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 43

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Sasuke growled as he shoved the brunette out of the way, charcoal eyes burning red with rage. "This isn't your fight, Sai!"

"You don't think I have a reason for wanting him dead?!" Sai glared back at him as he straightened, readying himself to join the fight once more.

He and Sasuke had been launching attack after attack at the Uchiha, but for some reason Sasuke's hostility had drifted over to Sai as well. He couldn't understand what the raven's problem was. Naruto is his friend too. He just wants to support him, to kill the man who had tormented him. He wants the same thing that Sasuke does- so why is he so insistent that he stay out of it?

And Sasuke just helped me out against all of those reincarnated Akatsuki followers- how is this any different?

"I will be the one to kill Itachi," Sasuke snarled. "Do not get in my way!"

"He has to die now!" Sai yelled.

"What the hell do you think I'm doing?!!" Sasuke shouted back.

Itachi smirked, inching back towards the bed. Let them fight it out amongst themselves, he thought, a sly look flickering in his eyes. I have better things to do.

"And where the fuck do you think you're going?!" Sasuke snapped, shifting in front of Itachi, once more blocking his access to the bed and the blonde hiding behind it.

Sai came up and took a stance behind Itachi, trapping him between the two of them. The eldest Uchiha didn't seem concerned, in fact- he simply looked amused by their efforts.

"How touching.." he muttered, practically purring. His eyes slid behind Sasuke, seeking out a certain blonde that he was still craving terribly.

"So many men, so eager to be by your bed", he taunted his hidden prey. "You sure do get around, don't you Naruto?"

Naruto flinched, his body curled up, pressed tight against the corner of the bed, out of sight. He couldn't stand how weak and pathetic he was. He felt like a coward, like his victim.

He hated it.

And yet..

He couldn't get his legs to cooperate when he told them to stand. Couldn't get his hands to stop trembling enough to get a solid grip on the kunai.

He was stuck. And they all knew it.

Especially Itachi.

It was clear that he was looking for any chance he could get to make his way over to him, while Naruto was still vulnerable. Still like.. this.

Itachi stepped to the side quickly, still fighting for a glimpse, hungry for a taste, but Sasuke continued to stand in his way.

"Dammit- just die already!!" Sasuke screamed. He suddenly leapt forward and, despite his insistence that he shouldn't, Sai joined him.

Which pissed the raven off even more.

Sasuke didn't want Sai's help with this. With saving Naruto, with defeating Itachi and finally killing him for good- he wanted to handle those things personally. Because it was personal.

His fucking brother raped the person he's in love with- it really can't get more personal than that.

Sasuke wanted to be the one to destroy the monster, to get vengeance for the horrid things he did, but he needed to be the one to actually save Naruto.

He had let him down so many times- left him, betrayed him, attacked him. He needed Naruto to see the kind of man he was now, because he's not the same fucking moron who hurt him in the past. He wanted a chance to show him that he's someone the blonde can depend on- someone strong enough to keep him safe, to protect him.. to avenge him. Someone worthy of.. well.. his love.

He didn't want to give that up to Sai.

So yeah, he was pissed. And maybe it was petty and stupid, but he couldn't help it. Not when he knew that Naruto was right behind him, terrified and counting on him. Not after.. not after seeing him like that. Strapped to a bed, screaming while Itachi thrust against him, trying to force his way into..

Sasuke's eyes burned, and he had to blink through the hot tears, forcing them back. I will be the one to kill him.

They closed in, forcing Itachi back against a wall, giving him as little room as possible to form any kind of counter attack. When he shifted out of view, Sasuke was easily able to track him with his sharingan- a byproduct of Itachi's initial goal to make Sasuke the absolute strongest he could be. Someone who could recreate the Uchiha clan, leaving behind corpses of all who meant to stop him, and an utter path of destruction as payment for Konoha's betrayal.

Sai and Sasuke managed to corner him again, and for a moment Sasuke thought they had him, but Itachi forced them back. He moved away from the wall, a cruel smile stretching, when suddenly he paused.

Itachi shot his head over to the side and his grin widened. Sasuke followed his gaze and saw Naruto, slowly rising to his feet, his hands shaking, struggling to hold onto the kunai in his grasp.

"Naruto," Itachi breathed, his voice low and husky, "I was hoping you'd show up." His eyes gleamed with excitement as he scanned the blonde's body.

It was sickening.

"Naruto, what are you-" Sasuke started, taking a step towards him. He could see out of the corner of his eye that Sai was doing the same thing.

Naruto's fearful eyes shot over to Sasuke. He opened his mouth to speak, and a horrible wet, gurgling sound came out.

Sasuke's blood ran cold, terror seizing him, until he realized that the sound wasn't coming from Naruto. Sasuke jerked his head to the side, and his eyes widened. Naruto stood behind Itachi, his fist clenched in the raven's hair, forcing his head back. Itachi's eyes were huge, staring back at Sasuke with absolute disbelief. Blood filled his mouth, falling from parted lips, along with that horrific gurgling sound as he tried to speak.

Sasuke looked up for his brother's stricken face to Naruto's golden eyes. They were lined in orange and filled with hate. Sage Mode. The blonde kept them locked on Itachi's face as he jerked the kunai he had lodged in his back roughly to the side. Itachi gasped, blood sputtering out in thick clumps.

"Still happy to see me?" Naruto whispered. He tore the kunai out of Itachi's collapsing lung then swiftly forced it into the other one, sinking it down to the base.

Itachi's gaze slid over to Naruto's shadow clone, watching as his fake trembling suddenly stopped. The weak, helpless looking persona slipped away, and his face hardened.

He glared at Itachi, and threw the kunai into the ground. It pierced deep into the rock with a sharp thud, the sound echoing around the cell. The Uchiha watched as Naruto's clone slowly lifted his hand and pressed his thumb firmly against his own throat. He dragged it straight across his neck.

And, with one final look of utmost hate, he disappeared.

Then the real Naruto forced his kunai's sharp edge against Itachi's throat, and delivered on his clone's promise.

Author Note:

Sage Naruto is my absolute favorite.

So fucking bad ass.

Anywho~ I'm sorry for the short chapter. I saw a place where I could end it dramatically and I had to. I just had to. Hopefully it was worded suspenseful enough- I rewrote a couple times trying to give it that extra ness. So, fingers crossed that it worked! :)