Chapter 19: Curse Mark

Disclaimer: Mark my words dear readers: I do not own Naruto

Sasuke stared up at his former mentor and tormenter. Memories of test tubes and the sickening smell of bleach and blood flooded his mind. Memories of watching other, lesser, subjects getting tortured for the sake of growth. Memories of his heart growing colder and colder with each passing day.

All to get stronger.

And it worked, too. Sasuke successfully shut off almost every part of himself that was human. He stopped caring about his team. The experiments made Sasuke immune to poison, and strengthened his body beyond what he could have possibly hoped to achieve naturally.

He was strong.

Back then, he didn't even mind that the curse mark poisoned him just as much as it empowered him. It poisoned his mind by destroying any semblance of self-control with each use. His temper's already short fuse all but disappeared in the years that he used it.

But it also fortified his mind – made his goals that much clearer.

It poisoned his body, too – destroying his body from the inside out, causing a boiling pain that made him feel sick after every use. But he needed to use it. So much so that there were days he craved the pain, craved the poison. Sometimes, he would train in his cursed seal mode just to feel it. Just to feel the unbelievable power pulse through his veins like fire.

Even now, free of the curse mark, Sasuke missed it.

So, in that first split-second Sasuke gazed upon the man who cursed him – for a sickening, split second – he wanted to do it all over again. Endure it all over again. The pain. The piles of rotting, experimented flesh. Having needles and liquids shoved through his system over, and over, and over again. Have a constant, physical reminder of to whom he belonged.

He looked at Orochimaru and he saw promise. He saw hope. He saw strength.

That first split-second passed, and suddenly Naruto had shoved Sasuke and Sakura back behind him, his arms held out protectively. Sasuke watched as his fingernails grew into claws, and red chakra coated Naruto like a cloak. It stretched out in such a way so that it looked like four tails appeared behind him, curling around Sasuke and Sakura in a protective manner.

Sakura's eyes widened, and she leaned away from the red chakra. She turned to Sasuke, then to Naruto, and finally back on Orochimaru.

Orochimaru tilted his head, and grinned. Suddenly a wave of killing intent rolled off of him. Sasuke's heart stopped, and for a moment all he saw was a snake looming over him. Hungry.

Ready to devour.

Sasuke heard Sakura whimper next to him, and he forced himself to breathe. Clearly, I am out of practice. He activated his Sharingan and reached for his sword.

Strength could come later; right now, he had his team to protect.

"You can take the Suna ninja's scrolls; we don't have anything valuable to you." Sasuke told him, playing the part of an ignorant genin.

Orochimaru's grin stretched wider, and he leisurely stepped closer.

Naruto sprang forward with his hand outstretched. Orochimaru's arm seemingly disappeared for a second, and suddenly a loud crack echoed in the forest that made Sasuke flinch.

"Naruto!" Sakura screeched, jumping to her feet as the unconscious Naruto began falling with the shattered tree.

Sasuke's eyes widened as the debris cleared. A single bare foot was just barely visible underneath several enormous branches. The air rushed out of Sasuke's lungs as he stared, looking for a sign, a twitch – anything.

Get up. Get up Naruto!

Sakura lurched in Naruto's direction but – as if possessed – she slowly turned her head back to Orochimaru. He hadn't moved from his spot, but his eyes narrowed and his grin stretched unnaturally. Sakura flicked her gaze back to Naruto, and more tears fell down her face as it contorted into a helpless and hopeless expression.

The rubble started to move – Naruto…? Sasuke watched as dirt and leaves slowly shifted towards the lone foot, black and white scales appearing and disappearing. Suddenly, the branches flew upwards, revealing Naruto sprawled on his back. And a massive snake.

Sasuke threw several kunai, but the 50 foot snake batted them away and swallowed Naruto whole. Sasuke could only drop his arm as he watched it slither away into the woods.

Sakura collapsed next to Sasuke, shaking as sobs wracked her body. He didn't blame her. Orochimaru smirked, and Sasuke gathered Sakura in his arms to flee.

Naruto is fine. Naruto is fine. Naruto has to be fine, Sasuke repeated to himself like a mantra.

