Primal
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Naruto talking to Kyuubi in bold.
Kyuubi talking to Naruto in bold italics.
Chapter Notation: I'm not certain how far away the Sound is from the Leaf Village travel wise. I'm going on the assumption that it's fairly close and Suki is fast. So that's why she got there so quickly.
Chapter 6
Suki was back in her District. Tsunade had apparently decided without access to her chakra, she wasn't as big of a threat. The busty blonde wasn't stupid though. Suki could sense that there were some ANBU scattered throughout the District.
In a way, it was flattering. The Fifth Hokage thought enough of her skills that she believed it was necessary to have a team of ANBU watch Suki. Despite the fact that she couldn't access her chakra, Tsunade still took her seriously.
"Naruto?" She whispers to herself when she feels a very familiar chakra signature rushing towards her.
Naruto wasn't flickering though. He'd never been inside the Uchiha District before. That was probably why. That and the ANBU Team likely wouldn't respond well to him suddenly appearing without any warning. Naruto must have realized that and decided to make his way to her on foot.
"Suki?" He calls out as he knocks on a her door, a few minutes later.
The last female Uchiha sighs and goes to answer her door. She couldn't believe that the blonde had actually entered her District. Suki wasn't too happy about that fact.
Her childhood home was now more of a cemetery than anything else. All the houses were empty, save for her own. Many were now badly damaged from neglect. It was a depressing sight to say the least.
"I'm here. What do you want?" She asks.
The gardens were now being completely reclaimed by nature. Gone were the beautiful flowers, medicinal herbs, and small food gardens. They had been replaced by weeds and overgrown grass now. Grass that she was sure was hiding more than a few snakes and other animals.
Mostly though, it was the quiet. That was what made her home so eerie. Other than Naruto, it was deadly silent. Not even the ANBU dared to make a sound.
"Kurama's been acting really weird." Naruto says warily.
It was as if they were afraid of disturbing the dead. Suki couldn't blame them, if that was indeed the reason why they were being so quiet. Her District was so cold and lifeless now. Naruto didn't belong here.
The bubbly blonde definitely didn't belong here when he was saying things like that! Damn it! Suki had a bad feeling that she knew where this was going. The Nine Tails must have been talking to Naruto about everything.
"Come inside. I'd rather not have the ANBU overhear you talking about the Nine Tails." She says as she moves to the side and lets Naruto isnide.
"Yeah. Good point. Thanks. You know, I've never been to your house before." Naruto says as he looks around curiously.
Suki felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn't been here in years. It was in bad need of a cleaning. Dust and cobwebs were everywhere. Not to mention it was so bare and empty. It didn't look like anyone lived there because no one had for years.
"It's a little gloomy. Maybe some flowers and new curtains might help." The blue eyed ninja suggests.
Suki didn't think that flowers were going to help. She especially didn't care about curtains. She shakes her head in amusement though. That was Naruto for you. He was more worried about her interior decorating habits than the Nine Tails. He really needed to sort out his priorities.
"I'll think about the flowers and curtains, but right now we have more important things to talk about. What has the Nine Tails been saying to you?" She asks.
She really wasn't going to think about the flowers or curtains. Suki didn't plan on being in the Leaf long enough for it to matter. She had to find a way to get out of these chakra cuffs and then she would find Itachi. Once her brother was dead, the last Uchiha would come back to the Leaf. That was her plan.
"He's been talking about things like Mates and Marking." The blonde answers honestly and Suki internally winces.
This was bad. Naruto already knew about Mating. Well he at least knew the name. Suki could only hope that the fox had left him mostly in the dark.
"What's he saying about Mating?" She inquires cautiously.
"That you're my Mate and I'm supposed to bite you. It makes a Mark, but that's crazy. Biting someone doesn't mean anything, right?" Naruto asks.
She bites her lower lip and sighs. She could lie to Naruto, but there was the chance that the Nine Tails would tell him the truth. Lying might buy her some time, but it wouldn't solve the issue in the long run. It might be better to confront it head on.
"Demons are different than people in some ways. Mating is one of them. It doesn't matter though. Nothing is going to happen until Itachi is dead." She tells him.
"Wait. So you know what this Marking thing is?" The blonde asks.
