Target
Ch. 13- Realizations
A/N: No beta you guys, so it's gonna be a rough one. Sorry for the late update. I had...things going on. Those who pm me know what's up :P
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo
oOo CURRENTLY UN-BETA'D so prepare for everything wrong oOo
xXx
Sasuke twitched as Ten Ten was digging around his arm, muttering something about electric motors.
"Alright, I'm doing a small test on your fingers. See if you can lay your hand out flat." She ordered, looking up at him.
Sasuke was mildly bothered by her closeness. He always kept a certain distance between himself and other people; her proximity was unwelcome. Complying like the good little boy he was, he forced his metal phalanges into the table palm up, using a bit more force than usual. The sensations coming from it were muddled, as if he were wearing a glove and it was a bit harder to get the arm to respond. It perturbed him since he was used to the clear cut sensations from the artificial proprioceptors his hand was fixed with. It took a bit more concentration to analyze what was in his hand and determine what he was touching without visual confirmation.
"Okay, let's see…" She hummed as he began tampering inside the endoskeleton that created his arm's synthetic bone structure. She stared at his hand as she tweaked something.
A metal finger curled up, the joints moving accordingly. One by one, she forced his hand into a fist that clinked as it shifted. She frowned when his thumb remained unresponsive. "That's not good." Scratching her head, she pulled out a pad from her patent black bag and a blue pen from behind her ear. She began scribbling furiously, sketching Sasuke's arm out and drawing diagrams. As Ten Ten was lost in her own world, Sasuke peeked into his own limb curiously, grateful that she had drifted away, giving him his space.
As a complicated mass of metal, wires, and tiny machines met his gaze, he was impressed. Although he was the one using the arm daily, he rarely looked inside. Granted, he never had a reason too, but it was impressive nonetheless. He experimentally moved his fingers, watching as tiny gears and complex machines followed his command. Obsidian eyes narrowed when he spotted the scratches Hidan's scythe blade had done inside, almost ripping the machinery to shreds. He'd been lucky.
"If the damage sustained was here, what else would be affected? Hmm, it could be that…" Ten Ten broke off as her words became garbled by the pen she was now chewing on.
"How's the arm?"
Sasuke glanced up to see Iruka walking in, a cup of steaming joe in his hands. The man had on his police attire, complete with his cop hat askew. Sasuke tilted his head in a greeting. "I can move it now." He offered, he himself not knowing what was wrong.
Ten Ten snorted beside him. "Move it, he says." She muttered, retreating back into her thoughts before either could question her.
"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked, peering around for a mop of blond. He hadn't seen his protégé since he'd left him black and blue on the mat in the gym last evening. After their first lesson, Sasuke retired to his room, feeling the lack of sleep hit him hard. He suspected Naruto would be hurting after the lessons, but it didn't matter. Sore or not, they were due for another lesson soon.
Sasuke paused in his reverie. It wouldn't do any good to force Naruto's body to go beyond what it could. He knew very well the toll the training could take and if he pushed hard enough, it would be detrimental rather than helpful. Should they focus on something else later?
Iruka sipped his coffee, savoring the bitter flavor and the caffeine that seeped into his body. "I haven't seen him yet. He might be sleeping." Iruka sighed and scrutinized his watch after a few more sips. "I should get going. Don't kill him." He joked, sending Sasuke a stern look.
Leaving the raven and brunette alone, he walked into the kitchen to find his grey-haired lover eating a simple breakfast. Kakashi was sitting in the head chair of the rectangular dinner table, typing away on a thin laptop.
"Hey, I'm leaving now." Iruka announced, getting Kakashi's attention. "Will you be in the office today?
Kakashi shook his head, biting into a biscuit as his eyes never left the screen. "I'm staying behind to keep an eye on Sasuke and Naruto. I have a feeling Sasuke might take his hand as a teacher too far, so I'm a bit worried for the kid." He mumbled, swallowing. Typing a few more things, he dusted his fingers up and stood, turning to face the police commander.
Iruka nodded. "I was a bit worried myself. You were Sasuke's mentor before, so God knows how hard he'll go on Naruto."
Striding over to his lover, Kakashi gently pushed Iruka up against the counter and planted his hands on either side of the brunette's hips, essentially trapping him in. He nudged Iruka's nose with his own playfully. "But, I have a feeling Naruto isn't as breakable as we think he is."
The police commander leaned away from the taller man, awkwardly taking a sip of his coffee. "Maybe, but he's still human. We all have our limits."
Kakashi swooped in and licked a few drops of the brown liquid off Iruka's lips before delving in for a deep kiss. He pulled back after a few seconds, the bitter taste of coffee in his mouth. "True. I'll keep an eye on the kids, love." He purred, smiling as Iruka leaned in for another kiss.
Iruka impishly bit down on Kakashi's bottom lip before soothing the bite with a lick. With a light pop, their lips separated and Iruka hummed contently. "You better. I've had enough bodies pilling up to last me a lifetime."
xXx
Everything hurt on a level he had never experience before. He was on a wild roller coaster of pain that was crashing into a sea of agony. Hell, even breathing hurt. He inhaled, and his chest and stomach protested. He exhaled, and his back and sides cried out.