Sakura trembled in his arms, and he heard the unmistakable rattle of one of Orochimaru's more poisonous snakes. He reached into his weapons pouch, and the moment the snake revealed itself, he shot forth six kunai. He didn't even bother to watch it collapse into a heap of dead scales.

Orochimaru was gone.

Maniacal laughter ruptured from somewhere Sasuke couldn't see, and his heart immediately quickened. Sasuke stopped running, and placed Sakura directly behind him with his sword drawn out in front of him.

I know that laugh, dammit I know that laugh! The only times Sasuke sincerely feared for his life under Orochimaru's tutelage were what followed after that laugh. And this time… Sasuke glanced back at Sakura, who stood shakily on her feet, but her eyes still wide with terror. Naruto might be…

Sasuke shook his head.

"Naruto is fine. Get it together." Sasuke growled – to her or to himself, he wasn't sure.

Where is he? Where is he?

Suddenly he was falling, and he heard a hissing shriek. Sakura! He landed heavily on a branch below and using chakra, bolted up to another branch higher up. Sword ready, Sasuke turned—

—to see another snake, dead by Sakura's hand. She was pale and her eyes were still wide, but her kunai was bloody and she appeared to have stopped shaking.

How could I have missed – never mind. We need to get out of here.

Sasuke's eyes met Sakura's, and they were off once more. Chokutō tight in his hand, he watched and listened.

A leaf rustled, and Sasuke's hands flew into the motions to set forth seven lightning balls. While the lightning balls were exploding, Sakura followed up by throwing her own weapons in the mix.

He didn't stick around to find out what happened, however, but continued to run.

I need to find Naru—

Everything disappeared.

Moaning, Sasuke shifted, and inhaled a good amount of dirt in the process. Groaning again involuntarily, Sasuke coughed – which sent a stabbing pain through his ribs. He gasped, which only made him cough again, this time heaving up blood and bile.

What… Wincing, Sasuke tenderly touched his ribs. One… or two… broken, maybe. Sakura can… where is she, again?

Sasuke put his palm against his pounding forehead; what… Just…

"Tut, tut." Orochimaru chided.

Sasuke's blood froze. Still on his hands and knees, Sasuke lifted his head.

Suddenly, the blinding pain didn't seem so bad anymore.

"Running away so soon is so very rude, Sasuke-kun."

Orochimaru had wrapped his body around a thick tree branch, a lazy grin stretched across his face. Looking to his left, he saw Sakura lying unconscious – and unharmed – in the grass. To his right lay his , Sasuke gripped the hilt of his chokutō.

Right. Sasuke groaned and grimaced as he forced himself to his feet. How could I forget?

Sasuke glared at his former teacher, and fortified his body with chakra.

There is no running away from him.

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, and Sasuke leapt into the air with four kunai in one hand and a demon shuriken in the other.

Ignore the pain.

He tossed out the kunai at impossible speed, memorizing and predicting Orochimaru's every movement.

Focus.

Sasuke threw the shuriken to activate a trap Naruto had previously set up for the Suna ninja.

Just like Orochimaru taught.

Somewhat distracted by the kunai, Orochimaru almost allowed himself to get hit by the falling tree and accompanying needles. Sasuke could see him calculating – calculating if he wanted to dodge or not – but Sasuke wasn't about to wait for his decision.

Sasuke set the needles and falling tree on fire and tossed out weapons so that it would hit Orochimaru's blind spot.

In the end, the Sannin dodged all of it.

But Sasuke was taught better than that. Even as the Sannin dodged, Sasuke used his Sharingan to predict Orochimaru's next step. Shooting out a series of weapons attached with wires around the man, Sasuke lit them up with fire-electricity. He caught the look of surprise as Orochimaru was set ablaze.

Not trusting even for a moment that it would be enough, Sasuke positioned himself above so that he would be able to look at Orochimaru's eyes – but still far enough away that he could flee.

The second Orochimaru's eyes became visible, Sasuke attempted the second genjutsu he learned from his father's scroll.

He had learned it with Orochimaru in mind.

