Target
Ch. 14- Sasuke's acceptance
A/N: So things are finally moving along. Good. :D
Disclaimer: Naruto sadly belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo.
oOo Beta'd by the astounding Jhalamae & Miasen oOo
xXx
"Do it again, but this time focus your attack!" Kakashi ordered, staring at the blond hard. Bracing his already aching hand with his other hand around the wrist, he held up the punching pad it was attached to and waited. Naruto delivered yet another brutal punch, one that he could feel radiate up to his shoulder. It took quite an effort to hold his hand steady under the attack.
Nodding in satisfaction, Kakashi slipped off the pad and stretched his fingers subtly behind his back. He eyed his newest student carefully. Since the blond had asked for his help, they'd been practicing for days. Sasuke was still recuperating over at Shikamaru's, leaving plenty of time for them to discover Naruto's potential. It hadn't taken long to find out that Naruto could pack one hell of a punch. He had brute strength on his side, unlike Sasuke who relied on speed.
Kakashi switched hands, rolling his shoulder a bit. "Give me 3 punches and a kick. Remember; focus on putting power behind each hit. Use your greatest asset to your advantage." Kakashi grunted, strapping a shin guard to his left leg. He had bruises peppering his legs from their earlier attempts. It was unusual how determined and how quickly Naruto had grown over the course of a few days. It was truly impressive. His level of growth outstripped even Sasuke's, back when he'd taken to teaching Sasuke. "After this, we break for today." They had been at it for a few hours and he was tired.
"Okay." Naruto nodded, flexing his hand. They ached, badly. Wearing black heavy bag gloves, Naruto shook out his hands, letting them go limp at his wrists. Eyeing the pad Kakashi held out, Naruto brought his hands up and carefully watched the man for any tricks. He had learned the hard way that Kakashi preferred to quickly dance out of the way, leaving him flailing in an attempt to strike. Kakashi mimicked Sasuke's speed, forcing Naruto to adapt quickly and find different methods to attack.
Darting forward, Naruto drew back his fist and aimed it at the pad. Feinting to the left, he followed Kakashi's hand and landed his fist in the middle of the pad. One. Feeling Kakashi's hand give a little with the hit, Naruto quickly jumped back. His eyes tracking Kakashi's hands, his left fist shot forward, landing on the side of the pad. Two.
The taller man suddenly disappeared, leaving Naruto reeling. Whirling around, the blond ducked as pale leg cut through the air above him. Regaining his balance, Naruto kicked out, striking the shin guard dead on. One. Jumping to the side to avoid Kakashi's fist, Naruto blocked another punch and solidly landed his last attack on the pad, hitting it right as Kakashi tried to move it out of the way. Three.
"Not bad." Kakashi grinned cheerfully. Standing up straight, he tore off the gear and tossed the items to the side carelessly. "You're improving at a notable rate."
Naruto grinned, copying the man and slipping the gloves off. He was absurdly proud hearing his determination and efforts were paying off. It offset the brutal regimen he was inflicting on his body. Each day brought him closer to his goal; he swore by Sasuke he was in this to the end. "Good enough to go against some Akatsuki?" he asked, his breathing ragged.
"Hmm, not quite yet, but you're well on the way to be able to take on the high rollers and possibly live," Kakashi corrected him. "By the way, Sasuke is coming back tomorrow," he said casually. Sticking his sore hands into his pockets, Kakashi slouched his way to the stairs. He was now hungry and tired. Pondering what Iruka was up to, he eyed the blond out of his peripherals.
Naruto's head perked up. "He is?" He tried asking in a way that didn't seem like he was too eager. He cringed as he sounded too nonchalant, too forced. He'd need to watch that or Sasuke would pick up on it. He followed Kakashi towards the stairs.
"Mm-hmm," Kakashi hummed. "So this concludes the last of our time together."
Naruto paused. "Is it enough?" he asked, feeling somewhat doubtful. While he could admit that he'd improved a lot, he felt he had much more to learn.
"To give you the full package is not my job," Kakashi reminded him. "I was doing you a courtesy. Sasuke is the one that should be teaching you the majority. I just stepped in because he wasn't here. Now that he'll be back, it's up to him to bring you to your full potential."
Frowning, Naruto rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you think I can take on Sasuke now?" he questioned quietly, feeling a tad upset that his training with Kakashi was over, but feeling strangely excited to be fighting Sasuke again. Would Sasuke be impressed? Would he be able to tell that he improved? Would he care?
"I don't know, you tell me," Kakashi retorted. "Have some confidence; Sasuke is human, just like you. Believe in your own capabilities."
"Right," Naruto responded, somewhat distracted.
Kakashi sighed. "Doubting yourself is step in the wrong direction," he chided lightly. "If you do, you'll end up regressing in your training and all this will be for nothing."
"I can't help it," Naruto confessed. "It's just that I'm still new to this, compared to Sasuke who has years under his belt. I—"
"Don't think you can take on Sasuke?" Kakashi filled in. "I'm not quite sure why you're using Sasuke as a bar to reach or surpass, but if it works, go for it. If you truly feel the need to be able to take on Sasuke, then watch him. Watch what he does, how he moves. Watch him while fighting, and when he's not. Learn his movements and use them against him. You've learned about his style from Iruka, but the goal is to actually use that information to your advantage. Implement that into your training sessions."
Kakashi stretched a hand over to rub at his shoulder. He rubbed his fingers into the sore taut flesh. Maybe he could coax Iruka into giving him a massage. "Now that he's back, you'll be able to truly see your own progress, and so will Sasuke. Just remember to practice diligently. Sasuke has eyes like a hawk. He'll spot your weakness and target them. In your case, speed isn't your strongest suit. Strength is. But take heed, relying solely on strength will be your downfall. There is a fine balance."
They both lapsed into silence as they walked up the steps, entering the upper levels of the house. Thinking back to his break down that had led to him training to fight, Naruto pondered something.
"Kakashi, can I ask you a personal question?" he asked, his tone unusually quiet.
"Depends on what it is," Kakashi answered cryptically, turning to the blond. "What is it?"
"Why do you fight? I mean," Naruto gestured around him. "What's your drive? I know Sasuke's is to get revenge for the murder of his family, and mine is for my own personal gains and for Kiba. What's your reason, if I may ask?" Naruto ended politely, knowing he was not entitled to that information.