Forcing himself to move, Naruto lifted his head up off the mattress and nearly whimpered as his entire body decided to sing out his aches. Moving gingerly, he pulled the sheets of his head and winced as bright sunlight invaded his sight. How long had he been asleep? After Sasuke had left him alone, he had begun doing a moderate amount of exercise. He knew he wasn't in the best shape to suddenly be turned into a lethal weapon, so he might as well begin working on building up his own strength. It was obvious Sasuke wasn't going easy on him, nor had he expected the man too. Although, it had surprised him how meditative working out was.
Once Sasuke left, he also took away what was keeping Naruto from focusing on Kiba. Yes he was using Kiba's death as a motive to get stronger, but along with the determination, the memories brought regret, despair, guilt, sorrow, fear. With Sasuke there, he had a physical reason to focus on what was happening immediately, to avoid being hit. It kept him from remembering the exact moment when he realized Kiba was gone and had comprehended what happened. Without the raven there, he found it better to focus on his body, to feel every muscle twitch and move under his command, under his control. Naruto had to force himself to think of other things, and physical activity proved to be the best solution. He started off with a set of push-ups, remembering gym class in high school. After a sufficient amount, he moved on to sit-ups and so forth. He almost relished the burn, feeling as if the more it hurt, the closer he was to becoming an asset to Sasuke, and a threat to the Akatsuki. The more he pushed, the better he would be.
Feeling his arms tremble as he pushed his torso off the bed, Naruto ever so slowly sat up. His legs almost refused to listen as he sat back on them, facing his pillow. Spots of dried drool marked his pillows, creating dark patches on the pillowcase. Glancing down at his hands, he turned them over and noted the black and purple marks littering them. Some were a tad yellow and others had a red hue. Most were from blocking Sasuke's attacks, and others were from his own clumsiness. On the bright side, he was learning to fight, albeit slowly, but it was better than nothing. Sliding out of bed, he recalled everything Sasuke told him, trying to keep them permanently in his mind. He had a feeling the raven would be building on what they did yesterday, so he needed to make sure he got everything.
Inevitably, he remembered thinking of Sasuke, specifically, Sasuke's body. Just seeing how incredibly agile and flexible the man was left him feeling off balance and strangely longing. The urge to touch the other man had been in the back of his mind since Sasuke had demonstrated his own fighting style. It was odd to think that he wanted to touch him. Sure he was impressed by his skills and intelligence, but yesterday had added a whole 'nother level. Sasuke was beautiful.
It wasn't in the way the girls he'd see in the ramen shop were beautiful, but something more subtle, more exciting. It made him want to jump up and start another lesson immediately, despite how much is body hurt. It made him want Sasuke to fight him again.
He delicately crawled off the bed, grunting with the effort. Once he was on his own two feet, he dragged himself to the door, peeking out to see if anyone was around. He needed a shower, bad.
"Awake, are you?"
Freezing, Naruto twisted around to see Kakashi heading up the stairs. The taller man had a laptop tucked under his arm and was eating something. Reaching the last step, he walked towards the blond, stopping a few feet away.
"I uh, I was wondering where the bathroom was." Naruto explained, biting back a yelp of pain as his body moved too quickly.
Using the hand that was holding onto what looked like a biscuit, Kakashi pointed down the hall. "It's down there. There should be some spare sweats in the closet, so you can put those on. Leave the dirty ones in the hamper and come downstairs for some breakfast. If you're not up for anything we have, feel free to make something." Kakashi offered easily.
Naruto nodded gratefully. He moved further into the hallway as Kakashi walked away. He half-heartedly raised his hand, wanting to stop Kakashi but at the same time, wanting the man to leave him alone. There was something about Kakashi that confused him and left him wary. Naruto had no legitimate reason to think of the man who had done nothing but be kind to him in negative way, but he couldn't help it. Kakashi gave off the same kind of vibes as Sasuke, but while Sasuke's were mostly cold and abrasive, Kakashi's were different. His lacked an obvious icy exterior and gave off something…unsettling.
Nevertheless, the man was offering his house and protection, which was more than Naruto knew he deserved. "Hey, I wanted to thank you. For doing this and keeping me here." Naruto began, clearing his throat and licking his lips nervously. Sasuke had made it blatantly obvious that anyone around him was in danger, so he could at least be thankful for what they were doing. "I know I haven't exactly warranted your help, but I'm determined to make it up and make myself worthy of it. I know you and Iruka are in danger because of me and I hate that you are, but I'm very grateful for what you've done." He bowed his head a little, feeling somewhat ashamed of having abused their hospitality. Maybe once the whole deal with the Akatsuki was over, he could make it up to them.
He looked up in surprise when he heard deep laughter.
