Dark Heart of an Avenger

Golden sunlight from the warm afternoon sun drifted through the barred window of the prison, and Naruto leaned against the iron bars, blinking against it. He was secretly thankful for the warmth, because looking at the prisoner the iron held made his blood run cold.

He was watching the sick occupant of the cell toss, turn, and moan. Naruto's blue eyes had lost their mirth, his face set in stone. His jaw tightened as his teeth clenched.

The prisoner was Suigetsu.

Suigetsu had tried to poison him last night. Naruto looked away from him-this person who he had decided to label as a friend. He felt a sudden rush of nausea at the thought of Suigetsu's betrayal, and the lengths Sasuke had resorted to once he had discovered the treachery.

Naruto knew, with reluctant acceptance, that Sasuke was still the dark avenger he had always aspired to be. He would always be. Naruto could not ignore that. He had known there would always be a darkness that eclipsed his best friend, his lover. A darkness Naruto could never take away.

He thought of early that morning, and sighed, resting his forehead against the iron.

Naruto heard the footsteps, felt the pulse of the presence of chakra, before the harsh rap at the door. He jackknifed into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and leaping from bed, grabbing a pair of sweatpants that hung haphazardly on the back of a chair.

Sasuke was outside.

He skidded to a halt in the hallway when he heard the cries of outrage, the shriek from Shima. He cringed at the smell of blood. Sasuke had Suigetsu by the hair and had thrown him, unmercifully, at the feet of the toads. In the blue-gray light of early dawn, the dark blood that covered Suigetsu's face and ran down his chest looked black.

"The hell-?!" Naruto cried, coming forward, but the look in Sasuke's eyes made him pause. His eyes narrowed.

"What did you do?" he whispered, feeling sick. Sasuke's face paled in his rage, eyes burning crimson.

"Saved your ungrateful ass!" Sasuke hissed, and kicked the body on the floor when it moaned. Naruto growled, anger flooding him. Why was Sasuke doing this?

"Stop it! What the fuck is going on?" Naruto yelled, trying to curb his temper and destroy the fear that was nipping at the edge of his thoughts. He almost missed it; almost missed the look that was exchanged between Sasuke and Fukasaku. The old toad looked weary, frightened, and stunned. Sasuke looked furious beyond all words. They knew. Whatever had happened, they knew what it meant, and they were leaving him in the dark. It enraged him.

"What happened to Suigetsu?" he asked through clenched teeth.

"To bed with you, the stress isn't good for your condition." Shima urged, looking frightened and pale. Naruto shrugged her off.

"What's happening?" he asked again. Sasuke locked eyes with him.

"Go and rest, Naruto. I've taken care of it." Sasuke replied calmly. Infuriated, Naruto sliced at the air.

"The hell I will!" he shouted.

"Naruto!" Shima squeaked, eyes bulging. It was obvious she didn't trust Naruto to stay out of conflict. "Please!"

"He is your friend!" Naruto cried, disbelief coursing through him. Sasuke's nostrils flared.

"I don't need friends," Sasuke said. Naruto paused, staring at him, strangely stung.

"Never a friend," Suigetsu rasped suddenly, "He's incapable of loving anyone." Sasuke's red eyes seemed to blaze at these words, and before anyone could move, the sword swung in a fearsome arc. Shima cried out, Fukasaku yelled, but in the end, it was Naruto who brought Sasuke back to reality.

Naruto. Brave, impulsive Naruto. Sasuke blinked, mask breaking once he realized what had happened. Naruto had moved quick as lightning, and was crouched before Suigetsu, blocking the sword. Not having had enough time, he had caught the sword with his hand. Blood rushed down his arm, staining the carpet.

"Put it down, Sasuke. I said put it down! Now! You don't want to do this, Sasuke," Naruto growled. Sasuke's eyes widened, enraged. For a moment, Sasuke looked dangerous, wild, but Naruto didn't move, and Sasuke didn't do anything. Sasuke plucked the sword out of Naruto's hand, staring at the deep gash with an unreadable expression as Naruto grimaced and bent over his hand. Sasuke cursed under his breath and looked away.

Naruto thought he heard Sasuke mutter, "Why would you do that?" Naruto didn't say anything in response.

Naruto winced when Shima immediately fussed over him. The sword had sliced to the bone.