Kakashi tilted his head back, his expression thoughtful. Crossing his arms, he stopped walking. "The money is a big factor, I suppose. I do like fancy and expensive toys."
Naruto stared at him, recalling just how well he was able to get Sasuke to protect him by enticing the raven with cash. "Is that really it?" he asked bluntly, not believing that was the true reason. "You fight for the money?"
Kakashi exhaled sharply through his nose, amused. "If you must know, no. I fight because I have someone I want to protect. Unlike you and Sasuke, I find revenge petty and stupid. I fight for the living, not the dead. What do the dead have to give us?"
"Do you mean Iruka?" Naruto probed, feeling a bit as if he'd stepped over the line.
"I met Iruka at a very dark time in my life," Kakashi revealed his tone turning somber, losing its unremitting cheeriness. "I was at the end of my rope, with nowhere to go and I was involved in some extremely shady business. Iruka and I ran into each other quite a bit, as our occupations were at odds. He almost killed me once, during a bust. Long story short, we somehow became lovers and I turned over a new leaf."
Naruto scrunched his nose as he pondered the new information. "You kill people for money. How can you get even shadier than that?"
Kakashi snorted. "You know nothing, Naruto. You forget I'm also the head of an extremely successful law firm, with several oversea branches, along with having my fingers dipped in a few other areas. It's quite a change in position."
"That's a lot of power for one man to wield," Naruto mused, scratching his cheek.
"With great power comes great responsibility," Kakashi said wisely, smiling.
"Okay, let's say something happens to Iruka," Naruto contemplated, trying to get Kakashi to see his point of view. "You aren't there to stop it, you can't call anyone to stop it, and you only know the results. In the end Iruka is dead, and you know who killed him. What do you do? Having all this power at your disposal, you'd just let it slide?" he challenged, eyeing his instructor. "You wouldn't go after them?
Kakashi fell silent, no longer slouching. "Should that ever happen, I don't know what I'd do," he finally answered. "All I have to say is that you better hope you're not anywhere near me," he said lightly, his tone now much darker. "Who knows what's lurking in the black room when you blow out the only candle keeping the darkness at bay."
xXx
Sasuke stepped past the door frame, nodding at Kakashi and Iruka who were on the couch in the living room. Closing the door behind him, he threw his jacket onto the back of a chair and tossed his keys onto a nearby table.
"Did Shikamaru give the ok?" Kakashi asked, flipping idly through one of his X-rated novels. He barely glanced at Sasuke, more preoccupied by the book in his hands.
"He said its back in perfect shape and that I can return to work whenever," Sasuke filled in tonelessly. Reaching up to scratch his cheek, he was grateful for the few days of rest. His injuries had mostly healed and he was feeling better than he had in a long time. Even his arm felt improved, which according to the genius that was Shikamaru, it was. He could almost delude himself into thinking it was his actual flesh and bone arm. It was notably more sensitive and responsive. Sasuke was tempted to forgo his usual gloves, but years of hiding it kept him from exposing the limb.
"Right, work," Kakashi snorted.
"How are your injuries?" Iruka inquired, eyeing the raven. Ever since the business with Naruto began, Sasuke had been the recipient of multiple injuries. Iruka knew very well that injuries wouldn't stop the raven from doing what he wanted. After a quick survey, he glanced back down at the files in his lap before looking back at the younger man.
Sasuke shrugged. Leave it to Iruka to be the only one concerned with his well-being. "Gone. The stab wound is completely healed and nothing remains from the fight with Deidara and Hidan."
"That's good. I'm relieved," Iruka smiled. His attention back on the files, he read out a name. "How about Momochi Zabuza?"
"Hmm, I think Temari took care of him," Kakashi responded, fidgeting as his leg fell asleep. "The name's familiar."
"Of course she did. Haku, no last name?" Iruka read off, juggling the papers around. Biting the cap off of a pen, he scribbled something down.
"Ten Ten dispatched that one," Sasuke remarked. It looked like Iruka had a new list of missing persons he was dealing with. It wasn't uncommon to have him ask Kakashi to help sort out which persons were actually missing and or dead. Many of the cases coincided with contracts Kakashi created.
"She hasn't given me a report yet. I wonder if she's having problems," Kakashi hummed.
"Or it could be she was too busy trying to get Sasuke's arm to function and hasn't dealt with the body," Iruka murmured. He then turned to Kakashi to ask another series of questions but frowned at the lawyer. "For the last time, put that book away," he criticized, eyeing the offending orange book.
"You told me to read something and stop bothering you." Kakashi grinned. "You never specified what."
Rolling his eyes at Kakashi's immaturity, Iruka pushed himself off the couch and stood up, tucking the files under his shoulder. Addressing Sasuke, he walked over to the stairs, propping a foot up on the first step. "Juugo came by a while ago. He dropped off a box of things he picked up from your house after it was cleared. There wasn't much he could salvage, but he said he'll give it another go if you want."
Sasuke nodded, glancing off to the side as he rubbed his palm across his mouth. There wasn't much he could say he cherished in the house, so what good was it to dwell on what was gone? Material things were something petty to treasure. "What's in the box?"
"He wouldn't let me look inside," Kakashi called out. "It's on the table in the kitchen."
"Just a courtesy called privacy," Iruka muttered, going up the stairs.
Sasuke left the living room, striding into the sunlit kitchen. He ignored the blond sitting at the table and closed in on the box. It was a grimy, marked with handprints of soot. It wasn't that big, similar in size to the evidence boxes he once had in his private room. He tugged the box to him, noting how quiet Naruto was. He didn't by any means miss the blonds incessant talking, but he found it slightly surprising Naruto could be quiet for more than a few seconds.
Pulling up the ripped flaps, Sasuke reached into the dirty mess and drew out several burnt pictures. He looked through them, shuffling them and smudging his fingers with ashes. They were mainly of him and his family, before the massacre and before he lost his arm. A few others were from unrelated people. He recognized them from being pinned up in his evidence room.
It had been a long time since he had actually held them, regarding them as people instead of facts. Having a perfect memory made photographs obsolete. Tossing them to the side carelessly, he reached back and in and removed a metal shard with a crisscross pattern wrapping. It had a metal cap at the end, with a small hole in the middle. Sasuke ran a finger along the side of the object, as if he were studying it.