When used correctly, the genjutsu would hypnotize the victim. It would lull them into complacency, and they would do whatever the caster wishes. They would have no autonomy. No control. No ability to break free from the Sharingan hold.

For a split second, he could see it work. Orochimaru's eyes, just for a moment, glazed over.

Sasuke's breath caught in his throat.

But then Orochimaru blinked. His pupils dilated, and Sasuke knew. He had failed.

Cursing, Sasuke jumped back several trees, trying to ignore the jolt of pain everywhere. Sasuke pressed his back against a tree and, panting, turned his head to at last get a better look at Orochimaru and still have some semblance of hiding. The skin around his arms and his face were melting off from Sasuke's earlier fire electricity attack.

No; Sasuke realized. Shedding off. His skin had only been superficially burned, and Sasuke grit his teeth to prevent the enraged scream.

Of course, his attacks hadn't been enough. Not that he'd expected them to, but kami, it pissed him off. Not enough. I am still not enough!

Orochimaru began laughing quietly. Ecstatically.

"Remarkable." Orochimaru's lips read – he was a little too far away for Sasuke to hear him – and his grin was positively gleeful. "Remarkable! You are so much more than I imagined! Indeed… I want you. No. I need you."

His words sent a sickening lurch through Sasuke's stomach. I had forgotten.

I forgot what he was like.

Sasuke briefly glanced over in Sakura's direction, though he couldn't see where she lay.

Will we really be able to just get away? Without giving him what he wants? Sasuke pressed his forehead against the bark; although part of him missed the curse mark, the larger part of him wanted nothing to do with it.

He hated the feeling that he needed to use it. He hated the high it gave him. He hated how reckless the curse mark made him.

I do not need that power… I know I don't. But…

Sasuke looked back in the direction of Sakura.

And Naruto… Is it really possible to save them without the curse mark's power?

"You two… you really are brothers." Orochimaru continued, peeling off his own skin. "I had fun testing your powers… in fact, I sense that your eyes surpass Itachi's."

Itachi.

No. Sasuke growled; Onii-san specifically destroyed the curse mark for a reason. I will not dishonor him by allowing Orochimaru to mark me again.

Pathetically weak as I am, I will not resort to Orochimaru's methods. Not again.

"Oh, ho?" Orochimaru grinned, looking directly at where Sasuke hid. "Don't like that, do you? Well, no matter… I know your goal is to gain revenge. But as you are right now… You're too weak."

Sasuke remembered the day when Itachi had pressed his mouth up against Sasuke's ear, taunting him of his weakness. Itachi knew Sasuke was weak. Orochimaru could see that he was weak.

For the past two months, Sasuke had been… deluding himself. If he could barely handle Orochimaru not taking him seriously, how was he supposed to take down Konoha? Kill Danzo?

Get Itachi to finally tell the truth?

"I will give you a… gift to help with that."

Sasuke's eyes widened and he forced himself to dodge as Orochimaru's neck stretched out, his teeth turning into venomous fangs. Sasuke jumped back three more paces and drew out his sword. Orochimaru hissed, and Sasuke chopped his head off.

Somewhat surprised, Sasuke foolishly stared at it for a second before instinct forced him to move again. He felt hot breath on his neck as he jumped forward.

Sasuke tossed a kunai behind him, which Orochimaru dodged. Sasuke dropped down to a lower branch, and then to the branch adjacent. He's playing with me!

Suddenly Orochimaru appeared in front of him—

And Sasuke felt something grab the back of his shirt before he was sent flying in the opposite direction.

He landed hard on a branch several meters away, and looked up to see… a barefoot idiot in tattered orange and blue clothes.

Naruto? Sasuke blinked rather stupidly, not comprehending the sight. Red chakra covered the blonde, stretching out so that it gave him four tails. Relief and anxiety alike washed over Sasuke as he looked from his teammate to his former mentor.

"What are you doing, you idiot? Get out of here!" Sasuke managed to yell, making a broad sweeping gesture with his arm.

Rather than responding, Naruto punched Orochimaru in the face. The Sannin flew backwards, and Naruto immediately turned around. His eyes were red and the apparent whiskers on his face had become more prominent.