"I know what it is, but it doesn't matter at the moment. Now, can you get me out of these damn cuffs?" Suki asks.
Naruto shakes his head. There was no way that he was letting her out of those cuffs. While she had them on, Suki wouldn't try anything stupid. She wouldn't try anything stupid like running away. The cuffs were staying on.
"No. You don't have to do this alone. You know that, right?" He asks.
"I know that, but this is my problem. Not yours. I don't want you anywhere near him. You could get killed." She snaps at him.
Naruto growls. She was worried about him getting killed, but Suki wasn't worried about herself! Didn't she see that this might be a suicide mission? Why wouldn't she let anyone help her?!
"She's stubborn. I suppose you are going either going to have to go with her or you'll have to Mark her. If she stays here without a Mark, she'll keep trying to escape." Kurama says.
The young ninja hated to admit it, but Kurama was right. Suki was stubborn. She'd try to run off again. They all knew that she would.
"How do I Mark her? I get that I have to bite her neck, but what happens after that?" He asks.
"You inject your chakra into her. Do it just like you would eject chakra from your hands. The only difference is that this time, you are emitting it from your mouth." Kurama explains, clearly pleased Naruto had decided to listen to him.
Naruto didn't fully understand the Marking thing, but that sounded like a really good idea at the moment. This way, Suki would stay. She'd be safe in the leaf. They could sort out the rest later.
With that in mind, the blonde grabbed her. He quickly proceeds to tilt her had to the side and tries to bite her. Suki didn't take this too well. The raven haired beauty swiftly brings her knee up and rams it into his stomach.
"OWE!" He snarls in pain.
"You deserved it. That's what you get for trying to bite me. You really shouldn't listen to that furball. Did he even tell you what the Marking meant? Do you have any idea what you almost did again?!" The last female Uchiha thunders at him.
No. Naruto didn't really understand. He just knew that it'd make her stay and something about lovers. He still thought that Kurama was a bit out of his mind at the last part. Suki didn't even like him that way.
It was completely crazy. Naruto didn't really care though. He just wanted to protect his friend. The blonde didn't really care what he had to do in order to do that.
"No. Why don't you explain it to me?!" He demands as he comes at her again.
Suki manages to dodge. Naruto had no idea how she did it. Even with her hands cuffed, she was still the embodiment of grace. It was a bit annoying really and very distracting.
"Because you'd be an idiot and you would take it the wrong way!" Suki growls at him and kicks a vase at him.
This would be so much easier, if she could at least use her hands. Now she had to outrun him or use her legs. That or maybe her teeth. If worse came to worst, she could try biting him. As long as she didn't inject chakra, that would be okay.
"What the Hell?! You threw a glass vase at me!" The blonde exclaims in outrage.
"I'll do a lot worse than that to you, if you don't knock it off. I know what I'm doing, Naruto. You don't. Just leave it at that." The raven haired woman informs him.
Naruto was NOT going to leave it at that. He was going to get some damn answers. There was no way that he was going to let her leave like this. She couldn't even use chakra. She'd get herself killed!
That was why he charged at her and slammed her into the ground. Suki wasn't going quietly though. She kicked, kneed, and even tried biting him. The woman was like a wild animal at the moment.
"OWE! Will you stop biting me?!" He demands as they roll around and around on the floor.
They were moving so fast, that it was impossible to tell who was "winning." Naruto's body ached from Suki's kicks and bites. He was almost positive that her teeth might have managed to draw blood at a couple points. He wasn't going to give up though.
This was important. The only way that she was ever going to stay was for him to prove that he wasn't dead weight. He could help her against Itachi. One of the best ways of proving that was by beating her in this battle of wills. Well at least that was what was going on in the blonde's mind as he fought with Suki for control.
"I will stop biting you, when you stop trying to bite me!" Suki growls at him.
For some reason, Naruto really liked that growl. It made his teeth elongate. Naruto could feel it and could tell that Suki had noticed because her eyes had just widened in surprise.
"I wouldn't have to bite you, if you would stop trying to run away. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you. Is that really so bad?!" He demands.
Suki mentally sighs. Naruto was just trying to help. Granted, he was going about it in the right way. His heart was in the right place though. Maybe a change of tactics was in order.
"No, it's not so bad. I know you are only trying to help me. Naruto, I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you and I know that you don't mean to be annoying. It's just that I have to do this." She whispers and tries her best to look apologetic.