Kakashi stood still and shook his head ruefully. He had to admit, he liked the kid. He somewhat reminded him of a certain brunette back in the day. "No problem. Just don't try to pull the shit you did last night and we're good." Kakashi grinned at the shock on Naruto's face. "You and Sasuke weren't exactly quiet, you know. If you really want to make this up to Iruka and I, you will stick to your guns and go through with this. No bowing out, no getting cold feet and trying to run."
Naruto shook his head rapidly. "Not anymore. I'm staying." He vowed, meeting Kakashi's odd eyes. "I swear."
"I'll hold you to it." Kakashi said with a nod of his head. The taller man glanced to the side, his eyebrows mashed together in a pensive look. "Maybe Sasuke'll even learn something this time." Offering no further words the silver-haired man left, trudging down the corridor and entering another hallway.
Naruto watched him go, slightly confused. What would Sasuke have to learn from him? If anything, he'd be the one learning, not Sasuke. Not bothering to give the idea much though, he let it go and he slunk towards the bathroom, holding back grunts and groans. Once inside, he stripped slowly and gazed at his body in the mirror above the sink. While his face remained pretty much untouched, his torso looked like a Jackson Pollock painting. Bruises and scratches covered his chest and dotted his arms. Reaching up, he traced a few of the marks. With the exception of a few, he wasn't sure how he got a majority of them; those he did remember, he'd rather not recall. Grimacing as his fingers brushed a particularly nasty spot above his bellybutton, Naruto suddenly remembered how unmarked Sasuke's own chest was. Ignoring of course the injured arm and healing wound on his chest, Sasuke appeared to be ethereal.
The way he moved and fought was better than anything he'd ever even watched on TV or could imagine. He wondered who had taught Sasuke. His money was on Kakashi, since Sasuke was his employee. He and Sasuke were both on the same boat, using revenge as fuel to change. Could he ever get on Sasuke's level? Just how far would they go? What would happen after? Would he and Sasuke just part ways, never to see each other again?
The thought of never seeing Sasuke again made him frown deeply. Naruto chalked it up to being so used to the raven. He could admit in a Stockholm Syndrom-ish way that he'd gotten attached to the bastard and would more than likely miss him. They'd spent so much time together and now they were partners in a weird way. It would be sad to think their lives wouldn't cross.
His lips pressing into a thin line, Naruto strode over to the stall and got in, closing the glass door. Admiring the mosaic tile that made up the stall's walls, Naruto fiddled with the tabs until steamy hot water spurted out of the shower nozzle. Sighing in ecstasy as the heat soothed his aches, Naruto let his head hang down tiredly. Suppose he offered to keep in touch? Would Sasuke be willing to correspond? He didn't want to cut off all ties with him, or even with Iruka and Kakashi. They were nice people who were willing to help him when he had fucked up.
It scared him a little to think that he'd be all alone once this was over. Sure he had been semi-alone in the past, but he'd had a steady middle lower income job, a nice home, and a few people he could call friends. Now he had none of that. He'd be completely alone, with all his old plans for life lying in shreds around his feet. He was even more scared of everything ending up worth nothing. Sure, he'd been in a low place, but what about the others, those who had helped him?
Gnawing on his lower lip, Naruto forced the thoughts away. It would do no good to worry about that now. He had much bigger things to deal with at the moment.
xXx
Following Sasuke back down to the gym, Naruto was surprised when they bypassed the spot where they had been yesterday and walked into a large side room. This room had a smaller ceiling but had the same length as the gym. Upon entering the new location, 5 grey walls stood parallel to each other, each numbered. Perpendicular to the walls, small counters were inside each space, with a set of protective headphones and protective eyewear.
Along the back wall were hanging sheets of paper with black silhouettes adorning them. Some were riddled with holes while others were untouched. Lines bisected the floor, indicating how many feet were between the walls and the sheets of paper.
"You're starting off with the closest setting. If you improve, I'll move it back. If not, you'll keep going until is say stop." Sasuke spoke up, drawing Naruto's attention. He handed the blond an empty hand gun, holding the clip in his hand. He reached over to a switch on the counter and flipped it. One of the ragged targets began whirring over to them, tilting with the momentum. Once it reached them, Sasuke changed the paper and sent it to 10 feet.
He moved into the next space and repeated the process with another target, setting it at the same distance. While he didn't need it, it would make Naruto unconsciously try to increase his own skill. Sasuke knew that by drawing attention to the differences in skill, it would force Naruto to try and compete and get better, thus cutting the time they'd be wasting.
Naruto fingered the gun nervously, running his finger along the grooves and on the rough handle. The last time he'd held one in his hand, he had tried to kill. And the time before that, he succeeded. He didn't feel confident with it in his hand. It felt heavy and awkward. Setting it down with a distasteful look on his face, he picked up the headphones and the glassed, slipping them on.
"Here. Don't fire in succession. Give it a few seconds before firing again. Keep your shoulders steady and prepare for the recoil. Don't close your eyes." Sasuke ordered off, grabbing the gun and loading it. He flipped off the safety tab and handed it to the blond, keeping the barrel pointed down range. "Give it a light tug to shoot and align the front sight with the rear sight." Stepping back into his section, Sasuke geared up and picked up his own weapon. Eyeing his target and getting into a basic stance, he waited for Naruto to begin.
