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 33: End It With a Kiss

"I can express no kinder sign of love, than this kind kiss."

-William Shakespeare

--

It did not surprise Itachi in the slightest that Orochimaru cracked so quickly. He found that sadists were usually the first to fall when facing the same kind of brutality they would have inflicted on someone else.

Orochimaru was no different.

He was, and had always been, a coward. A worm in snake skin, masking his own fear with cruelty.

The man, if you could even call him that, made Itachi's skin crawl. He found everything about him to be truly repulsive, and had been eager for quite some time to show just how deep his hatred for him lies.

Cold crimson eyes looked down at the trembling husk of a man, his gaze drifting from the restraints on his neck, wrists, and ankles that kept him secured to the cot, to his butchered abdomen, blood still oozing from his wounds. He followed the trail of syringe marks up the bruised and collapsed veins in his arms, to stare at the gaping hole of his mouth where his tongue had once been. Heavy tears escaped wide, terrified eyes and slid down his deathly pale face.

And yet Itachi felt nothing but disdain towards him.

He turned his back to the abomination, no longer interested in tormenting the undead snake now that he got what he wanted. He was about to release the illusion when he paused. He glanced over his shoulder to look at his prisoner once more.

"Sasuke was never yours, Orochimaru", he said quietly. "Because the one who has always been afraid and truly powerless.."

Itachi's narrowed his eyes.

"- is you."

Then the illusion melted away, returning them to the large dusty room that had been Orochimaru's lab at one point- a place filled with torment and pain.

How fitting for the snake to meet his end here as well..

Itachi glanced over at his fellow Akatsuki members. Zetsu continued to keep a watchful eye over an unconscious and tightly bound Kabuto, and Kisame's hand was still wrapped tightly around the back of Orochimaru's head, his sword pressed firmly against the snake's throat.

Itachi looked over to the other side of the room where he found his little brother holding Naruto close, his body trembling as he buried his face in unruly blonde hair. He studied them for a moment before lifting his gaze to take in the Akatsuki rookies that surrounded them, obediently awaiting orders.

They proved themselves to be quite useful after all..

He returned his attention to his Akatsuki brethren, caught Kisame's eye, and gave a terse nod.

The shark smiled a toothy grin, then ripped Samehada across Orochimaru's throat. He held him up, watching blood pour from the gapping wound as his body twitched violently. After a few seconds, Orochimaru went completely limp. Kisame unceremoniously tossed him to the side, watching with utter apathy as his body crashed to the floor.

Sasuke's head shot up. "What the hell are you doing?!" he shouted, his eyes jumping from the crumpled snake to his impassive brother. "We need him to break the curse!"

"No. We don't."

Without further explanation, Itachi walked over, dipped his hand in Orochimaru's blood, and moved to the symbol carved into the wall. He nodded at a group of patiently-waiting Akatsuki. They swiftly moved over to the Hidden Leaf shinobi, forcing the two to their feet before dragging them over to join him.

"Hey! What the hell?! Get off me!" Naruto yelled, struggling in their grasp.

"If you hurt him I will fucking kill you!" Sasuke screamed, glaring daggers at the men surrounding his blonde. His sharingan flashed dangerously, and they quickly looked away.

"Relax, little brother. His life is not in danger."

Sasuke sneered at him. "Like I'm supposed to fucking trust you."

Itachi sighed, then turned away to face the symbol once more. He brought his blood soaked hand up and dragged it across the wall, tracing the engraved outline.

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a look as they were pushed to stand next to him, not knowing what to expect.

Is he actually going to break the curse..?

Itachi glanced over at the two, then looked back up at his subordinates. "Remove their shirts."

Naruto's eyes widened.

Sasuke's darkened. "Don't you fucking touch him", he growled.

The group looked nervous, but had no choice but to obey Itachi's orders. They quickly relieved the two of their shirts, several of them earning fists to the jaw and gut because of it. The Akatsuki forcibly pinned their arms down and Itachi, ignoring the snarling and threats spewing from the two, dragged his fingers across their stomachs, drawing a mirror reflection of the symbol on the wall.

"Deja vu.." Naruto mumbled, checking out their bloody torsos. "So, what- we're going back to the fragmented curse now..?"

Itachi glanced over at the blonde. "Not this time."

"Will you get these bastards off us already?!" Sasuke growled. "We'll do the fucking ceremony ourselves."

Itachi's mouth curved up slightly, the smallest hint of a smile. He nodded at the Akatsuki, giving them permission to release their captives and return to their posts.

As soon as Naruto was released he lunged forward and, without warning, punched one of the men across the face. The rookie collapsed to the floor, his eyes dazed as he struggled to stay conscious. Naruto pushed away the Akatsuki trying to hold him back, reached down, and grabbed the man by the shirt, pulling him close.

"That's for hitting Sasuke, asshole."

He punched him again and threw his now unconscious body to the side, then straightened to face the Uchihas. They both raised an eyebrow at him, shock evident in their matching crimson eyes.

Naruto looked between the two. "What?" he shrugged. "I don't like when people touch my things."

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

Itachi shook his head, holding back a laugh as he reached into his pouch. He pulled out a kunai and looked back over at them. "Hold out your hands."

"Go to hell", Sasuke spat.

"You can do this yourselves, or I can have someone come and assist you."

Knowing Sasuke was too stubborn to give in first, Naruto thrust his hand out, turning his palm face-up.

"Naruto!"

The blonde winked at him. "Come on, Sasuke. This is nothing compared to everything else we've had to freaking deal with."

Sasuke reluctantly held out his hand.

Itachi quickly sliced his knife across their palms. "Now, put your hand on the wall, just as you did before."

The two turned to face each other before slamming their bloody palms against the symbol. Itachi took several steps back as a piercingly bright light poured out from beneath their fingertips. They both flinched back, but their hands were locked onto the wall, and they weren't able to get very far.

Itachi started chanting, repeating the words he had seen in Orochimaru's memories, as he kept his eyes averted.

"Ahhh!" Pain suddenly rushed up Naruto's arm and lodged deep in his chest. He grabbed his arm with his free hand, digging his nails into the skin.

"Naruto? Naruto- are you ok?"

The blonde winced as another jolt of sharp electricity pulsed through him. "I- Nnnn!" he groaned. "I'm good.."

Sasuke's jaw clenched as he watched Naruto gnaw at his lip to hold back his pained sounds. "Just hang in there.."

The blonde nodded, but kept quiet- not trusting his voice.

Itachi's chanting suddenly grew louder as he uttered the final part, "By night and day, I release the curse from soul and body, as the host's counterpart-"

Sasuke met his gaze and nodded. He quickly wrapped a hand around the back of Naruto's neck, gave a small reassuring smile, and then pulled him in for a searing, curse-shattering,

kiss.

Author Note:

Moral of the Story: Kissing solves all problems. ;)

Bearlikespie- I absolutely loveeee that we thought the same thing about the curse! Nothing beats a good Dark Mark ;) And I have to say, I am always SO excited to see your comments!! I'm super curious about your thoughts every time I post a chapter! So thank you for sharing.