"What is that?" Naruto spoke up, staring curiously at the object in Sasuke's hand. Seeing the other man again had him nervous, yet happy. He was eager to show off his new skills, but at the same time worried that Sasuke would be unimpressed. Naruto had promised to be useful and he planned to complete that promise, but he couldn't help but doubt. It also didn't help that he found the other man attractive and was now itching to be near him. The emotions and nervousness were causing turmoil in his stomach.
Sasuke tossed the object over to him, focusing back on the box. Naruto caught it, scrutinizing it carefully. Puzzled, he turned it around in his hands, peeking over it to watch Sasuke. Kakashi advised him to watch Sasuke. How was he supposed to do that without seeming strange? It was a slight relief to have an actual excuse to stare at him, but in the long run, this wasn't going to be good. If anything, it would only serve to increase his attraction. Had Sasuke always had a blue-ish tint to his hair?
"It's the hilt from one of my katanas. They must have found the set and destroyed them," Sasuke answered. Damn. They had been sturdy, reliable weapons, ones he favored. He'd have to buy a new set, imported.
"You mean like a samurai sword?" Naruto asked, his eyes widening. A sharp image of Sasuke wielding a sword popped into his head. He could picture it to the smallest detail. Sasuke would be incredible with the blade; his body type was the ideal one and he was fast. Every move he'd make would be lethal and perfect, impossible to dodge or counter. The raven would strike like a snake, moving as fluidly as one. He wanted to see it. Naruto blinked rapidly, trying to clear his mind before things got out of hand. He did not want to go down that road right now. God, how was he going to handle the fighting sessions?
Rifling through the rest of the items, Sasuke noticed they were mainly mementos Juugo probably figured had some sort of sentimental value. Most were charred and only vaguely recognizable. "Exactly. I prefer them over any other type of weapon." He glanced up and noticed Naruto staring intently at the katana handle. His posture was rigid and tightly controlled. Curious, Sasuke observed him.
There was the tiniest air of confidence around him, but Sasuke couldn't think of anything that would have brought it on. Instead of his usual position of slouching and tucking his shoulders in, Naruto appeared more open and self-assured. It was a welcome change to the weeping and whining version he had to deal with before. He found himself liking this version more.
"Why don't you use them more often then?" Naruto inquired, gripping the handle tightly, using it to focus. He could feel Sasuke staring at him, the gaze almost burning him. Can he fucking tell? Or am I being paranoid?
"You try bringing a sword to gun fight and see how well that goes for you." Sasuke retorted, almost rolling his eyes. The black-haired man shoved the box to the side. He turned away, reaching over to grab a cup from one of the cabinets on the wall. The feeling that he was missing something persisted, some niggling factor that he would otherwise be able to point out.
"Hidan didn't use a gun." Naruto pointed out with a grin. He carefully replaced the katana handle in the box. Relieved to be free from Sasuke's scrutiny, he comfortably watched the other man, unafraid of being caught since Sasuke had his back to him. He zeroed his attention on Sasuke's right arm. Kakashi had told him he had that arm injured before, so he knew it was probably still healing. He hadn't gotten a look at it before since Sasuke always kept it wrapped up and in a sling. Although, by the way he was moving, it didn't even appear as if it were injured….
"Hn." Sasuke grunted in acknowledgment. He could give the blond that one.
Naruto grinned widely. He had almost expected Sasuke to challenge his statement. Then again, it was pretty clear Sasuke knew that, having been on the receiving end of those blades twice. "Does that mean all the Akatuski members use guns, besides Hidan?"
"Most of them have their own unique weapons, but rely on guns. As do I. Deidara was a connoisseur of explosives, if you remember. Hidan uses his scythe. Kakuzu, the one from you apartment, was a hand-to-hand combat specialist," Sasuke filled in, taking a swig of water. He leaned against the counter. "Most of the other members stay out of the spotlight, so we don't know much about them."
"Then how do you fight the unknown?"
"By being extremely careful and smart. How do you think we've gotten information on them? Murder details and autopsy reports only go so far."
"Oh okay," Naruto conceded. "Are we going to go train some more?" he asked abruptly, turning to the raven.
"We'll begin tomorrow. I have a few more things I need to begin putting together before we begin."
"Ah, right. How's your arm?" Naruto prodded, rubbing the back of his neck. He had wanted to begin training with Sasuke sooner, but he'd deal. It gave him more time to control his reactions and monitor his own behavior.
Eyeing the blond, Sasuke was still for a few seconds. Setting his cup down, the other man rolled up his sleeve, exposing his metal arm. "See for yourself." He pulled off his ever present gloves and fully uncovered his appendage.
Naruto gaped at the limb, his eyes wide open in shock. Encased in a soft grey metal, the arm was sleek and smooth. It melded into Sasuke's flesh right above his elbow, seamlessly transforming from metal to flesh. Etched into the side was a tiny fan, only seen in certain lights. The arm was made up of several plates screwed together, almost like a puzzle. The lines dividing each piece were barely visible, converging at his wrist. His fingers and palm were made up of smaller pieces, flowing smoothly to allow mobility. The arm glinted in a bit in the sunlight, causing a small glare. "Did you have to get it amputated? he asked, horrified. He hadn't thought about just how much damage Hidan's scythe had done. Jesus, was this his fault? Had he cost Sasuke an arm? "Is... is it because of me?"
Sasuke raised a thin brow, amused by the stunned look on Naruto's face. "About 9 years ago. And unless you were the one stabbing a 7 inch knife through my arm, I doubt you had anything to do with it," Sasuke answered coolly, rolling his sleeve back down. He tucking his hand back inside the glove, he reached for his cup again, acting as if nothing had happened. Truth be told, he didn't quite know why he had shown the blond his arm. Could it be that no longer viewed Naruto as a job? Had he gained respect for him after Naruto demonstrated his determination to improve and take control? Sipping his water as he thought, Sasuke felt the skin on the back of his neck prickle. A quick glance to the side told him that Naruto was once again staring at him.
"But who did?" Naruto asked, figuring it was worth a shot. He knew he wouldn't get an answer. He was a bit relieved it wasn't his fault, but it was unsettling to know Sasuke had undergone serious problems in his younger years.
"Someone who you will never meet," Sasuke said, his tone making it clear he wasn't opening up for further questioning.