Naruto started running directly towards Sasuke, and Sasuke took a step back – forgetting that he was on a branch.

"What are you—" Sasuke started, but Naruto had already grabbed Sasuke and threw him over his shoulder. "Naruto!"

Ignoring Sasuke, Naruto raced to where Sakura was, dropped Sasuke unceremoniously, and turned back around. Sasuke started to get up when a large, black orb appeared in Naruto's hand. Sasuke could only stare as the blonde shot the orb out.

What is—

Sasuke's eyes widened as everything in its path got destroyed. At last, the orb reached its intended target, and exploded a mile wide. The ground beneath him shook violently.

Sasuke fixed his gaze up at Naruto.

"Na—" Sasuke started, but once again Naruto had picked him and Sakura both up.

"We need to go. Now." Naruto said before running off again.

They finally stopped running after two hours – Naruto had put Sasuke down an hour and forty-five minutes back – and settled into a little cave hidden behind some trees. Steaks of light swept down from in between the leaves, offering some visibility.

The moment after Naruto put Sakura down, Sasuke punched him. Hard.

Naruto grunted, and took a step backwards to prevent himself from falling over. A humorless chuckle escaped from his mouth as he wiped away the blood from his cut lip. Naruto otherwise didn't react, and for some reason it made Sasuke want to take another shot at him.

"What. Was. That?" Sasuke hissed, and then grimaced in pain.

Who are you? He didn't ask out loud as he stared at the blonde. Why are you so powerful? Why is it, even going back in time, I am still behind you?

His familiar blue eyes looked strangely solemn. His face, which Sasuke knew so well, looked so strange. Naruto didn't respond right away.

Are you really Naruto?

Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to have thought better of it, and took a deep breath.

"What do you want to know?" Naruto asked, sitting down.

Sasuke stared at Naruto; that's it? Scowling, Sasuke slowly sat down across from Naruto. He looked… weary.

"What was that attack?" Sasuke asked, a little less accusatory than before.

"It…" Naruto sighed, and rubbed the back of his head. "Do you know who Kurama is?"

"Get to the point, Naruto." Sasuke demanded.

"Kurama is the Nine-Tailed Fox. You know, the fox that destroyed half of our village about twelve years ago and… I am the jinchuriki that holds him. Which means I can use his power. What you saw was Kurama's power – I was just borrowing it."

Sasuke stared at Naruto. Sasuke had once entered into Naruto's mind and met the Kyubi – it was how Sasuke was finally able to learn the truth behind Naruto's power. But in that brief moment, he had gotten the impression that Naruto and the Kyubi hated each other. But the way Naruto is talking about him… And the fact that this demon just allows Naruto to use his power?

Why?

"Borrow his power? He just gives it to you?" Sasuke asked.

"He does." Naruto nodded, and then his trademarked goofy smile spread across his face. "We're friends. And that guy, that creepy snake guy, was too dangerous not to use Kurama's power."

Friends? Really? Has this always been true? Has he always had access to that power? Then why not use it before? Why not use it in the original timeline?

Naruto stayed silent as Sasuke processed, looking strangely calm and tired.

Why is Naruto different? Me going back in time is one thing, but why would it affect Naruto like this?

"Have you always been this powerful?" Sasuke asked at last.

"Yes." Naruto answered.

Perhaps it was the poor lighting, but Naruto seemed different. Looked different. There was something about his eyes that… seemed almost familiar, but too strange on Naruto. Still the same idiotic 12-year-old Sasuke had grown accustomed to, and yet more somehow. Sasuke looked into Naruto's eyes and he saw pain. He saw loss. These things weren't new, but there was also…

Oh.

He did recognize those eyes. Just not in a 12-year-old Naruto.

How could I have never noticed before?

"Are—" Sasuke started to ask.

"Look, it's not what you think." Naruto interrupted.

And there's that self-righteous, know-it-all attitude.

"And what am I thinking?" Sasuke asked, crossing his arms – and suppressed a wince.

"That I tricked you. That I'm different. I don't know." Naruto said, shaking his head. "I'm the same as I always have been. The only reason I never told you, either of you, is because…"

Naruto trailed off, and lowered his eyes.

