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 13: Read
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"Well, if it isn't my favorite student.."
Sasuke looked up.
"Oh, nope. It's just Sasuke. My mistake."
The Uchiha rolled his eyes as his sensei's exposed eye curved with the rest of his covert grin.
"Very funny."
The Uchiha proceeded to walk away, and the silver-haired jonin proceeded to join him. He was tempted to tell his teacher to get lost, that he wanted to be alone, but the truth was he didn't want to be alone. He wasn't exactly craving Kakashi's company but, just like the last time their paths crossed, he didn't want to be stuck alone with his own either.
Kakashi tucked the book he had been reading into his pouch and glanced over at the boy keeping pace next to him. "Trouble in paradise?" he asked casually, already knowing the answer. There really was no other reason why Sasuke would be wandering around out here when he had Naruto waiting for him back at home. He watched the boy's steps falter and eyed him curiously.
Sasuke paused mid-step. At first, he thought Kakashi was talking about his Icha Icha Paradise book. He was on the verge of telling him where he could shove his newest reading material, when their eyes met, and he realized that the question was a genuine one. He dropped his gaze, his body and mind suddenly unbearably heavy. "Is it that obvious?" he murmured.
Kakashi tilted his head, studying the dejected raven. He was curious to see his reactions to a conversation like this. "With you, it is only ever obvious when it comes to Naruto."
Sasuke froze. What the hell is that supposed to mean? He looked up and caught his sensei's eye. "What're you trying to say?"
"I'm simply saying that if people were less hung-up on you being the "Uchiha prodigy" and actually took a good hard look at you, they would have noticed a long time ago."
Sasuke started walking again, and Kakashi followed along beside him. "Noticed what?" he asked, attempting to feign ignorance. It might have worked on one of the other villagers, but it was not in the least bit convincing when it came to Kakashi. That man had him figured out all along.
The jonin smiled beneath the mask, clearly enjoying himself. "If you don't want people to know how you feel about him, you're going to have to work on hiding it a little better."
Sasuke was silent for a moment, his mind spinning. What do I even say to that? he thought frantically.
Do I deny it? Is he just joking, or does he actually know?
Kakashi was difficult to read- it truly could be either. But Sasuke was tempted to believe the latter. It did seem like the jonin wanted to help him.. and Naruto too for that matter.
Besides, I told Naruto that I didn't care who knew. That he shouldn't be ashamed of people knowing.
Am I really going to go back on that now that I'm facing it head-on?
Sasuke took a deep breath, then glanced up. "How.. long have you known?"
"I haven't been your teacher for that long" Kakashi replied, "but I would bet I knew before you did."
Sasuke was speechless. Which was fine, because that wasn't the question Kakashi was after.
"The real question is, does Naruto know?"
Sasuke looked away. "He does now.." he murmured.
"Hmm?"
"I was tired of hiding it, so I-" Sasuke sighed.
Kakashi glanced down. "I'm listening."
"I let him inside my head."
"Sounds unpleasant."
Sasuke glared. "Are you here to help me or mock me?"
Kakashi stretched his arms high before knotting his hands together behind his head, a grin in place as he comfortably moved through the streets beside his angsty student. "I'm sure I can manage both" he said slyly.
Sasuke seemed less than amused.
"So" the silver-haired jonin continued, "you let him inside your head, huh? And did anything else happen that might have been eye-opening for him?"
Sasuke eyed him suspiciously. "Why do I get the feeling that you already know?"
"I can be incredibly perceptive."
"Right.."
"Since I already know, you might as well tell me."
Sasuke dragged his fingers through his hair, shoving back his embarrassment as he forced back long raven strands. "I.. I kissed him."
"Tongue?"
Sasuke blanched. "What?!"
Kakashi cleared his throat, covering a laugh. "Ahhemm- nothing. So, you kissed him. And?"
Sasuke stopped and spun around to face his far too relaxed teacher, still not understanding why he was telling him all of this. He didn't know him, and he had no interest in getting to know anyone else besides Naruto at this point. He never let people close, he never trusted people with his private truths and thoughts. So, what the hell am I doing?
He knew how out of character all of this was for him, and yet he couldn't shake the feeling that Kakashi really was his only semblance of hope in this godforsaken village. The only person who could help him make sure he didn't screw things up and lose the only person he gave a shit about.
If talking to Kakashi means I have Naruto, then I'll tell him anything he wants to know.
"He freaked out" he finally said. "He was nervous, and I made it worse. He said he wasn't ready for it, and I didn't listen."
"So.. he wasn't feeling it at all, huh?"
Sasuke averted his gaze. He could feel his cheeks growing warm, which was already far more emotion than he'd like to show. "He.. he liked it, but he didn't want to admit it out loud. He said we're just friends."
"Hmm."
"What?"
"And do these recent attacks on Naruto perhaps have something to do with his fear of this newfound intimacy with you?"
An image of Naruto being forced down onto his bed flashed in Sasuke's mind. He could still see the bit of memory Naruto let slip- of a hand sliding down his stomach before forcing its way into his pants. He grimaced at the thought. He didn't know how far that hand went, but his imagination could connect the dots.
No wonder he's so afraid.
Sasuke didn't respond, and he didn't need to. Just like all of his other thoughts towards the blonde, Kakashi could read him clearly.
"Sasuke, if you push too hard, you're going to push him away."