"Did it hurt?" Naruto persisted, wanting more information. Sure he was probing, but he and Sasuke had gone a long way from when the first a met and he wasn't allowed to ask questions or talk.
"Why ask stupid fucking questions if you already know the answer?" Sasuke sighed. "Stab your own arm and figure it out." Fuck respect. As soon as the big mouth opened, it was back to square one.
"…" Frustrated, Naruto fell silent. He watched Sasuke, trying to ignore the man's attitude. He didn't know what he had expected. Sure he and Sasuke were training together and were getting along better, but it was obvious they still had a ways to go. Or was it something else? Sasuke was generally more of an asshole when he was irritated. Was something bothering him? Observing the other man reach for his cup, Naruto noted that Sasuke was primarily using his metal arm. Did his left arm hurt?
Once again, Sasuke noticed Naruto watching him like a hawk. Slightly bothered by it, Sasuke opened his mouth to mention it. "Why do y-"
"Deidara's dead," came a voice from behind him.
Immediately recognizing it as Kakashi's, Sasuke turned around to look at his employer who was walking into the kitchen, porn book nowhere in sight. "Are you just now figuring it out?" he scoffed. He had known his attempt at taking down Deidara had been successful for days now. It was old news.
"I'm not mentioning it for your sake," Kakashi answered bluntly, shooting Sasuke a sharp look. "I expect you to have known about it the second it happened. Naruto doesn't, hence I'm informing him."
"He's dead?" Naruto piped up, feeling revulsion run through him. That man had attacked him and Kiba. While he knew the man hadn't killed Kiba, he hated knowing the one who did was still alive. A strange mix of satisfaction and contentment filled him. Another Akatsuki member down, one less person they'd deal with in the end. "How, though? I was there when Sasuke was fighting him and Hidan. Neither was going down when Sasuke shot them."
"Poisoned blades," Sasuke filled in. "I had several knifes laced with a certain type of venom that does extreme bodily damage in a relatively short amount of time. Deidara didn't stand a chance."
"My, how cocky," Kakashi observed, eyeing Sasuke critically. "You got lucky, don't think you can repeat this," he warned, not liking Sasuke's attitude.
"It wasn't luck that killed him," Sasuke said smartly. "It was my superior thinking skills and quick learning. Applying that to what we know about them so far and I got a kill."
"Didn't Hidan say Kakuzu was still alive?" Naruto added, sensing a tension between the two other men. He had a feeling Sasuke and Kakashi had gone down this road often.
"Kakuzu's alive?" Kakashi frowned. "I haven't heard about that. Any particular reason why you didn't tell me?" The silver-haired man turned to the raven, frown in place.
"You find out Deidara's dead, but you can't find out that Kakuzu's up and about?" Sasuke criticized.
"One was presumably dead, just with a body missing," Kakashi answered sharply, clearly getting irate.
"So why can't we poison the rest of them?" Naruto interrupted, not wanting to be caught in the middle of a dispute. He didn't like the way Sasuke was talking to Kakashi.
"I already killed one of them with poison. They'd be prepared for the same method, so it'd be pointless."
"Right. What about different types of poisons? They can't have them all prepared." Naruto scratched his head.
"I wouldn't put it past them to already have some sort of antidote or serum to combat the effects." Kakashi murmured, rubbing his chin. "Or have a wide variety of antidotes prepared. We don't know much about how their bodies work, either."
"Has the girl that did the autopsy figured anything out yet besides the effects of the substance found in Kakuzu's body?" Sasuke inquired.
"If you found out that you successfully killed Deidara, why don't you know what else she said?" Kakashi responded, his voice filled with innocence. Meeting Naruto's azure eyes, he winked. If anyone knew how to deal with Sasuke's moods, it was him.
Naruto snickered at the comment, stopping only when he saw Sasuke wasn't laughing.
xXx
Ripping the sheets away from his neck, Naruto gasped aloud, panting wildly. His arm was outstretched in front of him, his fingers reaching for an unseen figure. Pulling his limb back, Naruto tried to process what happened. His hand shaking terribly and his skin coated in a cold, wet sheen, he rubbed his face vigorously, trying furtively to gain control before he began hyperventilating. He pressed the back of his hand tightly to his mouth, concentrating on stifling any noise he was making.
Shuffling to the edge of his bed, Naruto felt his heart trying to burst out of his chest, beating rapidly in its cavity. Closing his eyes, he strained desperately to shove Kiba's bloody face from his thoughts. Flashes of red and black replayed in his mind on a loop. A mesh of images flashed by, each invoking a new level of guilt and fear. Sasuke's arm. Hidan's scythe. Kakuzu's gun. Deidara's bombs. Sasuke holding a gun to his forehead. Kakuzu threatening to kill him. Deidara stabbing Sasuke. Sasuke's evidence room. Sasuke's family. Kiba's lifeless corpse. Iruka taking him home. He and Kiba getting hired at the same time. Tsunade firing him. Temari talking about Sasuke. Kiba's death. Sasuke killing the couple. Jiraiya visiting him for his birthday. A present. Kiba's death. Rocking back and forth, Naruto took deep breaths, struggling to calm down. He fought the tidal wave of emotion as hard as he could, not wanting a repeat of the night he decided to fight.
Thunder rumbled loudly outside, shaking the window slightly. Watery azure eyes cracking open, Naruto gazed up to look towards the window. The sudden pitter-patter of rain began to slowly fill the room, hushing his conscience slightly. The steady tapping was almost pleasant, soothing. It was a welcome change to the pervasive silence before.
Rubbing his eyes dry with the heel of his palm, Naruto stood up and peered out the foggy glass. Lightning streaked across the cloudy sky, illuminating the dark room for a few seconds. Standing in nothing but his boxers, Naruto saw his own reflection on the glass. His eyes were a bit puffy, red from suppressed tears. He looked paler than usual, almost gray rather than his natural tan. Even to himself, he looked pathetic. What was he doing? Did he really thing he could change things? Did he really think he could make a difference? If an Akatsuki member spontaneously appeared, hunting for him, could he successfully fight him off?