It really wasn't that hard. Suki did feel a bit guilty about all those bruises and bite marks covering him. She loved Naruto. She didn't want to hurt him, but the Uchiha would. If she had to, she'd fight him.
"Did she just say she was sorry? Suki never does that!" Naruto asks in disbelief.
"Yes, I do believe she did. Maybe your display of aggression soothed her." Kurama replies.
Naruto really didn't get how a display of aggression would calm Suki down. Then again, this was Suki. Who really knew what went on in her head? He doubted even Suki understood Suki.
"I know. I don't blame you. I just wish that you wouldn't go about it in a really stupid way. Seriously, Suki. Orochimaru is bad news. You know that, right?" He asks.
"I know that, but he's also strong. Do you think that I wanted to be there? I would have rather be in the Leaf. I would have rather been with Team Seven, but I didn't have a choice." She says and fakes a grimace.
She knew that it was evil, but sometimes one had to fight dirty. Naruto was a naturally empathetic person. He didn't like seeing others in pain. If he thought that she was seriously hurt, he'd get off of her.
"Damn it! How bad did I get you?" Naruto asks.
"Bad. You're also kinda sitting on my ribs and that hurts." She mutters.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Naruto says as he gets off her and helps Suki up.
Suki finds herself smiling, despite the situation. He was so sweet. The idiot really was worried about her. That made her feel guilty for what she was about to do, but it wasn't going to change her mind.
"It's okay. I'm sorry too." She whispers into his ear when she felt him wrap his arms around her in a hug.
"What are you sorry about?" He asks in confusion.
"Everything, but especially for this." Suki says as she raises her knee high enough to hit him hard in the stomach.
Naruto grunts in pain and falls over. That's when Suki took the opportunity to run like Hell. She couldn't use her chakra and that put her at a disadvantage, but she had to find a way to escape.
If she could get to the Sound, Orochimaru would undo the cuffs. Then she could find Itachi. Once she found him, she'd kill her brother. After that, Suki would return to the Leaf and hope that Naruto could forgive her. With that thought in mind, she takes off running as fast as she possibly could.
"Damn it!" Naruto growls as he tries to power through the pain.
"We should have anticipated that. She has to be the most stubborn vixen that I have ever met." Kurama says.
"That's one way to put it. Come on. We have to find her!" Naruto says as he races off after Suki.
Meanwhile with Kisame and Itachi, the two of them were heading towards the Leaf Village. The former Mist Ninja glances over at his partner warily. Itachi was stubborn, but the shark lover wasn't entirely certain how much longer he would last.
It seemed like it was mostly his sheer force of will that was keeping him alive. The Criminal Ninja couldn't help but wonder if Itachi would have lived if he was actually receiving proper medical treatment instead of just some pills. It was an interesting question.
"Are you afraid of it?" He asks.
"Am I afraid of what?" Itachi inquires as the two of them walk side by side towards the Leaf Village.
"Death. You seem pretty intent on rushing straight at it. You know you don't necessarily have to die. If you told your sister the truth, there is a chance she could forgive you. Even if she didn't, you might be able to get better if you saw a real medic instead of just clung to those pills." The blue skinned man clarifies.
Itachi frowns as he considers the question. Did he fear death? No. Not really. It'd be something of a relief in reality.
Suki could avenge their family. She'd be the hero and he wouldn't have to live with his guilt. All in all, it was the perfect solution in his mind and one that he longed for.
"No. I don't fear it. Do you?" Itachi inquires.
He was likely going to die soon. There was no harm in making conversation with Kisame. It wasn't as though the man could use it against him.
"It's something that I'd like to avoid for as long as possible. It's an animal instinct to fight for your survival. It kinda creeps me out that you apparently don't have that instinct." He admits as they continue walking.
Itachi merely shakes his head. What reason did he really have to go on? Suki was the last of his truly precious people and the world would keep spinning without him. He was certain of that much.
"It unnerves me that you speak of yourself as if you are an actual shark sometimes. That makes us even. We both have our own odd mannerisms." The last male Uchiha says.
"Suppose your right about that much. We should probably stop to rest for a bit. You need to take those damn pills of yours." The other man says.
