the right ones before raising her hand to Naruto, "Here Taichou." He took them in his own hand with a small smile. Then brought his hand to his mouth and threw the pills within as he snapped his head back, so the pills would end up at the back of his throat. He moved them around for a second before swallowing them easily.
Sasuke watched the whole interaction with interest. 'Was there something wrong with him?' he worriedly asked himself and then felt stupid about it. Of course there was something wrong. He just beat the crap out of him 'bout forty-five minutes ago.
Nooo, it can't be that. For one he almost looks completely healed and two, he took pills way before what he did. 'Then what's wrong with him...?'
Jiraiya leaned forward with his on the table. "Well brat, can we get down to business?"
"Not yet!" exclaimed Naruto as a fox grin spread across features. "We have to reintroduce ourselves! Since Uchiha only knows the other three of Akuma by their mission names." He looked at Ryutaro, "Want to go first Ryutaro?"
"Like hell I want to go first! That damn pri...rgfff..." he was suddenly cut off from a hard kick in his left shin from Naruto. He groaned loudly and lowered his head to the surface of the table while clutching his hands to his--now bruising--shin. "So Ryutaro, what was that?" the blond asked with sickening innocence. Ryutaro's head tilted up so he could glare fire at Naruto as he growled out, "Takimaru Miki"
Naruto only grinned back at the fuming male. 'Thought he would see it my way.'
'Takimaru Miki?' thought Sasuke, 'He's in the bingo book. An S-Class missing nin from Kusagakure(1). He killed thirty-six men before departing from his village.'
"Oohiro Kyoko!" exclaimed Hikko.
'Hmmm...never heard of her...'
Tara rose from her chair and bowed respectfully, "Ishikawa Ruri."
Sasuke looked in her direction as she sat back down in her chair, his face remaining impassive but inside he was shocked--that she was that woman. 'S-Class missing nin from Kirigakure(2). She killed the daimyo of her country. Her...husband.' With such a gentle demeanor, he could hardly believe it.
"Alright! I don't I have to warn you Uchiha..." he began as he cocked his head towards Sasuke. "...That our real names aren't to be said outside of these walls. That's unless you're in front of Baa-chan with only the people that know about us. If that's not the case then I'll advise you keep your mouth shut. The consequence isn't that..." he paused as his smug features dropped. All the while, the glaring eyes of the other bored into his own. "...pleasant." he finally finished, hoping that Sasuke wouldn't give him any reason to do anything to him.
"So..." directing his attention back to Jiraiya, "What's this plan for the chuunin exams?" The serious tone he acquired while addressing Sasuke remaining.
"Now, remember brat that I'm only the messenger. If you want to bitch about this plan, do so to Tsunade. Because the way I heard her tell it, you're doing it one way or another. So, don't blame me..."
Naruto rudely interrupted the older sannin. "Are you gonna tell us sometime this year?"
Jiraiya huffed indignantly, grumbling incoherently things under his breath before he explained, "Well, as you should know, Cho is entering the chuunin exams this year." Naruto nodded, already knowing this knowledge.
"And with this other knowledge..." pointing his index finger at the boxes and stacks of folders scatter around. "She wants you, Ruri and the Uchiha to disguise yourselves and become a three man team. So you can enter the chuunin exams." By the time he finished his sentence, the older man had a wide grin on his features.
Naruto stared at Jiraiya for a long moment before bursting out laughing, causing a few weird gazes to redirect to him. "This is some kind of joke!" he blurted out between fits of laughter. But when Jiraiya's features didn't change, his own went flat in an instant. "This isn't a joke..."
The older male shook his head no, which caused Naruto's head to slam down on the table. "What the hell is wrong with that old hag?!" he yelled mostly to his legs before his head lifted back up. "Has she gone completely insane?! No!" bringing his hand up and blatantly pointing at Jiraiya. "She was drunk!"
"Naruto, it's a good idea." stated Itachi blankly.