Memories of his current and previous timelines jumbled together – times of when Naruto appeared less than truthful. Times when he dodged questions. Times when Naruto silently pleaded to not be questioned further.

Times that had very little to do with the fox, and everything to do with how strong Naruto really was.

"You're afraid." Sasuke said, somewhat surprised.

"Don't tell Sakura-chan. I don't want her to—"

"A little late for that, Naruto." A rough, and strained, voice said.

The boys turned to their teammate, who was in the process of sitting up. Grimacing, she looked around the cave before settling her eyes back on Naruto.

"Look, you being a jinchuriki or whatever doesn't change how I feel." Sakura said as she ate a chakra pill. "You're my teammate. You hosting… The Kyubi doesn't change that. I'm not scared of you."

Sakura's hand glowed, and she touched a spot on the back of her head. Sighing in relief, she slowly moved her hand around her head, her neck, and finally her shoulder.

"Kurama." Naruto said. "His name is Kurama; he's not just the Kyubi."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, and then shook her head. Suddenly, she pulled Naruto into a fierce hug.

"I take it he is responsible for keeping you alive when you got poisoned back in March? And when you got… eaten?" Sakura asked, pulling away.

Naruto nodded, and Sakura gave a polite bow.

"Then thank him for me." She said.

Naruto stared at her, and then chuckled, shaking his head. Sakura, meanwhile, took a deep breath. Then, she promptly punched the cave floor. The impact created a small crater, and a series of curses strung from her lips that only got louder with each curse.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged looks – what's going on?

"I am going to kill him." Sakura finished, and then put her hands over her face. "I am so pathetic."

"Sakura-chan, what—"

"No, Naruto." Sakura interrupted, lowering her hands. "I froze. Like some pathetic little civilian girl, I froze. You were falling, and that snake appeared, and… I… I froze."

"Well, in your defense, that guy—" Naruto started again.

"Doesn't matter. Anyone who abandons their friends is lower than trash, and I all but abandoned you because what? Because I was scared?"

Sakura cursed once again, and slapped the cave floor once again. Naruto frowned, darting his eyes to Sasuke, and then back to Sakura. She stared at the ground, her eyebrows twisted and her mouth hard.

"Er, Sakura—" Naruto started, and then cut himself off when she abruptly looked up at him.

"Naruto, this won't happen again." Sakura said. "I promise. I vow on this day that I won't allow myself to freeze like that. I will not let fear get in the way again – no matter who I am facing."

Her eyes were hard and determined – no hint of insecurity in sight. A slight smile escaped Sasuke's lips; there she is. That's the Sakura I remember.

Naruto stared at her in surprise, and then started chuckling. "That's the Sakura-chan I know. Just don't be stupid."

"No, that's your job." Sakura teased.

"Sakura-chan, I'm serious." Naruto pressed, a shadow passing over his face.

Like when we saw Kabuto…

"So am I, Naruto." Sakura replied.

I am such an idiot.

Naruto threw a rock at her, which she blocked and threw back at Naruto.

But there's no time now.

Sasuke cleared his throat. The noise brought his teammates' attention to him.

"We need a plan; he's not going to stop coming after us." Sasuke said.

"But why?" Sakura asked. "What's he after?"

Both Naruto and Sakura stared at Sasuke, waiting for his answer. To mark me; to make me his. To give me strength, Sasuke didn't say. He looked out of the cave mouth, at the large tree that protected them from outside view.

"Me. He's after me." He admitted at last.

Sakura furrowed her eyebrows. "But why?"

Do I tell them? Sasuke looked at his teammates' eyes; familiar concern reflected in their faces.

"Because he wants to defeat… my elder brother." Sasuke said, looking down. "He needs me to do that."

Sakura's eyebrows shot up. "You… you never talk about your family."

"It's… complicated." Sasuke told her.

A silence settled on them, and only the sound of leaves rustling could be heard.

"You're one of us, and we aren't going to let that freak have you." Naruto said at last.

"That's right." Sakura nodded.