"Take care of him," Sasuke had growled at Fukasaku before leaving swiftly. Naruto had watched him until he could no longer see Sasuke's silhouette against the gray dawn.

He wondered what he had just beared witness to.

Had Sasuke gone too far?

There was no denying that Uchiha had thirsted for a little blood in his rage. If the situation had been reversed, Naruto could say he would have never resorted to such measures on a person he had come to think as a friend. He would, however, have still banged up Suigetsu pretty badly in his rage at such a betrayal.

Sasuke had refused to elaborate on what had happened. In fact, he had been away training most of the day, ignoring Naruto whenever he came to watch and(unsuccessfully) attempt to talk to him. But Naruto needed to know. He needed to discover what would have caused Sasuke to go so far, to become the dark avenger Naruto had once seen, and what Suigetsu had done to land himself in the prison.

He did not understand why no one was letting him in on the incident, and he was furious about it. Defeated, confused, and upset, Naruto had returned to the toads' cottage after trying to talk to Sasuke.

Shima had been out, foraging for Fukasaku's favorite caterpillar stew.

He had returned to find Fukasaku sitting at the table in the kitchen, brooding over a cold cup of tea. Naruto paused in the doorway. The old toad looked to be deep in thought, the wrinkles around his eyes creased deeply as his gray brows furrowed.

Naruto still remembered their conversation word for word.

"I suppose you should know," the old toad said suddenly. Naruto's head shot up, and he waited, eager for an answer.

"Suigetsu was on a mission given to him by Tsunade. He acted as a spy in exchange for amnesty and his life. The Hokage understood the position we put her in, and knew she would be unable to do anything about your…situation. It is her firm belief that the child is beyond dangerous. You must understand. She believes she is protecting you. She cares for you, and you mustn't misunderstand her intentions. Our council put her in this position. We had only hoped she wouldn't go this far."

Naruto swallowed, throat dry. Silence reigned for what felt like too long, before he finally spoke. "He was supposed to do away with it, wasn't he?" he asked, dreading the answer.

Fukasaku sipped his cold tea and grimaced before answering, "Suigetsu was to slip you an experimental drug. Tsunade had apparently done a lot of research, and she developed a drug she believed would penetrate your body's tough defenses, and the Kyuubi's. It was very potent. If it had been administered to you, I doubt you would have suffered more than bad stomach pains while losing the child. On Suigetsu, however, it completely poisoned his system, and he is dangerously ill-"

"Wait," Naruto interjected. The toad was talking fast, and he had failed to elaborate on why Suigetsu was so ill. Fukasaku had made it sound as though…as though Suigetsu had taken the drug himself. Noticing the look on Naruto's face, Fukasaku nodded.

"Sasuke caught him before he could reach you last night, and he…punished him." Naruto felt bile creep up the back of his throat at this revelation, and he swallowed again. He looked away. Fukasaku shook his head sternly.

"Don't look like that. You knew the dangers of your decision. You knew you would have friends who would prove to be otherwise in this situation. You knew that, in the end, you would make enemies!" Fukasaku said. Naruto closed his eyes.

"It's just a baby-"

"Look around you, boy! Look at what your own Hokage resorted to because of this baby. Naruto, our world is already being pulled at the seams by this war, this child only stretches the string tighter and thinner. It scares the people you fight for. The peace or respect allies have with each other will become brittle once it becomes known. So far, Tsunade has kept the information well guarded, and she's done a damn good job. I cannot imagine the type of trouble that will brew between the Leaf's allies once the secret is out. It is important, in the midst of such a war, to have those allies."

Naruto listened with growing unease. "What are you saying I should do?" he demanded. Fukasaku paused, not meeting his eyes.

"That is for you to decide. I'm only trying to warn you. It's going to get ugly. Look at what your Hokage had to resort to. I'm afraid there will be many more we cannot trust. Even worse, Madara is nowhere to be seen. His absence brings me no relief. I fear something far more sinister is at hand."

Naruto pulled a face, angry. "He is trying to breed fear and paranoia by staying out of sight! It's a fear tactic. Where else has he got to go? He has all the Tailed Beasts, save for me, and the Sanbi is gone. Without the power of the Kyuubi, and a replacement for the Sanbi, he cannot live up to his threat. He cannot reach Mount Myoboku. The passageway is impossible to find-"

"Almost impossible." Fukasaku corrected. Naruto reddened.

