Disclaimers: Naruto is not mine, sadly. This is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, sexual assault, torture, sexual content (yaoi), & angst. .

It's All In Your Head

Chapter 16: Remember

--

Itachi's eyes gleamed as he watch the Nine Tails' chakra consume the blonde, taking over the host piece by piece. This was what he had been after, what the Akatsuki were after. This raw untapped power- a power that was surprisingly easy to manipulate. His gaze shifted over to his brother. Sasuke was, interestingly enough, the key to that. Naruto was so protective of the Uchiha, cared so deeply for him, that he'd lose himself to save him.

"Now that you see what he is, little brother, will you still stay by his side?"

Sasuke looked up at the eldest Uchiha, dark crimson eyes wide with concern and confusion.

Itachi blinked. "Don't tell me you still don't know? It should be quite obvious by now."

Sasuke looked back at the monstrous Naruto before him. "This.. this can't be real."

So.. he was right to doubt you.

The heavy sinister voice slammed into his mind, a layer of cruelty lying just beneath the surface. Whatever had taken over Naruto, it was clearly dangerous. Sasuke could feel it down to his marrows every time it spoke. It made his stomach tighten in knots, his knees weaken.

He- he talks to you?

In the same way you do, the beast replied. But he's usually terrified when I say something back.

Thick-slitted red eyes stared over at him as his mouth stretched into a wicked grin.

I see the same fear in you, Uchiha.

Itachi's voice pulled Sasuke back to reality before he could think of a response. "Your little friend is a jinchuriki- a host for the Nine Tails Fox Demon."

Sasuke's breath caught in his throat. Nine Tails..

"Haven't you ever wondered why the village rejects him so severely?" Itachi said, studying his little brother's face, watching the emotions play out across it. "They don't feel safe with a monster roaming freely among them. Especially after what it did to the Hidden Leaf the last time it was unleashed."

The villagers' words echoed through his mind. All of the times they called Naruto a monster, a beast. The cruel things they would say to him- how he shouldn't be allowed to live, how the men seemed confident that no one in Konoha would come to his rescue.

This is why. Because Naruto is a host for-

No. This time I'M the host. Now he is trapped inside of ME.

Those eyes shined wickedly as the demon's chakra continued to consume the blonde, tearing at his flesh, contorting his body to make it his own.

I won't go back.

He lunged towards Sasuke on all fours, long nails swiping near his face. Sasuke ducked back out of reach, his face a hair's breadth from being clawed open.

"Naruto! Snap out of it!!" Sasuke shouted, jumping out of the way as the Kyuubi lashed out once more. "I know you're in there! Don't let him do this to you!"

He can't hear you, Uchiha. Face it. Your little friend is gone.

"No!! I know you're still in there! Naruto!!"

Itachi tilted his head, curious about this interaction. He noticed that Sasuke was responding to the Kyuubi, almost as if he could..

Hear what he's thinking.

"Hmm."

Itachi shifted out of view and reappeared directly before the jinchuriki. Reaching through the violent chakra, seemingly unfazed by its destructive power, he grabbed his face and yanked him close. Ignoring the pain traveling up his arm, Itachi murmured, "Mangekyou Sharingan".

It took more effort than he expected, but he managed to pull the beast into his illusion, and was surprised to find that he wasn't alone. Naruto was on his hands and knees, struggling to get to his feet before collapsing back to the ground, a pained gasp falling from his lips. Seeing him in this weakened state made sense. What didn't was that his brother was there as well.

"I thought I might see Naruto in Kyuubi's mind" Itachi said smoothly, "but I am quite surprised to find you here, Sasuke."

The raven's eyes flashed with anger, but then a mess of blonde hair caught his eye. "Naruto!" He rushed over and dropped to his knees in front of him. "Naruto, fuck- are you ok?" He carefully reached out and raised his chin. Naruto's face was deathly pale, his wide blue eyes ringed in shadows.

"I.. I'm ok.." he breathed, his voice haggard- like it had to fight its way through a jagged throat.

Sasuke's head shot up to the massive Nine Tails, now in its full form. "You can't do this", he shouted. "You'll kill him!!"