Their fierce determination… made the pit in Sasuke's stomach grow. Here they are trying to protect me from him, and I…

Sasuke looked back at the trees. I don't want the curse mark, but I still need his help if I want Konoha to be destroyed next month. Sasuke looked back at his expectant teammates, who now looked more confused than determined. Well, maybe I can just let him destroy Konoha without actually helping him.

I won't stop him, but I won't help him, either.

"Ideas on how to get away for good?" Sasuke finally asked.

Sakura opened her mouth, but Naruto jumped up.

"Snake!" he exclaimed. "Two miles out!"

And they were gone.

They ran faster than ever before. Birds and other animals bolted out of their way – even a wild cat didn't bother them as they raced past.

Ignore the pain, Sasuke told himself and he forced his limbs to cooperate. Use chakra to fortify the broken bones like Orochimaru taught. Focus on your goal.

Naruto cursed. "He just killed another decoy clone. Half a mile out – this guy just doesn't quit!"

"How is he so fast?" Sakura panted. "Chakra pills! Now."

The boys nodded, and all three of them chewed on a soldier pill. The effects were immediate, and they started running even faster.

"Crap, crap, crap!" Naruto said, his blue eyes turning red. "Get ready, guys."

Sakura groaned, pulling out several kunai and shuriken. Sasuke drew his sword, ready to run lightning through it.

Naruto created several more clones – two of which were also coated in the red chakra, except they only had one tail. Was he always able to do that?

Sasuke shook his head; Never mind that. Focus on the enemy at hand. Listen. Watch.

Orochimaru is here.

A large snake appeared in front of them, but a single-tailed Naruto clone punched it, causing the snake to explode on impact.

"Well then, that's not very nice of you, is it?" Orochimaru said from somewhere.

The trio immediately got into formation, standing back-to-back. Naruto's red chakra wrapped around Sasuke and Sakura like a protective blanket.

"Sakura, when he appears." Sasuke murmured; she nodded in response. "Naruto?"

"Yeah, yeah; I know." Naruto growled, pulling out several kunai.

He shot them out, and using Wind Release: Gale Palm, scattered the weapons at neck-break speed. Naruo's clones meanwhile sent forth explosive tags while the trio remained where they stood. On instinct, Sasuke looked above them.

"Snake!" Sasuke exclaimed, and the trio separated.

Electricity flowed through Sasuke's sword and body, and he swung – seemingly blind – but it made contact with metal.

"Fascinating." Orochimaru hissed, his eyes wide with joy. "How did you know I would be there?"

Sasuke glared and pulsed lightning from his sword. Orochimaru jumped back before he could be electrocuted, but immediately fell as the tree beneath him collapsed. The old snake jumped again, and that tree also collapsed.

"Irritating little twit." Orochimaru muttered as he turned to Sakura, who was starting up another Earth Release jutsu.

But Naruto and Sasuke were already there – chokutō and claws attacking Orochimaru on all sides. Orochimaru reached into his mouth, and pulled out a sword – his prized Kusagani. In moments, he destroyed Naruto's clones. The boys just barely jumped back before their own heads were severed.

"Sasuke-kun, let me show you what real kenjutsu looks like!" Orochimaru grinned, going straight for Sasuke.

Sasuke watched, as if everything was in slow motion, as Naruto tried to get in the way. Sasuke could predict the trajectory. Predict their movements. His eyes widened – he's going to die – and raced towards Orochimaru and Naruto. Orochimaru raised his hand against Naruto, but Sasuke had already leapt into the air.

A single finger scraped Naruto's cheek before Sasuke could kick Naruto away from Orochimaru. Sasuke immediately sent forth a charge of lightning through his sword towards his former mentor. The lightning cut through Orochimaru's clothing and even into his skin before the sword had a chance to touch him. Pushing more chakra through the sword, the lightning exploded violently and—

And he caught it.

With his bare hand, Orochimaru caught Sasuke's chokutō. With a wicked grin, Orochimaru used Kusanagi to slice Sasuke's sword as though it were butter.

No time to mourn the loss of his sword, Sasuke jumped back and threw the lightning-charged blade at Orochimaru. He sliced the broken blade again, and bit his thumb.