Nervously, Naruto held the gun up, pointing it at the target and tried to follow what Sasuke said. He took a deep breath and focused, ignoring his surroundings. Azure eyes singled in on the target. His heart beginning to pick up speed, he pulled the trigger as Sasuke told him. The weapon jerked in his grasp but held fast. He saw the paper shudder with the impact. A little bit excited, he fired again, forgetting Sasuke's warning. A few more tugs and the gun was clicking empty. Eager, Naruto waited for Sasuke to finish his own round off.
Once Sasuke signaled that he was done, Naruto flipped the switch, frowning as his paper came closer. Most of the shots weren't even on the body, but on the surrounding white portion. Dismayed, he peeked over at Sasuke and smirked. There was only one ragged hole on his, right at the target's neck. His smirk quickly vanished as he realized that meant each shot had gone right through the same spot. Sasuke's skills were impeccable.
The raven eyed Naruto's work critically. With a slight shake of his head, he changed the target and sent it back. "Keep going." He ordered, standing off to the side as Naruto prepared to shoot again. Before the blond could even fire off a shot, Sasuke stopped him. "Your stance is off so your equilibrium is off." The taller noticed, stepping up to Naruto. He reached up and adjusted Naruto's arms, placing them higher up.
Naruto tensed up at the touch, very aware of how close Sasuke was. Praying that Sasuke wouldn't notice, he swallowed heavily and focused, pretending it was the gun that was making him nervous. As Sasuke didn't say anything, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as the other man stepped back, allowing more space between them.
xXx
Naruto frowned as he looked over his latest shots. Since they had started, his target hadn't been moved and he still hadn't gotten better. He did make the tiniest improvement on keeping the shots within a certain area, but it wasn't anything to be proud off. The majority of his attempts ended hitting outside the silhouette and decorating the white border. Naruto didn't even bother looking over at Sasuke's work. It hammered home how badly he was doing every time he looked.
Sasuke looked over at Naruto's handiwork, expecting to see absolutely no improvement and wasn't surprised. He stopped expecting it at the seventh retry. It was becoming blatantly clear that Naruto had gotten lucky that time when he'd shot and killed the man. While he had the beginnings of good eye coordination, it ultimately didn't matter. His aim was terrible and no matter how much instruction Sasuke taught him, it didn't do any good.
The disappointment on Naruto's face told him that the blond knew and felt the same way. Working with a gun wasn't his style. A bit at a loss of how to proceed, Sasuke silently held his hand out for the weapon.
Cringing as Sasuke once again critiqued his shots, Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, ignoring the ache of his limbs. At least it wasn't persisting; it seemed like the soreness was slowly going away. Feeling vulnerable and inadequate, Naruto handed the gun to Sasuke as the raven put out a pale palm. He was surprised when Sasuke put the weapon away rather than change the clip.
"Are we trying a different gun?" He asked, looking around. Maybe if they'd change things up, he'd do better. But something told him it would give the same results. He tugged off the safety gear and set it down on the counter.
"There's no point. You're fucking terrible at this." Sasuke said critically. "No matter what I've told you to do, it's useless. There's no point in spending valuable time in teaching you something you can't do." He pointed to the door they originally came through. "Go back to the gym and get warmed up. I'll be there shortly."
Complacently, Naruto followed Sasuke's orders. The raven had a point that he wasn't a good shot, but damn if it didn't sting. He could admit he was trying to show Sasuke he was worth teaching and to fail so miserably hurt. Like he wasn't good enough and wouldn't be. Sighing and refusing to dwell on the negative thoughts, he left the room and went out to the mat they used the other days and began to stretch. He could hear sounds of movement in the other room, but Sasuke didn't appear.
Naruto tugged off his t-shirt and neatly folded it as he had seen Sasuke do before they started the other day. Kicking off his shoes, he placed them next to the shirt. Alone, he took the time to stand still and take in his surroundings. He hadn't had a chance to really look around and explore the gym. He wasn't restricted to just the matted area, but he found it weird to go exploring a house that wasn't his. He caught his own gaze in the wall covered by a single mirror. He looked worse for wear, still dotted with bruises. He had seen most of them in the bathroom in the morning, but now he had a full body view. The marks didn't look that bad anymore, just painful. Poking a few of them confirmed the aches.