I have no interest in staying trapped in a weak host.

Itachi stepped forward. "Join the Akatsuki, and you won't have to."

Sasuke's eyes shot over to his brother. "Itachi- stop!! Please! You can't do this!"

"You should have learned a long time ago not to underestimate, Sasuke." Itachi locked his eyes onto the raven, and threw his mind back into an illusion that has plagued him his entire life. His clan, his parents- brutally slaughtered by his brother. Blood sprayed everywhere, wide lifeless eyes staring at him- mouths wide open with silent screams, with what was left of desperate pleas for mercy.

Sasuke gripped his hair in tight fists and screamed- screamed the way they couldn't, screamed until his throat was as torn and raw as his heart. Tears streamed down his face, but he couldn't stop seeing them. He could hear a sword slice through flesh, cutting them to shreds. He could hear pained gasps and blood gurgling in the back of their throats. The massacre kept replaying over and over, until he could feel his sanity pulled thin.

And then he heard Naruto's voice, cutting through the blood and horror surrounding him.

"Sasuke, don't let Itachi do this to you! You have to pull out of this. You have to fight back!

I'm here, Sasuke.

You're not alone."

The raven suddenly jolted back, away from the estate filled with corpses, and into Naruto's arms. He was holding him, whispering in his ear, keeping the pieces of him together. Somehow, even in the state he was in, Naruto still found the strength to comfort him, to pull him through. To keep him whole.

"You two have become quite close, it seems" Itachi said, stepping towards them. He knelt down, eyes dark and hollow as he studied the pair.

Sasuke pulled back his arm and threw his fist towards him, but Itachi forced his body to freeze with a single look. This was his illusion after all- he had full control of everything in it.

Itachi grabbed the raven's chin and leaned close. "In fact, before you joined us, Naruto's mind showed me just how close you've become."

Obsidian eyes widened and he glanced over at the blonde out of the corner of his eye, but Sasuke was powerless to do anything else.

"We've all seen what Naruto is willing to do, what he is willing to become, to save you. I wonder.. what will you do to rescue your little pet."

Itachi suddenly threw him down and grabbed Naruto, forcing him to his feet. He dragged him over to the fox demon, ignoring his struggles and his protests.

"Demon! Return to your host." Itachi commanded.

Heh. Like I have to listen to.. to..

Kyuubi's face fell. What?!! He could feel his body shrinking, his power draining, as his chakra was pulled back to his host.

No. NO!! How?!

Itachi smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. Those inky black pools remained as cold as ever. "Your minds are connected" he said smoothly. "And in here they are both under my control."

You'll pay for this, Uchiha, Kyuubi growled. I'll make sure you ALL pay!

Naruto's legs gave out from under him as the Nine Tails' chakra slammed into his stomach, forced back into the cage the seal had created for him. Itachi released his grip and let the blonde collapse to the floor.

"That was easier than expected."

Itachi strolled over to his brother and ran a finger down the side of his face. "I think I'll leave you in here a little longer." Then he moved over to Naruto. He grabbed a fistful of blonde hair and jerked his head back.

"Nnnn!" Naruto groaned. He looked up at that emotionless face once more. He bit his lip, forcing back another pained gasp.

"But you, jinchurki- you'll be coming with me."

No.. Sasuke thought. No! Itachi- please!! Don't do this!

Itachi looked back over his shoulder. "Fall."

Sasuke could feel his body jerk down into a pit of absolute darkness, swallowing him whole as Naruto faded out of his sight.

When he finally managed to pull himself free from the illusions, Itachi was gone.

And so was Naruto.

All that remained was a murder of crows, flying through the trees, their cries piercing in the empty clearing. And then they were gone too, leaving nothing but a handful of dark feathers to remember them by.

Author Note:

Poor sweet Naru. You can never catch a break, can you? What cruel monster would make you go through so much- oh wait, that's me. :P

Unfortunately for our favorite little blonde, more angst is on the way!~

And yes, that scene with Itachi telling Sasuke to fall- that was inspired by the movie "Get Out". It's amazing, and you should watch it if you haven't yet.

Ok~ time for another chapter!