Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, hopefully some decent jokes, and (of course) beautiful SasuNaru love.

Chapter 31: Betrayal

"Kisses are a far better fate than wisdom."

-E.E. Cummings

--

"Hello, Sasuke."

Sasuke opened his mouth to speak, but his words snagged in his throat and refused to come out. All he could do was stare at the pale, reptilian-like man before him. The man he had killed with his own hands. And yet, here he was- alive and very clearly amused by his shock and disbelief.

"How..?" he finally managed.

Orochimaru took a step towards them, followed closely by an equally amused silver-haired medic.

Crimson eyes shifted between the two, still at a complete loss. "What the hell is this?" he grated out.

Orochimaru's eyes shined with malice. "I'm so glad you asked, Sasuke. We have so many things to discuss after all. Like at what point did you decide to conspire with the jinchuriki and betray me?"

He slid closer, golden eyes locked onto Sasuke's wary face. "I was right to suspect that you couldn't let him go. I realize now that I should have ordered his death a long time ago."

Sasuke clenched just jaw, but Orochimaru ignored him and instead shifted his attention over to the blonde standing beside him.

"You know, Naruto- I was quite surprised to find out that you had killed Obito for his sharingan. It would seem that I underestimated you.."

Orochimaru grinned, malice oozing from his pale lips. "I thought the nine tails was the monster, but it turns out that it's vessel is as well."

Naruto flinched.

"Ahh- I seem to have struck a nerve." His grin sharpened. "But can you really deny what you are, Naruto?"

"Enough!" Sasuke snapped, stepping in front of the despondent blonde. "What do you want?!"

Orochimaru slithered closer. "Isn't it obvious?" he purred. "I want to finish what we started, Sasuke."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Orochimaru stepped to the side so he could see the blonde once more. "No? Don't you remember? You were going to prove your loyalty to me-"

He paused, relishing in the fear and discomfort radiating from them.

"- by betraying him."

Naruto's head shot up and he met Orochimaru's stare before shifting his eyes over to Sasuke.

"Oh. Didn't he tell you, Naruto?"

"Stop", Sasuke growled.

"He had no intention of letting you live-"

"I said, stop!"

"- he was just waiting for the perfect moment to kill you."

Naruto took a step back, looking between the two, deep azure eyes flickering between his best friend and one of his worst enemies. "Sasuke..?"

The raven turned to look back at the blonde, hating the look of distrust that flashed in his eyes. Why is Orochimaru doing this? Why now?!

"Naruto, I-"

"Yes" Orochimaru interrupted, "I had a feeling that you would have a hard time following through, despite all of your posturing."

Naruto looked away, letting heavy blonde bangs hide sad blue eyes. Sasuke clenched his fists.

"Which is why Kabuto and I created the Hourglass Curse."

Both shinobi jerked their heads up to face Orochimaru once more. Naruto took a fast step towards him, and Sasuke quickly grabbed him by the arm to stop him. "You created the curse??"

"I did. I let that imbecile try out a copy of it, but you were always going to experience the original."

Orochimaru's unnaturally long tongue slithered out of his mouth, and he licked his lips as he eyed up the blonde- a serpent leering over his prey. "And it was always meant for you, Naruto. So that Sasuke could follow through on his promise."

"You can't force me to kill him." Sasuke snapped, releasing Naruto's arm to take a threatening step towards the bastard.

Orochimaru smirked. "That's where you're wrong, Sasuke."

He reached down and pulled up his sleeve to reveal his left forearm, where he had carved the Hourglass Curse symbol into his arm. It gave off a light green glow, eery in the gloom surrounding them.

"That-" he pointed to the matching symbol engraved in the wall, "is the original curse. It is connected to me."

"And this-" he gestured at the green light emanating from his arm, "- is how I knew you were bound to it."

"Now, with a little blood.." He bit his thumb hard enough to draw blood, then slid it along his forearm, tracing the lines of the symbol until the green glow was completely overshadowed by thick crimson.

Orochimaru looked up. "- I control the curse."

He pressed two fingers against the mark and locked onto Naruto's bewildered gaze first. He opened his mouth and whispered- "pain."

Naruto suddenly dropped to his knees and threw his head back as a gut wrenching shriek tore out of his throat. He grabbed his hair in tight fists and screwed his eyes shut tight as excruciating pain stabbed through him. Every nerve ending was on fire, his skin felt like it was being torn to shreds. His eyes rolled back and he dropped heavily to the floor, convulsing and screaming in agony.

"Naruto!!" Sasuke cried out, dropping down by his side. His hands shook as he reach out to him, but he didn't know what to do.

There was nothing he could do.

"STOP!!" he screamed, panic clawing up his throat as he spun around to face Orochimaru. "Please!! STOP!"

Orochimaru touched the mark on his arm again. "Stop."

Sasuke turned back and watched as Naruto's body abruptly went still, his tormented cries silenced.

Naruto blinked his eyes back into focus and took heavy shuddering breaths. He looked up into dark horrified eyes and tried to say something but could only manage a strangled sob. He quickly closed his mouth, biting his lip hard to stifle the rest of it.

Sasuke's whole body shook with rage. He let out an inhuman howl, jolted to his feet, and lunged towards the snake.

Orochimaru didn't even flinch. Fingers still pressed to the mark he locked his eyes onto Sasuke and once more muttered- "stop".

Sasuke froze mid-step. He couldn't move, couldn't speak. All he could do was stare at Orochimaru, rage fizzling out to pure terror.

He can do anything to us.

He can make us do anything..

His eyes shifted over to Naruto, watching him struggle to sit up, flinching with every movement.

His conversation with Orochimaru slammed into his mind with new meaning.

"You can't force me to kill him.".

"That's where you're wrong, Sasuke."

Sasuke's blood ran cold. No.. no, please no..

"Kneel."

Sasuke suddenly dropped to his knees, the jarring impact forcing his teeth to clack together, sending pain radiating up his legs.

"Do you understand now, Sasuke?" Orochimaru moved over to him and ran his fingers through his hair.

Sasuke shivered with revulsion at the feel of the snake's cold lifeless hand as it slipped from his head to the back of his neck. Orochimaru leaned down as he pushed his head forward, then moved his mouth close to the raven's ear.

"You are under my control."

He let those words ring in Sasuke's mind for a moment before straightening to look down at him. Orochimaru reached into his pouch, spun out a kunai, and threw it down in front of Sasuke. It pierced the ground with a sharp crack. Sasuke glanced down at it, then back up at the leering snake.

"Please," Sasuke begged, ashamed of the way his voice trembled, hating his helplessness, his desperate pleading. "Please- don't do this."

Orochimaru's eyes glittered with delight. He had always wanted to see the Uchiha beg, but he never thought he would see the day where he would actually stoop so low.

It was exhilarating to see.

He studied the raven a moment longer, running his tongue along his lips as he considered him, his fingers pressed firmly against his blood-covered forearm.

He smiled.

"Kill Naruto."

Author Note:

Ok, so this is another Harry Potter inspired part of my story (a while ago I had Itachi pull a Snape-move by forcing his way into Naruto's memories). This time, when I decided to have the symbol carved into Orochimaru's forearm I was thinking about the Dark Mark that the Death Eaters have in Harry Potter. And how Voldemort has control over them because of it.

I don't know- I decided to try something different. Hopefully it doesn't seem too bizarre and off track. Orochimaru is just such a Voldemort, so I went with it and maybe got swept up a little bit in the drama of it all..

Alright~ let the angst continue!! Onward, Cinnamon!