Slowly, watching himself in the reflection, he tried to emulate Sasuke's movements. Without the raven's watchful and strict eye, he felt a bit more confident to try it out. It proved hard since his body wasn't cooperating with him and he lacked that fluidity that Sasuke seemed to ooze. His limbs moved jerkily and strained when moved in ways they weren't used to. Rather than a wave of smooth moves, he was storm of edges and sharp turns. Sasuke embodied everything he was not. They were even opposites, with Sasuke's inky hair and his own sunshine blond. His need to expression emotions vividly and Sasuke's seemingly lack of. Sasuke's incredibly pale, creamy skin and his tan one. Soft and beautiful to the touch… Ivory hands gripping his own, forcing him down on the mats as sweaty skin made contact and-
Naruto's legs faltered and he fell on his ass, startled out of his own thoughts. What the hell had he been thinking? His heart beating strangely fast, Naruto realized what he had been thinking of. A lethal smirk and deep voice purred into his mind, speaking words he knew Sasuke had never spoken to him. Naruto froze as a familiar red burned his face and ears. Staring at his own reflection in shock, he ignored his awkward position as he had a mind-blowing epiphany. Did he find Sasuke attractive? Did he have t-thing for Sasuke?! Sasuke!
His blush in the reflection darkened and confirmed his theory. Holy hell, what the fuck? He yelled internally, in shock. Nononono, he couldn't like Sasuke! Of all people, why him?! It couldn't be, he just had a fucking fever from being a human punching bag the other day. His body was just having an off day and was not currently getting excited to the thought of Sasuke joining him on the mats. When the fuck has this happened?
"What are you doing?
Rocketing to his feet, Naruto's heart nearly burst from the surprise. He whirled around to see Sasuke staring back at him, the same mask as always hiding his thoughts.
"Stretching." Naruto answered quickly. "You said I should and I did." He stammered, suddenly fearful of Sasuke magically developing the ability to read minds and seeing what he had been doing and thinking. His heart beat a strange rhythm in his chest, making his stomach flip.
"Hn."
Sasuke stared at Naruto, noting how tense he was. Writing it off as something useless, Sasuke tightened his brace, keeping his arm right up against his chest and out of harm's way.
"We're repeating yesterday's lessons, with an additional emphasis on blocking. Remember what I told you to watch and show me what you've learn.
Naruto swallowed hard and nodded, vainly trying to forget his revelation. He was pretty damn sure he'd be dead if Sasuke found out. It was better to pretend nothing had changed and that he didn't realize how deep Sasuke's eyes were. He waited for Sasuke to give the signal before he launched into a flurry of movements that he recalled from the previous lesson. Ignoring the ache of his limbs, Naruto stumbled when he realized just how aware he was of Sasuke's body moving next to his. The skin that Sasuke seemed to brush against felt hyper sensitive, tingling when contact was made.
Distracted, he barely blocked a pale fist making a beeline for his stomach and backed up, using his knee to keep Sasuke's from snapping into his leg. Finding an open space in the raven's defense, Naruto ducked to the side and managed to skim Sasuke's side, unconsciously memorizing the feeling of his palm sliding against the other's skin.
Sasuke quickly twisted and jammed an elbow into Naruto back, sending him to his knees. The blond rolled with the hit and tried to get to his feet, but Sasuke moved in grabbed one of his arms contorting it into an awkward shape. The corner of Sasuke's mouth twitched. It was almost impressive. Naruto had actually retained what they went over. He had figured they would make two steps forward and one back every day, but it was surprising how much progress Naruto had made. It was obvious that while Naruto had no skill with a gun, his forte was in physical fighting.
Despite the improvement, he was noticing something odd about the blond. Naruto was getting touchy and was increasingly disassociating with their fighting. It hadn't been apparent, but he was definitely sure about it now. Instead of simple touch and go hits, Naruto was allowing his strikes to last longer, creating more contact. He also seemed distracted, with his mind elsewhere. It wasn't necessarily bad, but it could easily be turned against him. Sasuke frowned, realizing something else. Why wasn't he as bothered by this contact as he was when Ten Ten was just near him? Even with Kakashi or Iruka, he always allowed a certain distance between them and him, but with Naruto, those parameters seemed to have change. An unwanted and unexpected change.
"Ow!" Naruto cried out as Sasuke's grip worsened briefly before it let up.
Sasuke snorted, giving Naruto room to move. "You could have easily gotten out if you had used your lower body to counter my move and gain the upper hand by knocking me down. Concentrate, you're getting distracted." Sasuke wiped at the back of his neck, feeling a bit sore. "You're also taking longer move away from a hit, which in itself isn't wrong, but can be used against you. Keep contact brief." Deep obsidian met pitless azure in a searching gaze.
Naruto looked away and sat up, nursing his arm. "Sorry." He grunted, his face reddening. He just kept having the urge to touch and had indulged himself. Feeling as if Sasuke's eyes were boring into his soul, he got to his feet and got into a defensive stance. He had to hide it, force it away. Sasuke could never find out and he wouldn't tell. He'd take it to the grave. Something told him Sasuke wouldn't take kindly to it.
Sasuke shook his head, the inky strands that weren't stuck to his forehead spiking up. "We're finishing a bit early today because I have to go somewhere. You're to stay here with Kakashi. I'll see you tomorrow." Giving no other explanation, Sasuke walked off, leaving Naruto confused and alone.
"Where are you going?" Naruto called out on a whim.
"Tch."