Before Orochimaru could enact his summoning jutsu, ten Naruto clones suddenly appeared and punched Orochimaru in all directions. The fox chakra gave Naruto and his clones unnatural speed and power, forcing Orochimaru to block and dodge with some effort.

Meanwhile, Sasuke jumped back to where Sakura was. Their hands started flying in sync, and the moment Orochimaru pushed back the clones, his eyes made contact with theirs.

Sasuke's Sharingan spun wildly as he and Sakura pulled the Sannin into their Joint Mind and Body Bind. Genuine surprise came over the old snake's face as he froze, and in that second Naruto and twenty clones sent weapons in a flying flurry of explosions.

The weapons tore the Sannin to shreds.

Orochimaru growled something that Sasuke couldn't hear, and suddenly Naruto and his clones were all sent flying back. The clones disappeared, and the real Naruto let out a raw scream – his red chakra glitching out.

Sakura, a little closer than Sasuke, jumped to catch Naruto.

Sasuke, seeing everything, knew better. Pulling out chains, he threw them out, wrapped both of his teammates, and pulled them away before Orochimaru got to them.

Sakura landed gracefully next to Sasuke, and they both had to catch an unconscious Naruto. His face had returned to normal – but twisted in pain. They carefully set him down, and stepped in front of him with their weapons drawn. Orochimaru smiled.

Why is he just playing with us? Sasuke wondered.

"My, my." Orochimaru said, wiping away blood. "You three are quite the little team."

Why haven't we died?

Sakura twitched, and Sasuke immediately put his arm out in front of her. She glared at Sasuke, but he shook his head. Don't do something stupid, he silently pleaded.

"I am actually rather impressed; you three… remind me of some people I used to know." Orochimaru admitted, walking forward.

Why isn't… Fangs grew from his mouth, and suddenly Sasuke understood. Oh.

Sasuke could feel Sakura begin to shift.

Orochimaru didn't move any faster, but Sasuke knew he had no time.

Naruto groaned, and Orochimaru smiled even wider.

I see.

Sasuke's stomach dropped.

"I'm sorry, Sakura." Sasuke murmured before hitting a pressure point in her neck.

A surprised noise escaped from her mouth before she passed out, and Sasuke caught her by her shoulders. He glared at Orochimaru.

"Don't hurt them." Sasuke demanded as he set her down next to Naruto.

Orochimaru started laughing as he approached.

The laugh made his stomach churn.

"Very smart… the only way for prey to escape a predator… is to give the predator a different meal. Or in this case, give him exactly what he wants. Just wait, Sasuke-kun… you will be seeking me out soon."

The snake-man took his time – he already had his prey exactly where he wanted. Orochimaru wasn't one to rush himself. Sasuke's stomach recoiled again, and he had to fight the urge to flee. This is the only way. He's keeping them alive for now, but if I don't give him what he wants…

They'll die.

Sasuke heard Naruto stir, and Sakura moaned, but they otherwise didn't move.

This is the right decision, he told himself, even as he looked into the eyes of bondage. I killed him once, and I'll kill him again.

Three years… I can deal with the curse mark for that long again.

Suddenly, Orochimaru stopped walking. He stood not even a foot away from Sasuke, and the Sannin narrowed his eyes. Then, they widened, and he jumped backwards several meters into a fighting stance. Surprised, Sasuke averted his eyes to his left, barely turning his head. He couldn't see anything – but he dared not take his eyes off of Orochimaru.

"You will not take my prey away from me." Orochimaru hissed.

Sasuke took a step back, only to feel a hand on his shoulder. Who–? Suddenly, Sasuke felt very, very sleepy.

The last thing he saw was a flock of crows overwhelming Orochimaru.

Author's Note:

Orochimaru is surprisingly difficult to write. That's all I gotta say about him.

Also, and I've been meaning to mention this here for like ten chapters, but if you ever see two words put together without a space, or italicized words with random letters not italicized, this is actually not bad editing. For some reason, after I upload the document to the Fanfic site, random spaces gets deleted, or things don't get properly bolded/italicized. No idea why, but it is what it is.

In any case: I hope ya'll have a lovely rest of your day!