"Naruto, you know better than anyone. For the greater good, you must make sacrifices," Fukasaku said quietly. Naruto felt a chill creeping up his spine.

"What are you saying I should do?" he asked again, voice hoarse. Fukasaku closed his eyes like he was the weariest toad on the mountain.

"If you ever cross paths with Madara…promise me you'll make the right decision. Promise me that whatever happens, you'll see the reason behind it."

Naruto thought quickly. "What sort of secret have you and Sasuke been keeping from me?"

"If you were faced with the life of the unborn child versus the well being of our world-"

Naruto cut him off angrily. "That won't happen!" he said harshly, and he thought of Sasuke, and their conversation so many nights ago. He felt ill. From within him, the child nudged him, pushing out with tiny feet, as if sensing its parent's distress.

Fukasaku studied him.

"Perhaps not." Fukasaku conceded, and grimaced as he took another sip of cold tea. The two sat in silence for a few minutes, before Naruto sliced through it.

"You don't believe that, do you?" he accused.

"There are many things one does not believe in, but faith is of a different matter. I'm not here to tell you not to have faith."

"You're beating around the bush." Naruto growled, irritated.

"No, I think you already know, you just don't want to face it," Fukasaku retorted. Naruto inhaled an aggravated breath, nostrils flaring. He turned away.

So angry was he with the toad sage that Naruto left Fukasaku sitting solemnly at the table with a couple choice words he now wished he had not thrown the old toad's way. His wanderings had brought him to the prison, as he was flooded with memories of Sasuke once sitting in the same cell, bathed in shadow, eclipsed by a darker truth than Naruto had cared to think about. He rested his head against the rusted iron, his heart heavy.

He was forced to face reality: Sasuke and Fukasaku had concocted a plan…without Naruto's consent. Why else would the toad allude to "making the right decision" and "seeing the reason behind it" when crossing paths with Madara? Suddenly, Naruto realized how alone in keeping this child he truly was. It hit him like a brick in his gut, and he closed his eyes. Fukasaku's voice lanced through his thoughts.

Peace between the allies is brittle enough…Look what your Hokage had to resort to…Promise me you'll make the right decision.

Naruto was pushing against the current. The war was looming overhead, as ominous as a giant thundercloud spitting lightning, and the one who had created it wanted only two things: Naruto and the child. Naruto had always known the dangers, had always anticipated the fight, and had heard the doubt and fear of others in the back of his mind.

What was the purpose, then, of hiding him here, only to allow the one within him to develop and grow? Why listen to what he, Naruto, wanted instead of taking action against him and stopping it before all hell broke loose?

He knew it was because of the prophecy. The toads were afraid to go against the Great Elder's dream. The Great Elder believed the child should be born, should live, for the greater good of the world. The toads had hope. They believed that one day, the right path would be taken. Fukasaku, on the other hand, seemed to have his doubts. Unlike Tsunade, who would rather do away with the child, Fukasaku seemed to Naruto like he might be slightly more curious. It seemed the old toad was content to watch things unfurl as they should. Still…

There was a plan. There had be a plan, but what? It was almost impossible to reach the child without killing Naruto himself, and even that would prove difficult. He had known that abortion would be an incredibly risky procedure; only one medic nin was capable of succeeding, and she was long dead, her secrets buried with her. The chances of Tsunade's drug being successful, Naruto guessed, hadn't been great, but she had taken the risk anyway.

Thoughts of the Fifth gave way to fury and something melancholy that Naruto wished would go away.

Suigetsu moaned and stirred, and Naruto felt a sudden surge of anger and resentment towards him. The past three months had been peaceful. His relationship with Sasuke had blossomed, at least enough for Sasuke to sometimes divulge his inner thoughts to Naruto, which he treasured and thought to be progress. In these three months, Naruto had seen again what had captivated him about Sasuke during his genin days. He had seen Sasuke smile, seen Sasuke be gentle, been on the receiving end of Sasuke telling Naruto stories of his childhood. And then there had been Suigetsu. Naruto had thought he had made a new friend in Suigetsu, and had thought Fukasaku believed in him.

So much for faith, he thought bitterly.

"What are you doing here?"

Naruto started, surprised to hear Sasuke's low voice. His gaze swiveled over to Sasuke, and narrowed in suspicion.