Watching him go, Naruto turned to his own reflection again and spoke once he was dead certain he was completely alone. "I like Sasuke." He whispered aloud, a bit terrified. His eyes were wide open and broadcasted his curiosity, fear, confusion, and excitement. They created a tidal wave of emotions in his mind that he had no way of dealing with. It was completely wrong and stupid, but he didn't make a habit of lying to himself. He was physically attracted to the man that could and would kill him. There had been nothing between them but hatred and fighting, but here he was, having to force himself to stop thinking about the raven in that way. Where did things get so fucked up? When had his messed up mind unconsciously gone from hating and dislike to attraction and liking?
It didn't bother him that he liked another male- he had developed a crush on Kiba that had been immediately squashed when he'd met Hinata. He also liked girls, so he knew he swung both ways and was cool about it. What made this situation all the more worse was the fact that he was attracted to Sasuke. Not only that, but that his best friend had just died and he had just sworn his life to vengeance, and now he was wanting do the dirty with Sasuke. It was wrong on so many levels, he was sure was going to hell.
"I can't….I can't let him know." If Sasuke found out, he'd be dead. Or, Sasuke would tell him everything was off and that Naruto was on his own. It seemed drastic for such a truly small thing, but he didn't know how he'd react and that lack of knowledge worried him. He didn't picture Sasuke as having a girlfriend or boyfriend, meaning the raven was asexual for all he knew. But that didn't have any real sustenance, so it was unfounded. Besides, after everything they'd been through, he doubted Sasuke would even slightly contemplate being in a relationship should the question ever come up.
"It's easy. I'll just pretend that everything is normal and that I am in no way attracted to Sasuke, and it'll go away." He tried to say confidently, noting the lack of determination in his tone. It'll work…right?
xXx
"Hey Iruka, who taught you to defend yourself in a fight?" Naruto suddenly asked, surprising the brunette that was quietly reading a book after getting home from the station. Naruto fidgeted in his seat on the sofa, breaking down and finally asking the cop the question that was cooking in his mind for a while.
Iruka set the book down in his lap with the pages facing down. He eyed the blond curiously, but answered. "I was taught in the academy, along with all the other trainees. We had to be able to fight back should the need arise." Feeling as though Naruto wasn't finished, Iruka closed the book completely, marking the corner to remember his page. "Is there something on your mind?" He asked easily, appearing friendly.
Naruto hummed as he stalled. There was something about Iruka that just screamed "father figure" and felt the urge to talk to him. The cop was more approachable than Kakashi was. The silver-haired man gave off confusing vibes and seemed eccentric. "Well earlier today, Sasuke was trying to teach me to fire a gun, but it turns out I suck at it. But when we fight in the gym, I'm much better at it. Better, but not where I want to be. I was wondering if you could, um…maybe you could-"
"Teach you what I know?" Iruka filled in, cocking an eyebrow. "Give you some pointers?"
Naruto nodded emphatically. "If you don't mind, I mean."
Iruka tilted is head as he contemplated the request. He slyly looked at the kid through his peripherals, taking in what he looked like. It was challenge to think that this blond haired kid was the same as the one that he'd brought in just a few days ago. Gone was the nihilistic and almost suicidal demeanor; it had been replaced by determination and purpose. He had to give props to Sasuke for being able to draw Naruto out from the shell he was building and forcing himself into as he blamed the death of his friend on himself. The shouting match had proven to be an excellent motivator.
"Tell you what, I'll give you some pointers if you really want me to. I did help Sasuke learn his own defensive style, and I see no reason why I can't do the same for you." Iruka smiled warmly, noting suspiciously how Naruto's eyes lit up at the prospect. The brunette figured that the excitement that Naruto displayed couldn't truly be explained by a burning need to avenge his friend. Perhaps there was an underlying reason?
"You taught Sasuke to fight?" Naruto asked incredulously, his eyes widening as he looked over the cop. Sure Iruka looked impressive and foreboding in uniform, but he couldn't imagine him teaching the raven to fight. Iruka looked too….nice.
"Taught him defense." Iruka corrected a little indignantly, insulted that Naruto was so surprised. "And yes, I was his teacher for a short period."
"Then who taught him?" Naruto asked, having a feeling he knew who. It was pretty obvious.
"Kakashi did. Everything Sasuke knows, he got it straight from Kakashi. He might be who you want to ask for help. He taught Sasuke from the ground up, similarly to how Sasuke is teaching you."
"Oh." Naruto said lamely as he pictured the imposing man teaching Sasuke. It was easier to imagine than Iruka working with the raven.
"Do you want to start now? I assume you want to impress Sasuke as soon as possible…?" Iruka grinned, pushing off to sofa to stretch a bit.
"Impress?" Naruto blanched, turning scarlet. Was it that obvious? "N-no, I just want to make something of myself and stop depending on everyone else." He stammered out, half telling the truth and half lying.
"If you say so." Iruka responded, clearly not believing him but not wanting to intrude on the meager amount of privacy Naruto had.
xXx
"Alright, so." Iruka began by changing out of his uniform into some comfortable clothes. Wearing a light cotton T-shirt with grey joggers, he stretched for a few minutes, motioning for Naruto to do the same. "The first thing you need to know is to watch and recognize patterns in a person's actions. Those who are experienced in fights know to keep their arms close to their body for quick defense and to protect the trunk. Those who aren't fluent are more likely to have exploitable weaknesses that are easy to spot."