Another image. Sasuke demanding he stand up and fight for himself, fight for a future that the Akatsuki threatened with every breath they took, each second they lived. Naruto scowled. Sasuke. The man who had lost everything, just like him. Neither of them had family waiting for them. He and Sasuke were in exactly the same boat, each threatened and yet hunting after the Akatsuki. The man had even lost an arm in God knows how, and still kept on fighting. He had lost Kiba, and now he was fighting too. If they didn't, who would?
He and Sasuke were more alike than he previously thought. They shared losses, and now were sharing experiences. Naruto had even been trained by the same people. Granted, it was for a shorter amount of time, but the similarities were there. They were opposites, yet very much the same.
But if they were to be the same, did that mean Sasuke would maybe look at him the same way as he did him? Naruto knew the chances of Sasuke liking him back were slim-to-none. Even if Sasuke did like him back, what else was there? What would be the point? As soon as the entire ordeal with the Akatsuki was over, he and Sasuke would never see each other again. This wasn't a fairytale with a happily ever after. There was no future to anything they would have.
Naruto pressed his lips together tightly, watching the rain fall. He followed the drops as they smashed against the glass and snaked down. But what if that changed? He had managed to get Sasuke to agree to train him; why not pursue a relationship? Hell, this was probably just a phase he was going through, something that could be attributed to the constant close contact and high adrenaline levels. Maybe he had finally taken too many hits to the head and was now delusional.
Shaking his head, Naruto was relieved that he was no longer plagued by the images, but the feeling of worthlessness and despair remained. He just needed time out of his head. Some peace and quiet where he wouldn't go off and daydream about impossible scenarios or relive the death of his best friend. Feeling antsy, he rooted around in the dark for some pants. His fingers encountering the fabric on the floor, he slipped on the grey sweats and knotted the strings. Running a hand through his sweaty hair, Naruto peeked up at the clock. It was a little after 2:30 am. Everyone was probably asleep and he had no intention of waking them up.
Opening his door as quietly and as slowly as possible, Naruto padded out into the hallway. Shutting the door as equally as quiet, he took a few tentative steps, making sure no one heard him. Once the coast was clear, he tiptoed down the stairs and reached the first floor. Walking past the living room and the kitchen, he opened the door leading down to the gym. Not bothering to turn on the lights, Naruto stepped in and left the door open slightly behind him. It often clicked loudly when shut and he didn't want to risk it.
The gym appeared ominous and foreboding in the dark. The rain sounded louder, intensified by the largeness of the room. It echoed off the walls, creating a dull roaring noise that surrounded him. The only light came in from windows that were high up on the walls, in long rectangular strips. Moonlight streamed in; it flickered as clouds drifted by, cutting its reach.
Feeling strangely comfortable and at ease in the room, Naruto treaded down the steps and reached the matted portion of the gym. Bringing an arm across his chest, he began to stretch. He slowly transition from one position to the next, feeling his earlier fear and anxiety washing away. He was lulled by the familiarity of the room and his stretches. It gave him a sense of purpose and meaning. He was to become like Sasuke, and get revenge for his friend. That was his goal. He couldn't let himself be taken over with doubt and trepidation. This is why he was here, why he was still alive. Naruto had begged Sasuke to give the chance and there was no way he was backing out.
Getting into his familiar fighting stance, Naruto's fist slowly reached out. He concentrated on the feeling, on the push and pull of his own muscles. The tightening of his skin as he flexed, the releasing of tension as he relaxed. Spinning on his heel, he kicked high. Inhaling deeply, he brought his leg down and thrust the other out. Dropping down, he tumbled into a roll before springing back up, closing his eyes as he focused on each sensation his body experienced. The thunder rumbled, almost in tune with each movement. Lightning flashed, brightening up the room for a split second, casting his shadow across the mirrored wall.
He focused on his breathing, keeping a nice and steady cadence. Clearing his mind of all distractions was one of Kakashi's key points. He concentrated on following the beat of his heart; it drummed out a steady rhythm.
His back cracked as he twisted around and sank to the floor. Going into a series of floor exercises, Naruto counted in his head with each rep. One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Rolling onto his back, he reached up and behind him, planting his hands on the mat. Arching his back, he created a bridge with his body. Bowing his spine as far as he could, the blond transitioned smoothly into a handstand before letting his feet fall and standing upright. Stretching his arms high up, he brought them back down, veins prominent across his skin as he flexed each muscle.
Giving a few quick punches, Naruto exhaled as he delivered an impressive combo of kicks. Sweat ran down his back and his body felt more alive than ever. The blond planted his feet onto the ground, feeling the thunder crash outside, causing the room to tremble beneath his soles.
Breathing heavily, Naruto mimicked having an opponent. He slowly walked in a circle, bouncing on the balls of his feet. Stopping, he stood in an offensive stance, his arms held up and ready to defend. Immediately, he charged forward, twisting his body around as he avoided the imagined strikes. He danced away, whirling on the spot as he jumped back. Thrusting his hands out forward, he grabbed an imaginary weapon from the pretend assailant and twisted it in his hand, throwing it back. A sudden image of Sasuke throwing a knife at Deidara crossed his mind.
Ducking, Naruto dropped to the floor and did a sweeping kick. Twirling out the way, he sprang to his feet with his own pretend weapon to fight off the assaulter. Bringing the imagined weapon across from him, he took a couple of steps back, simulating having been struck. Bowing a bit, he shoved his body back, evading another hit. Springing forward, he plunged his weapon up into the fiend, drawing it across before pulling back. Another image of Sasuke knifing Hidan rose up.
Trading his weapon for a new one, Naruto imagined his next opponent. Ghastly green eyes and a wide, skin-splitting grin. Sick, greasy hair and a jagged line across the neck. The taste of vomit hit the back of his mouth, reminding him of how scared he had been. In that moment, everything he known had changed for the worse. That pivotal point forced him into something he never asked for. Gripping that fear and focusing on it, Naruto's eyes narrowed. Striking blue oceans stood stark against the grays and blacks of the room.
"Never again," the shorter man whispered, his voice holding an edge of steel.
He attacked viciously, picturing Kakuzu before him, falling to his hits. Each strike brought a sense of victory, of relief and power. His fists sailing into the space before him, Naruto fought to keep his voice down, feeling the need to yell and cry out as he battled. As his body trembled with adrenaline and excitement, Naruto was relentless. Had he an actual figure to fight, Naruto's knuckles would have been split, bleeding heavily from the abuse. His legs would have deep red and purple bruises from the force of his kicks. Sweat was flung from his hair as he moved swiftly, never ceasing. There was nothing that could stop him, nothing that could come between him and his prey. This was it, this was his moment. Driving his foot high in the air where he imagined Kakuzu's face would be, Naruto powered through kick and stopped. Letting his foot drop, the blond gasped for breath, feeling oddly satisfied.
Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, Naruto huffed, his shoulders heaving up and down. His ragged breathing mixed with the rain, creating a strange rhythm. It wasn't enough. He was missing something. But what? What did he need?
Turning to the mirror, he caught glimpses of himself as lightning lit the room. Staring hard, he eyed himself, picturing how he'd look fighting. He was content with his progress, but he felt as if something were missing, some final puzzle piece to his change. What was causing the discordance? As he mulled the thought over, something in the corner of the room caught his eye. Peering at its reflection, Naruto turned to the object. It was a box. Not just any box, but the one that had Sasuke's stuff inside.
An idea spawning in his head, Naruto strode over to the carton and began rooting around. Finding what he wanted, he jogged over to the middle of the matted room. Bringing his arms out in front of him, he held the soot-coated katana hilt.
Closing his eyes again, he imagined Sasuke before him. His stomach did a flip and he licked his lips. Sasuke would be staring back at him impassively, in that asshole-ish way, waiting for him to attack first. The familiar smirk would be in place, pissing him off. With a small start, he realized he was no longer truly afraid of Sasuke. That feeling had morphed into something else altogether, something akin to admiration. Giving Sasuke his own katana, Naruto twirled the handle in his hands, knowing how impressive it would be if it were complete. Gripping it with both hands, Naruto inhaled deeply and exhaled through his nose, relaxing. He knew swords were deadly weapons that demanded a myriad of hours of practice, but here he could pretend. This was his world and he was alone.
xXx
2:30. It had been two minutes since Sasuke last looked at the time. Sighing, he peered out the window again, watching the rain come down hard. Obsidian eyes traced the lighting the darted across the sky, splitting open the gray clouds. Rubbing the back of his neck, he pondered his situation.
They had no leads to the Akatsuki. His home had been ransacked, destroying countless hours of putting all that information together. He was training Naruto to fight. Kakuzu was still alive. Hidan was still alive. Deidara was dead. The Akatsuki had some sort of supernatural healing capabilities, but still had weaknesses. But what did they want with Naruto? This business with a key meant nothing. A key for what? A key implies something that is needed to open something else. A room? A lock? A safe?
What were they after? They had already made themselves semi-immortal; what else was there? But, he had managed to take out Deidara. What were they doing that depended on a key?
"Think. Think. Think," he chanted to himself softly, trying to picture the mess from another angle, hoping things would suddenly click. This whole mess had been dragging out for too long. They were in a brief lull, with no news about the Akatsuki surfacing. Sasuke figured it was a time bomb, ticking away silently before it erupted into chaos. But what would that chaos entail?
Irate at the lack of answers, Sasuke almost missed the unmistakable sound of a door opening. Familiar with every creak and groan of the house, his curiosity was aroused. Glancing away from the window, Sasuke stepped softly over to his door, placing his ear against the wood. Very faintly, he could hear the sounds of footsteps leading away. It wasn't Kakashi or Iruka, as their bedroom wasn't nearby. The only other option was an intruder, which was highly unlikely, so that left Naruto. The roaring of the rain outside masked anymore noises.
Once he was sure the footsteps had receded enough for him to move, Sasuke opened his door and left his room. Quietly going downstairs, he kept his eyes open for any suspicious activity. What the hell was Naruto doing up this early? After a few minutes of blindly walking around and looking for the blond, Sasuke heard thumping to his right. He reached the location and found it was coming from the gym. More intrigued than ever, he peered inside.
Naruto was in the middle of the mats, practicing. The blond didn't notice him; he was too wrapped up in his fighting. Entering the room, Sasuke leaned on the wall by the door, silently watching. He crossed his arms, feeling his metal limb underneath his thin long sleeve shirt. His dark eyes followed Naruto carefully, taking in every detail and committing it to memory.
After a few minutes of observing the blond, Sasuke admitted he was fascinated. Naruto had improved immensely, beyond what he had expected. No longer the shy and scared boy he had been sent to kill, Sasuke recognized the utter determination and force that Naruto wielded. Each kick, each punch was Naruto fighting off his inner demons. It was his way of exorcising the fear and lack of control that had taken over his life, something Sasuke understood to his core.
Sasuke was no fool. He hadn't expected Naruto to even hold a match to him, but this surpassed anything he imagined. He was incredible, mesmerizing. With each movement, Sasuke understood a little bit more of the blond than he intended.
He could appreciate the form and figure Naruto took. To go from a pathetic, worthless waste of space to a resolute and powerful being, Naruto had displayed his newfound courage and determination. Slightly jealous of the exponential growth Naruto portrayed, Sasuke's eyes widened further as Naruto began fighting people that weren't there.
The raven recognized the fighting techniques that used in previous fights. Had Naruto been paying that much attention to him to have memorized the style? Granted, it wasn't as refined as he knew it was, but it was unbelievable nonetheless. Each new attacker was reminiscent of an Akatsuki member that had damaged Naruto in some way, whether it was physical or mental. Deidara, for attempting to kill his friend and Naruto. Hidan, for actually murdering Kiba. Kakuzu, for being the beginning of his life's downfall. He could detect traces of Iruka's touch and Kakashi's rules.
It was almost as if he were watching a play with one actor. Naruto was reliving his darkest moments and was fighting through them, creating battles before a private audience he didn't know he had. He vividly displayed his true self using his body and emotions. He was waging war within himself and his newfound identity was winning. Sasuke leaned off the wall, captivated. His lips parted from their usual frown to fall slightly open. It was unsettling just how much he felt by watching the blond. He could read each emotion perfectly, and he could feel it within himself. It was an unfamiliar concept as he didn't consider himself an empathetic person.
This was something incredibly private and personal, but Sasuke felt a compulsion to keep watching. He couldn't turn away, even if he had wanted to. From the expressions of rage transforming into sorrow, to contentment and peacefulness, Naruto's deepest feelings were broadcast of all to see. He worked through each raw emotion, reaching his own nirvana at the climax.