"I could ask you the same thing," he retorted. Sasuke scowled, but then his face fell. If Naruto hadn't known any better, he would have said Sasuke looked embarrassed. Sheepish, even. In only way Sasuke can look sheepish, which is to say he looked pissed off.

"I was looking for you," he admitted unhappily. There was a silence as Naruto once again looked to Suigetsu.

"What are you planning, Sasuke?" he asked quietly. Sasuke's brow furrowed in question. He looked tired.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. You and Fukasaku, what are you planning to do if Madara ever shows up?" Naruto's voice rose in anger. Sasuke studied him for a moment, then turned his back to Naruto and started on his way out of this small prison.

"I'm not dealing with this right now," he said, clearly irritated. Naruto watched him go, wondering what Sasuke could be thinking, before staring after him with a curse.

Sasuke had hoped for a little peace with Naruto, had hoped for a little understanding. Some relief from the poison of his own thoughts. Sasuke was a person who didn't admit he was looking for a little affection, and he'd be damned if he was caught seeking it.

It was easier to approach Naruto and have him come forward. Naruto was always eager for a touch, a kiss, an embrace. Sometimes, it was easier to have him instigate it. Any actions after that Sasuke didn't think twice about.

Admitting vulnerability, even in such a small action such as reaching out for a person emotionally, didn't bode well with Sasuke, who had been alone for nearly four years, who hadn't been touched, who hadn't needed to feel that warmth. It was jarring. It wasn't a big deal instigating sex, but it was another matter entirely to reach out for the sake of simply feeling Naruto's warm skin against his, to feel connected.

It was frightening, most of all, admitting it.

All he had needed before was a purpose and his carefully nurtured hatred. Needing human contact with such a bright person felt like a weakness to the young man who had proven himself to be a cold, ruthless avenger; a person who defied human weaknesses for the sake of a dark purpose. Yes, not being truly touched, and not having felt such strong emotion that didn't border on something wrathful towards another person (besides Itachi) in years did a number on someone when such an opportunity finally presented itself. Especially if said person was proud at their core.

Naruto watched Sasuke walk down the hallway, and, as Sasuke predicted (or rather, had hoped) Naruto called out to him.

"Wait."

So Sasuke waited, but he didn't turn around. He kept his eyes fixed on the door ahead, his body tense. Waiting for a touch with a rapidly beating heart. His muscles slowly began to relax when he felt Naruto approach, felt a warm hand grip his shoulder gently. He finally let out a long, relaxed breath when Naruto slowly slid his arm around Sasuke's waist and pressed against his back.

Somewhere far off, a gong sounded, but neither paid it any mind. Prayers were beginning at the toad temple, he assumed.

Naruto's lips whispered across the skin on the back of his neck. Sasuke suppressed a shiver.

"Don't keep this from me. Not from me," Naruto whispered. It was a vain attempt. Sasuke sighed, and gently removed Naruto's hands.

"Don't," he said gruffly. He noticed how still Naruto had become; he could imagine the dark, angry eyes. With a bit of a jolt, Sasuke realized he was keeping Naruto at bay, distancing himself, making it harder to connect.

He turned, meeting Naruto's eyes, not sure what to say, and terribly irritated about it (he thought of just walking away and avoiding it altogether), when Naruto took his hand with a grim determination. Sasuke swallowed as his fingers were splayed against the still taut and firm stomach. It angered him. What was Naruto trying to pull?

"Wait," Naruto ordered. So Sasuke waited, unsure of why he was cooperating, when he felt it: the slightest of nudges, the unmistakable evidence of life. Sasuke snatched his hand away.

"Don't," Sasuke repeated, mouth dry. He stopped himself from thinking past that: don't. Naruto looked fierce.

"This is what happened, Sasuke. You can't keep avoiding it, just like you can't keep avoiding me. Now tell me, what is your plan?" Naruto' voice was rough, demanding, edged with emotion. There was a tense silence.

Sasuke couldn't remember the last time he'd needed to reach out to Naruto so badly, than in that moment.

"Naruto-" He began, reaching out, but stopped suddenly. Naruto had frozen as well. There was a rumble in the ground that seemed to make the very air shiver. A loud boom that rattled the earth.

Sasuke flew towards Naruto, grabbing his hand. The normally warm, soft hand, Sasuke noted, had suddenly turned cold and clammy.

It had happened.