The brunette demonstrated by bringing his hands up and curling them into fists at his eye level. "This is a defense used by boxers." He ducked his face down, moving swiftly and throwing a few light punches. "It protects your face, while allowing for quick retaliation and lets you be mobile."
Naruto imitated him as he adopted the move, cataloging it away. It seemed easy enough.
Iruka shook his head walked over to the blond. He tapped Naruto's foot with his own. "You need to focus on the entire body, not just my torso. Your feet are planted in the ground, allowing me to easy get you off balance. Keep it in mind, being fast and agile on your feet is important. Don't dig in with your heels, allow your body weight to rest on the balls of your feet."
Backing up a bit, Iruka brought his hands back up, but left his face a little more exposed. "Tell me, what's wrong here?"
"Your arms aren't that close to your body, you're leaving your face open and your stomach is exposed." Naruto analyzed, remembering Sasuke's own remarks on the first day.
Iruka nodded. "Good. Now tell me, have you noticed anything about Sasuke's specific style of fighting? Something that keeps you from landing a hit or even getting close?"
The blond pursed his lips as he thought. He did manage to almost get Sasuke earlier, but they hadn't been truly fighting, so he figured Sasuke wasn't giving it his all. He mostly just recalled how seamlessly Sasuke's movements were. "Ah, no, not really." He finally answered after a pause. Things were still too new for him to catch all the small details.
"It's alright. The main thing you want to know is that Sasuke incorporates a counter-puncher type style to his fighting. This means that he waits to make a move, watching and studying his opponent. I'm sure he's told you that knowing the basic beginnings of any type of move is a huge advantage and it's true. If you're able to predict moves and strikes, countering it will be easier and allow you to dominate. He attacks only if you attack. He won't let you see what he can do until you display your own skill. Sasuke is fast, so this type of fighting suits him."
Naruto nodded, taking in the information. It did seem that Sasuke knew the perfect move to counter any of his strikes, so it would make sense that he used it. The blond felt a little silly in admitting that he'd just assumed Sasuke was just that good, able to beat all.
"A big factor to keep in mind is that Sasuke is prepared. He's prepared to attack and defend almost simultaneously. He excels in making you fall for the bait and attack, never giving you a chance to return fire."
Iruka motioned to Naruto's stomach, specifically a dark bruise. "He targets specific areas. By hitting you there, you begin to favor that side because it hurts and so it leaves your other side open for attack."
"Is there any way to fight back then?" Naruto asked, feeling disillusioned and almost hopeless. How would he even find his own style if he couldn't fight back Sasuke's? Would he even find his own? He already sucked at firing a gun; he would be the one to never find something he's good at.
Iruka held up a hand. "There are always downfalls. Sasuke's is that he tires easily. His strikes are dependent on speed and power. Should the fight go on longer than he intended, he'll have to change his offense and defense, leaving him vulnerable. Another is that constantly attacking and applying pressure can break his hold on the fight, letting the ball fall in your court. But this is dependent on your own unique style. You have to develop that before you can even begin to deconstruct the styles of others."
"How do I find my own style?" Naruto asked eagerly, forcibly pushing away all negative thoughts. No, he wouldn't give in. He was in this for the long haul; no matter what, he'd find his own way to fight back. Nothing would stop him.
Iruka paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "You might want to ask Kakashi about that. Like I said, I work better with what's already established. You need to truly figure out what suits your physical body best and I can't guarantee that I can help with that. If anything, I might end up teaching you something that just doesn't work for you."
Naruto fidgeted, a little nervous. He had only a little trouble asking Iruka since Iruka seemed nice enough and genuinely was so. Sasuke was on a whole other level, but there was the sense of familiarity between them. Asking the head boss for help was a bit daunting, but he would do whatever.
Iruka noticed Naruto's reluctance and smiled. "He's not as bad as he likes to think he is. If you want, I can ask for you?" The police commander offered. "I'm sure he'd be more than willing to give you a hand."
Naruto shook his head and played with the fabric of his pants. "I can ask him, I just want to get started as soon as possible." Before Sasuke gets back, he added mentally.
"He and Sasuke should be back soon. Shikamaru's house isn't far. Once he gets back, you can ask him. Sasuke won't be up to teaching you anything since his fixing his arm will be a tough process on his adjusting nerves. That'll give you a good while to find out what you can. If all goes well, nothing will stand in your way, not even Akatsuki."
"I hope so." Naruto answered with gust of breath.
"Now, another factor to keep in mind is what your body can take, hit wise. Know your own weak spots and make sure to protect them. This is vital. A few good hits and it wouldn't matter how fast you are or who has more moves. For example, Sasuke and his arm. While he is incapacitated, most of his right side has lost a form of critical defense, forcing him to improvise and find new ways of protecting it. If you attack him there, you probably won't be able to land a hit since he'll be hyper vigilant about shielding it. The trick is to hit where he won't expect."