A flicker of an idea gently sparked in his mind. It was a wisp, having no true substance. There was a certain beauty to Naruto. The way he was honest in his moves and how he displayed that. It was hypnotic in a way. Sasuke found himself entranced, unable to move or speak, only able to watch. He had understood the want to fight and the need to keep living, but how Naruto was changing was strange to him. He was creating his own path, one similar to Sasuke's but in the same way, very different.
Swallowing heavily, Sasuke observed intently as Naruto spied his box of burnt belongings in the far corner of the room. He stared at the blond as Naruto pulled out his favorite katana's handle. What was he planning on doing? He had displayed interest earlier….did he want to use one?
Something akin to a smile tugged at Sasuke's lips as Naruto attempted to wield the imaginary katana by swinging the handle around in rough, unpracticed strikes. While Naruto was excelling in his previous attempts at combat, using a katana obviously wasn't something he was used to. The play took a turn, delving almost into a comedy rather than the dark and intense drama it had been. But beneath those clumsy attempts was a determination to succeed, which resounded deep within Sasuke. Itching to move, Sasuke was momentarily surprised by his own want to join the blond, but quickly shoved any attempts at introspection away. Something told him that the results of digging too deeply wouldn't be in his favor.
Shoving himself off the wall, Sasuke went to join Naruto. "Want to try with a real one?" he called out softly, lightly jogging down the rest of the steps.
Startled, Naruto dropped the hilt, stepping back as he peered into the darkness where he heard the familiar voice come from. With help from the flashes outside, he recognized Sasuke stepping forward from the shadows.
"Sasuke?" he said, incredulous. Taking a step back, he watched as the raven met him on the mats and picked up the fallen object. Had Sasuke been watching him? For how long?
"Well? Do you want to or not?"
Unable to process what was going on, Naruto stuttered. "W-what? Try what?" Just how much had Sasuke seen? He reckoned he should feel embarrassed at Sasuke seeing him practice, but strangely, he welcomed the raven's presence. It quashed the feeling of missing something.
"You won't be any good at it, but I'd be willing to at least let you wield a real one," Sasuke offered, fingering the wrapping of the handle. He toyed with it, waiting for Naruto to answer. Normally he'd drop the subject and berate the blond for not paying attention, but Sasuke had his own reasons for iterating the offer.
Glancing down at Sasuke's hands, Naruto realized what the raven was talking about. "Can I?" he asked, excited. Sure he knew he'd fail, but since Sasuke was offering…
xXx
"Stop swinging it like you're hitting a piñata," Sasuke growled, annoyed at the blond. Just as he had expected, Naruto was terrible. Instead of being the one in control, Naruto was stumbling around with the sword, letting it pull him around. Even after a few minutes of pointers, it was clear Naruto was no swordsman.
"It's heavy," Naruto grunted, not used to the extra weight of the weapon. Gripping it with both hands, he held it up and tried to strike Sasuke. The raven easily parried the blow and shook his head.
"Wielding one demands a lot of upper body strength," Sasuke explained, holding up his own sword. A sharp carbon steel blade with engravings down the side gleamed in the darkness. The metal ended in a long handle with white wrappings and a silver cap at the end. "You're not used to handling it, so it feels heavier than it actually is."
"How would you stab someone with this? I mean, with a knife it's short and sweet, but with this, how would you do it?"
"It's easier than you think. One good strike and you can create deep wounds. This blade can cut through flesh and bone like butter. After that, it's only a matter of time before they lose consciousness from blood loss. Or you could slice their head off."
"I think I'll stick to my good old fists." The blond grinned, stepping away from Sasuke as he tried out his own maneuvers. The next thing he knew, the sharp end of Sasuke's katana was brushing the underside of his chin. Freezing, Naruto felt his heart jump to his throat. He followed the length of the blade down to Sasuke's hands and up to his face. Sasuke was smirking at him.
"Suit yourself." Sasuke acknowledged, slowly drawing the blade across Naruto's neck.
Nearly whimpering, Naruto tilted his head back, fearful of getting cut but at the same time not worried he would.
"You can lose up to 30 percent of your blood before it becomes fatal, and all it takes is one clean cut." Sasuke punctuated his words by pressing the sharp edge to Naruto's Adams apple.
Feeling the steel slide against his skin, Naruto swallowed heavily. Sasuke was teasing him.
"You might be good with a blade and guns, but I've been practicing," Naruto began, feeling as if something had changed between them. Sasuke was never the type to tease or mess around. If anything, he expected the raven to look at such activities disdainfully. He got a much friendlier, yet still guarded and cool, vibe from the raven. It was strange but welcome. He thought about questioning but immediately knew he wouldn't get any answers. "My fighting, and I've gotten much better."
"You want to display your newfound abilities in an attempt to garner some sort of praise from myself?" Sasuke said bluntly, reading the blond like a book. By the sudden influx of blood to his face, Sasuke could tell he hit the mark.
Rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, Naruto mumbled. "S'not just for that." He could admit that while he wanted to impress Sasuke, he also wanted to see his own improvement from their first time together. He knew his practice and training was paying off, but he wanted to know just how much.
Sasuke stepped back, giving himself room. The raven slid his sword back into the sheath and set it aside. He brought his metal arm in front of him, crooking his fingers at Naruto. "Alright, show me what you've learned."
xXx
It became a dance. It became a kind of union. Sasuke and Naruto were breathing in unison, finding the same rhythm in their steps and postures. They stuck and parried and dodged, each moving in seamless tandem with the other.
Neither was gaining the upper hand, as the fight had turned from a battle of skill to nothing more than sparring match. Only the lingering sound of the rain filled the room, occasionally interrupted by their ragged breathing and the thud of a blow landing solidly.
Sasuke found himself having to be exceedingly more careful with his strikes as Naruto had learned to defend against them faster than he anticipated. More than one, he was on the receiving end of a well-placed punch or kick in retaliation. It was enough to force him into taking Naruto more seriously.
He had engaged in many fights over his lifespan, but he'd never simply fought for the sake of fighting. It seemed stupid, pointless. If it wasn't to gain skill or to kill, what benefits did it bring? But while he thought that, here he was, actively going along with Naruto and somewhat enjoying himself. The past few days had been stressful on a level Sasuke hadn't reached yet. Having been backed into a corner by the Akatsuki and basically relying on Iruka and Kakashi again wasn't something he relished.