Itachi smirks. He'd never come out and say it, but Kisame cared. In some sort of twisted way, the Uchiha was almost positive that he might have been Kisame's first friend. Most likely, his only friend.
"Of course." He says simply as they stop and he take as seat on a rather large rock.
It was conveniently placed. The rock was large and warm. Really, it was the perfect place to stop and rest for a few moments before he consumed his medication.
Medication that he desperately needed. If he was going to live long enough for Suki to kill him, he was going to have to continue take the "damn pills," as Kisame called them. He knew that his friend didn't really understand his decisions, but that was alright.
"We should get you proper medical treatment. It'd be a shame, if you died before she could kill you." Kisame taunts him.
Kisame might not really understand his motivations, but he respected them. The other man babbled a lot. Far more than Itachi felt was necessary, but he didn't really pry. He respected Itachi's privacy and that was a fact that Itachi found himself very grateful for.
"I may have to consider it." Itachi says reluctantly as he coughs up some more blood.
At that same moment, Suki was barreling towards the Sound Village. She might not be able to use her chakra, but her legs worked just fine. Orochimaru would be able to get these stupid cuffs off her.
She just had to be sure to avoid Naruto. He was fast, but she was confident that she still had the edge in speed. Well unless Jirayia had taught him something. She wasn't worried about the Flying Thunder God Technique at the moment because Naruto didn't know where she was going. She just had to outrun him.
"Come on! Come on!" She whispers to herself as she bolts off towards the Sound Village.
It was such a strange sensation. It was probably her least favorite place on Earth, after her District. Despite that, she was hurtling towards it as if her life depended on it.
Maybe in a way, it did. She was trying to protect Naruto as much as herself. The Mating Bond was too deep. It was too intense. Her lovable dumb blonde might not survive it, if she died in the fight with Itachi.
"I won't let that happen though." She says to herself.
Unfortunately, she knew that was a very real possibility. Itachi had taken out their Clan single-handedly. He had only been thirteen at the time. Her brother had likely only gotten stronger since then. There was a very real chance that she might die in their final battle.
"OROCHIMARU! KABUTO!" She calls out desperately.
Kabuto hears her call and flickers over to her. She sighs in relief. She had done it. She glances back over her shoulder and was even more relieved to discover that Naruto wasn't right behind her.
"Where's Naruto?" He asks.
"I left him behind. He's likely coming after me. I need these cuffs undone." She says as she holds out her hands.
Kabuto raises an eyebrow. This was not what he expected. He would have thought that Naruto would have Marked Suki by now. It didn't make any sense that she would return alone, in chakra cuffs.
"Come inside. We'll get those cuffs off of you. You have a lot of explaining to do. I suppose we can start with why you are wearing chakra cuffs." He muses as he gestures for Suki to follow him.
Suki sighs and does so. Well it was a start. At least she'd be able to use her chakra soon. That was something.
At that same moment, Naruto was trying to follow Suki's scent in a panic. He had to find her. She was almost completely defenseless like this. If she went back to Orochimaru in that condition, he'd probably take her body.
"He wants the two of you to Mate. He wouldn't take her body before that. I imagine that he wants the two of you to sire a child together. That child would be his backup vessel." Kurama says.
"THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?!" Naruto demands incredulously.
"Not necessarily. I'm merely explaining the reality of the situation." The Nine Tails informs him.
Naruto was really tempted to strangle Kurama! He definitely wasn't making things better. He ignores the impulse though. Naruto had more important things to focus on. He had to get Suki out of there.
"Orochimaru wants us to Mate. Suki thinks that he let us escape. There's a chance, that I could just go inside." Naruto muses to himself.
The blonde ponders that possibility for a moment. He didn't know if it was true or not. At best, it was a fifty/fifty shot.
Deciding that it was better than nothing, he darts inside the Sound Village. Suki was around here somewhere. He just knew it. All he had to do was figure out where. Then he was going to drag her home. Again.
"You certainly chose yourself quite the stubborn Mate. Truly, I believe her to be even more stubborn than Madara Uchiha." Kurama muses.
"You're NOT helping! Wait. Who is Madara?" Naruto asks.
"Nevermind. Just go find your Mate and then I won't have to listen to your constant whining." Kurama says and Naruto grumbles as he darts off do exactly that.