"Which is where?" Naruto piped up curiously. He had yet to find a flaw in Sasuke's defense, but granted, they had only been training for a short time.
"It won't mean anything if I tell you. That's for you to find out on your own." Iruka smiled, noting the small look of frustration on Naruto's face. "Once you know what to look for, it's almost second nature to aim for it. Now, show me what you know."
xXx
Lips twisted in a deep scowl, Sasuke sat rigidly, struggling not to yank his arm away from Ten Ten and her torturous tools. Not that even had a say in the matter, as it was held down by metal straps on a shiny metal workbench. Sharp instruments and odd fibers were scattered along his arm, looking like a sick version of Operation. Sweat dripped down his temple as he gritted his teeth, swearing internally as the pain increased and spiked up his arm. He was pretty goddamn sure it hadn't even hurt this bad when he'd lost it.
Shikamaru Nara stood off to the side, lazily watching Ten Ten work. He had been the original designer of the arm, drawing it up from imagination. With Ten Ten's help, his sketch had become real and now was attached to Sasuke. It pained him to see the work of art being torn apart, but it would be all the more gratifying when it was repaired and improved. The genius's eyes met obsidian hate pools and Sasuke's scowl etches itself as deep as the Mariana Trench on his face. Shikamaru shrugged. "I told you it would hurt, but look at it this way. Your arm will be better than ever. Increased reaction time, sturdier grip, and stronger plating able to withstand a one on one with Hidan's scythe blades. Even bulletproof, to an extent."
Sasuke didn't answer, not knowing what would come out of his mouth if he opened it. His jaw ached tremendously from the strain of trying not to yell. He prided himself on his level of pain tolerance, but this was ridiculous. Even his distraction techniques were failing him, lost under the intense waves of agony rocking his arm and torso. Although he consented to the upgrade, he hadn't calculated what would be required of the renovation. Nearly having his metal limb be pulled apart piece by piece, with no anesthesia to numb the agony, he'd bitten more than he could chew. Was he tasting blood?
"Relax, I'm almost done." Ten Ten murmured, picking up a small needle with a hook at the end. She stuck it into Sasuke's arm. She then removed it and inserted a small black device. "One, two, three!" Pressing a switch on the object, she watched intently.
What felt like a white hot pulse of electricity burned Sasuke's arm, causing his whole body to twitch with the spike in pain and convulse. Nearly biting his tongue off, Sasuke's breathing turned ragged and quick, his nostrils flaring. Hating his reaction but at the same time glad he hadn't opened his mouth, the raven felt his body slump as the burn stopped and cooled. His arm twitch with aftershocks, feeling strange and foreign. Forcing his breathing to slow, Sasuke sighed, allowing his jaw to loosen. He felt oddly drained and tired. He relaxed as Ten Ten began the tedious job of closing everything up and making the metal limb resemble a human arm.
"There. Everything's back online and working perfectly. Go easy for a few hours as your body adjusts. There might be some pain at first, but it'll go away soon enough." Ten Ten snapped her gloves off and shoved away from the workbench. Her stool spun lazily behind her. "Just don't exert it or get it stabbed again."
"Wasn't so bad, was it?" Shikamaru teased halfheartedly as Sasuke ripped the straps off his arm and ran a sweaty hand through his hair, trying to remove the strands sticking to his forehead. "Look, it even has a sleeker design, so it's even easier to hide and repair."
"Fuck off." Sasuke growled, his voice sounding hoarse. He rolled the sleeve of his arm down, sliding the fabric over the smooth surface.
"You're welcome." The genius answered without missing a beat. "I'm assuming Kakashi will cover the cost as well?"
Sasuke allowed a smirk to slip onto his face, briefly belying his mood. "No, put this under the name, Naruto."
Shikamaru lifted a thin eyebrow in curiosity but didn't bother asking. Hadn't Naruto been the one Sasuke was supposed to kill, the one wanted by the police? Eh, he'd figure it out soon enough and asking Sasuke for a direct answer was pointless. "Well, I'm going to need a last name."
"Uzumaki." The smirk widened a bit. "You'll be seeing more of him soon." Pushing himself off the chair, Sasuke got to his feet and rotated the wrist of his improved arm. He was rewarded with jolts of pain.
"Dully noted." Shikamaru sighed, cataloging the information away to later be analyzed.
xXx
As most of you don't know, it was my 20th birthday a while ago. In celebration of this, my friend Miasen wrote me a KakaIru fic called "Night in Mirkwood". If you're a fan of the couple (or Middle Earth), go check it out! It's fucking fantastic and has some hot action! *wink wink, nudge nudge* Also check out her SasuNaruSasu fic, "Partners" and her other work. She puts my shit to shame XD
You can also look forward to her surprise gift fic later this month on my account ;D Now review, pretty please? The next chapter is better than this, I promise, with lot's more Sasuke-Naruto interaction.