Fighting with Naruto was relaxing in a way. He didn't have the threat of death hanging over his head and forcing him to make each blow lethal. He was simply moving around, working off the stress and enjoying the physical activity. Grabbing a stray tan fist, Sasuke twisted it up, kicking Naruto's leg out. He darted back when Naruto rolled with the kick and aimed for his own leg.
Naruto sprang to his feet and leapt at Sasuke, reaching for the raven with arms outstretched. As Sasuke whirled to the side to avoid the attack, Naruto managed to get a grip on his shirt.
Feeling Naruto latch onto his nightshirt, Sasuke ripped it off in one clean move, leaving it in Naruto's hand. Feeling goosebumps rise on his arms, Sasuke faced the blond, watching him carefully for a new attack. He immediately noticed that something had changed in the atmosphere. Naruto was averting his eyes, glancing down at the shirt before tossing it to the side. He was no longer standing in a defensive position, but rather one that portrayed his sudden awkwardness.
He had ripped off Sasuke shirt. Feeling suddenly very aware of Sasuke's physical appearance, Naruto froze. He had been trying hard to keep his focus on fighting, but something about Sasuke kept drawing him back into his epiphany. He knew it was obvious he seemed too eager, but he knew Sasuke had more than likely chalked it up to trying to prove himself. But Sasuke without a shirt on, metal arm and all, was something ethereal. The pale man was nearly glowing in the low moonlight; sweat he hadn't noticed before was glistening on Sasuke's skin. If he inhaled deep enough, he could probably smell him. The sudden glint from Sasuke's arm was the only warning.
Taking advantage of Naruto's distracted state, Sasuke darted forward and tackled him. Slamming into the blond with a solid thud, Sasuke grabbed Naruto's hands and pinned him, planting the chained limbs next to his head. He placed a knee onto Naruto's stomach, pressing down hard enough to hold him but not enough to be truly painful. His other leg pressed onto the blond's side, the kneecap resting near his ribs. "You're not focusing," He grunted, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Towering over the blond, Sasuke smirked. "If your plan was to impress me, I'm not impressed." It was strange how blue Naruto's eyes looked. They appeared to glow in the dark room, further heightened when he passed by the moonbeams from the window. They were looking up at him now, wide open and almost….worried? Scared? The azure orbs then gazed elsewhere, darting back quickly before looking away again. His own eyes narrowing, Sasuke's head unconsciously tilted slightly in confusion.
The entirety of the day, Naruto had been watching him. It had gotten to the point that Sasuke knew it was purposeful. Everywhere he had gone, he could feel Naruto's eyes glued to him, like a dog staring at a treat. When he'd look over and catch the stare, Naruto would immediately look away or busy himself with something. He was pretending he hadn't been outright gawking, but why? What was he doing? And now, he was looking away again, as if caught doing something bad.
He could feel Naruto's pulse spiking erratically under his grip, thrumming faster than a hummingbirds wings. He knew part of it was the adrenaline coursing through their veins, but even then it seemed excessive. What was he missing?
This was bad, bad, bad. Gazing up at Sasuke with his heart in his throat, Naruto tried to pull away but found his limbs not cooperating. Sasuke's incredibly dark eyes were gazing down at him, seemingly peering into his very essence. A tiny drop of sweat dangled on Sasuke's nose, before sliding to the side and drifting down to his chin. Jesus fucking Christ, did Sasuke know?! His taunt nullified Naruto's panic slightly, as it was evident Sasuke was just fucking around, but their proximity was messing with him. He could smell Sasuke, smell a strange heady musk that was drifting off of him; it made his nose twitch and flare up to catch more. He could almost taste it, wanted to out of curiosity, but held back. He could swear the heat from Sasuke's hands, even the metal one, was burning his wrists. The areas he was touching were calling out in his mind, demanding attention.
Swallowing heavily, he managed a weak smile, hoping Sasuke would back away before things took a turn for the worst. "Who said we're done?" He taunted back. Planting his feet on the mat, he thrust his hips up and to the side, knocking Sasuke off balance. Immediately taking the chance to retaliate, Naruto grappled with the raven, managing to grab his wrists in a tight grip.
Straddling his torso, Naruto pinned Sasuke's hands to his chest, holding them in place tightly. He leaned forward, putting more pressure on his grip. Grinning triumphantly down at Sasuke, Naruto's smile soon faltered as he realized he had made his own situation worse. His dick twitched slightly, enjoying the body contact and wrestling. Oh fuck.
Sasuke gazed owlishly up at Naruto, shocked to find himself pinned. What the fuck? He tensed his arms, testing Naruto's hold and finding it unyielding. Sure he could use his mechanical arm to break free, but truth be told, he didn't fully hate the position they were in. That, in and of itself, was shocking, going against everything he knew about himself.
Looking up the blond, he noticed the way Naruto's abs contracted as he breathed, noticed the bruises and marks from countless hours of practice. His eyes drifted across the tan abdomen and paused for a millisecond at the dark nubs adorning Naruto's chest before reaching his face. Naruto's face was darker than normal and he was looking away again.
Naruto's grasp faltered and Sasuke shoved his hands forward, launching Naruto to the side. He heard the blond grunt with the impact, but didn't glance towards him. Still on his back, Sasuke gazed up at the ceiling of the gym. Something had changed. This went beyond what he thought would happen and now he was in uncharted territory. Confused about his own state of mind, Sasuke brushed the thoughts aside. It was better to deal with them when he had more to work on.
"You've improved." Sasuke acknowledged, the words coming out a little breathy. Closing his eyes, he let his head drop back fully and rested it on the mats. He felt tired, but at ease. His arms were sore, as were his legs and torso, but he enjoyed the feeling. He felt satiated and relaxed, something he rarely experienced in his high-strung life. Focusing on the soft pattering of rain, Sasuke felt his mind begin to drift.
Naruto glanced over at Sasuke before mimicking the raven's position. Hearing Sasuke give him the small praise, Naruto smiled tiredly, feeling the sleep he was avoiding coming over him. He had passed Sasuke's test. The blond felt a bubble of happiness rise inside of him. Willing his body to calm down, Naruto closed his eyes.
xXx
Hope you guys liked this lengthy chapter. Drop a review, s'il vous plaît?