"I know.."
"You need to be patient with him. Gentle with him. I'm sure by now you realize no one else ever has been."
Sasuke swallowed back his shame, knowing he was one of those people. God, how could you do that to him..? How could you hurt him just like everyone else?
Kakashi clapped him on the shoulder, giving him a tight reassuring squeeze. "Just because he's not in your arms now, doesn't mean he's completely out of reach. Maybe try coaxing him out of his shell instead of just breaking it open, hmm?"
"I get it" Sasuke snapped, shoving his hand away. "Enough with the damn metaphors!"
His sensei grinned. "Reading all of that Icha Icha has made me quite the academic, it seems."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I'm sure."
Kakashi abruptly spun around just as a black blur came to a skidding halt in front of him. Sasuke stood just behind the jonin, eyes widening as the black ops shinobi straightened before them. "Kakashi, we need you to report in with the Hokage."
All humor in Kakashi's eyes fled. "What's going on?"
"The Akatsuki have been spotted just outside the village. They may already be here. We need as many capable men as possible to scout the perimeter, and to intervene if necessary."
Sasuke flinched.
The Akatsuki.
Does that mean..?
"Do they know which Akatsuki members?" Kakashi asked hurriedly. "How many were there?"
"Only two were spotted, but we believe one of them is-" The black ops ninja suddenly became aware of the raven just behind Kakashi. He hadn't paid him any mind before, taking him as just a student the man must be in the middle of mentoring. He quickly realized his error.
Sasuke's eyes hardened as he stepped out from Kakashi's shadow. "It's Itachi, isn't it."
Not a question. He knew. He knew the second the words dried up in the man's mouth when he spotted him. When he realized the only other Uchiha was there.
Itachi.
He's here.
Crimson bled into Sasuke's narrowed gaze. "Where is he?" he growled, chakra and adrenaline already coursing through his veins, vibrating just beneath the surface. He could feel his heart hammering against his chest, pulsing behind his eyes. He was ready to face him. He needed to face him. To end this. Once and for all.
For his clan.
For his parents.
For his sanity.
Kakashi suddenly turned towards him and roughly grabbed his arm, yanking him forward. "Sasuke- where is Naruto!?" His voice was breathy, his eye filled with concern.
"Naruto?" Sasuke repeated, his mind struggling to switch away from Itachi. "He's back at the Uchiha.."
Fuck.
"He's at the Uchiha manor" he breathed. "Where Itachi.."
No..
Sasuke threw himself back, trying to pull free of Kakashi's grasp, but the jonin's grip tightened, locking him in place.
"What are you doing?!!" he screamed. "I have to stop him! Naruto is-"
"I'll take care of it" Kakashi said, his voice sharp. He threw the Uchiha at the black ops, who quickly grabbed him and pinned his arms down. "Do NOT let him out of your sight" Kakashi instructed, his eyes intense. "Signal for the others. Tell them to meet me at the Uchiha manor. Now."
"No!!" Sasuke screamed. "Wait- Kakashi! I'm going with you!"
"Sasuke, you're staying here."
Kakashi reached over to his headband and yanked it up, revealing a deep red sharingan eye. Sasuke was stunned speechless for a moment. He had heard rumors that the famous Copy-Cat Ninja had a sharingan, but he found it difficult to believe. It was a Uchiha trait, after all, and Kakashi was not from his fallen clan. And yet- there it was. Another sharingan.
How is that even possible? he wondered as their sharingans met.
Who is Hatake Kakashi, really?
"I'll get him back, Sasuke." An immense amount of chakra channeled to his feet, and he tore several kunai free from his satchel. "I promise."
Sasuke's frozen demeanor thawed. "No- NO! Stop!! You can't keep me here! I'll save him myself! Itachi-"
He swallowed, forcing back the images of his past as they slowly crawled to the forefront of his mind. "Itachi won't do this to me. Not again." His sharingan spun as it met Kakashi's. "Itachi is mine."
The jonin eyed the enraged raven, then shifted his gaze back to the black op. "Keep him here. Use any means necessary."
"Kakashi!"
"He is not to go anywhere near the Uchiha manor" he said sharply, "is that understood?"
The man nodded.
"Right." Then the jonin shifted out of view, and he was gone.
Rage slammed into him as Kakashi disappeared. He left. He fucking left me here. When he knows how I feel, when he knows what Itachi did.
And now Naruto could be-
"Let go" Sasuke growled. He kept his head lowered, letting heavy raven strands cover his face, as chakra and rage consumed him. When he turned to glare over his shoulder, the shinobi could see one blood-red eye gleaming between the cracks. Those sharingan eyes always made him nervous. But this Uchiha was just a kid.
He had nothing to worry about.
.. Right?
Author Note:
Oh nooooo!! The cliffhanger!
The horror!
The angst... horse.
clomping echoes from down a darkened corridor*
"Ahhhh- there you are, Cinnamon. I was wondering when you'd show up again."
mischievous horse eyes peer through the gloom*
"Neigh."
"Cinnamon, darling-"
swirls a glass of angst-wine and, after the slightest hesitation, also pours a glass for the horse.*
"-your mind is a decrepit, nightmare-infested chamber of horrors."
grins*
"I can't wait to explore it."
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Hehe.. nightMARE.
Cuz horses.
Ok, I'm sorry. I'm done.