Naruto whipped his head in the older Uchiha's direction, surprising a few people that he survived it, and snapped, "I know that it's a good idea!" then mumbled, "But it doesn't mean I can't complain about it..." This wasn't gonna go well. Not with being in such close proximity with Sasuke for that long. At least here, he can lock himself within his temporary room. In the chuunin exams, there is no escaping...
Sasuke's jaw clenched tightly at the prospect at spending that much time with the blond, with absolutely no way out. He's already gone through the exams once, he knew that the whole team was better off if they stay together and didn't stray from one another. This especially counted during the second part of the exams. But fuck, he only had less than a week to sort everything out before the exams started. And he couldn't go against the Hokage. He wasn't even close to being in her good graces to even think of doing that.
Jiraiya discreetly lowered his hand to his pocket and brought something out. "Hey brat!" Catching the blond's attention from his moping. "Catch!" He threw the item within his hand toward the blond. Who caught it with ease. Naruto looked down at the navy cloth protruding from the sides of his hands and already knew what was within his grasp. He opened his closed hand and was met with the metal plate of a Konoha's headband.
He glared and growled at the offending piece of metal. "Why can't we be from Suna?" he asked through clenched teeth. He didn't want to wear this thing again. Once he took it off those years ago, he officially stopped being a Konoha shinobi. And like hell was he gonna put his loyalty back into this wretched village.
"Because all of Suna's applicants for the exams have already been turned in and since it's past the due date for any new one, it would look too suspicious. That means brat, that you're now stuck with being a Konoha shinobi!"
But Naruto was only half listening to what the older sannin said, the reason for this was because he was intently eying this particular part of the metal plate. 'Do I know that knick?' His eyes narrowed at it. 'I think I know that knick.' He moved his narrowed eyes to Jiraiya. "This wouldn't happen to be..." trailing off as Jiraiya's grin grew.
The latter chuckled merrily, "Yup! Your old headband!"
Naruto dropped the headband onto the table like it was something disgusting that shouldn't be touched. "I knew that knick was familiar! I can't believe Sarutobi-jiji kept it!" He lifted his hand toward it and cautiously poked it with his finger. Half-expecting it to jump or something.
"Why wouldn't he brat!" the other blurted out as he brought out another brand knew headband, then tossing it to Ruri. She caught the headband with her left hand, bringing the metal closer to her to get a better look. Like Naruto, Ruri had no interest in giving her loyalty to any village. She was very reluctant about doing this particular plan to begin with. It involved putting on a headband, which was like a ball and chain for her...
"What the hell are you doing?!" exclaimed Miki to Naruto, who was still prodding his headband. "What does it look like I'm doing?" he sarcastically asked as he gave the headband another poke. "I'm waiting to see if the thing will up and attack." This resulted in Miki giving the blond a you finally lost it look.
Itachi rolled his eyes at the blond's antics. But he knew that this was Naruto's way to deal with nervous situations. And anything that involves Sasuke makes him extremely nervous. "Then what are the rest of us going to be doing?" his asked in his monotone voice.
"Patrolling the area, making sure nothing seems out of the ordinary...ect, ect..." the sannin answered lazily.
"Hmn." 'That was very detailed...'
Naruto stopped his poking of his old headband and opted in leaning back in his chair to stare at it, with his arms crossed as his teeth nibbled on his inner cheek. He took a quick glance at Sasuke to wager the other's reaction. Which as he expected wasn't much. The stoic boy was merely staring blankly in front of him. But he couldn't really say much, now could he, since he was staring blankly at his headband. His head suddenly perked up as his ears twitched slightly. Then he audibly sniffed the air.
Team Akuma instantly went stiff at their Captain's action and reached for their weapons pouches. It was an automatic reaction, since Naruto would always be the first to know if an enemy was near.
"Taichou...?"
Naruto's brows furrowed, 'Hmm...now why is Gaara and the others here this early?'
1) Kusagakure-Hidden Grass
2) Kirigakure-Hidden Mist
