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 15: Change

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Sasuke and Naruto raced through the trees, seeking coverage in the shadows and thick foliage, but they knew it wouldn't be enough. Not against Itachi, or his sharingan.

Sasuke hated to run. He wanted to destroy the man, but he needed to get Naruto away from him first. That had to come first.

"The black ops" he suddenly recalled, finally thinking clearly now that Itachi wasn't directly in front of him. "They were heading to the house. We just need to get to some of them."

Naruto nodded, and the two veered their course back towards the village. When they could see the town again, Sasuke pushed Naruto in front of him and slowed his pace.

Naruto looked over his shoulder. "Sasuke? What are you doing?"

"Go find help. I'll hold him off."

He stopped. "What?! No way! I'm not leaving you out here!"

Naruto go!

Fuck you, Sasuke. I'm not abandoning you.

Sasuke ran up and shoved him. "Naruto, this doesn't need to involve you! Just fucking leave!"

Naruto pushed him back. "It only involves me, you fucking moron. He's not here for you!"

Sasuke froze. What? "Why is Itachi after you?"

"Yes, Naruto. I'm sure we'd all be interested in hearing the answer to that."

The two teens jerked back and found the eldest Uchiha propped against a tree, blocking their access to the village.

Sasuke stepped in front of the blonde and held his arm out, forcing him to stay back. "It doesn't matter. I won't let you leave, Itachi. I will kill you where you stand."

The Akatsuki member tilted his head. "Is that so?" His eyes gleamed. "Do you really think that you can defeat me, little brother?"

Sasuke's mouth curled into a vicious sneer as years of pain and anger pulsed through him. I'll kill him. I'll fucking kill him.

Sasuke, Naruto thought gently, calm down. Let's just think about this.

I have to kill him. I have to.

Sasuke, he tried again, we have to be smart about this. Come on-

He has to die.

Sasuke-

He will die!!

Sasuke threw open his mouth and screamed with all of his hatred. "You. Will. Fucking. DIE!"

He moved his hands fast and sent a roaring fireball jutsu at Itachi, distracting him just long enough to pull Naruto out of sight and to see to it that two shadow clones stay by his side. "Stay here" he whispered. "But if you see an opening to escape, go."

Naruto tried to pull at Sasuke's arms, to force him to hide with him. He wanted to keep him away from the source of all of his fears, from the thing that was clearly driving him crazy, but the clones pried his fingers away and the real Sasuke slipped through his grasp.

"No, w-mmphh!" One of the clones slammed a hand down over his mouth, muffling his protests.

Sasuke, please! He's too powerful to take down on your own! This is suicide!

I will kill him, Naruto, he thought, moving away from the blonde. No matter what it takes. I will KILL HIM!! I'm not waiting another fucking second. Sasuke ground his teeth together, locking down his steel reserve, and rushed back to Itachi.

No! Sasuke, stop!

Naruto knew it was useless. Sasuke was consumed by hate for his brother, and his words weren't getting through to him. So, I need more than words.

Naruto swiped his leg out fast, knocking one of Sasuke's clones to the ground. It quickly jumped back to its feet, but it had released it's hold on Naruto. The blonde tore a kunai free from his pouch and stabbed down into the shadow clone's foot as hard as he could. The clone opened his mouth to scream and popped without a sound.

Dammit, Naruto! Stop killing my fucking clones!

Naruto stabbed the other duplicate in the neck, waiting for it to pop before sheathing his weapon.

Eat shit, Sasuke. I'm coming to help you.

This time Naruto ignored all of his protests and moved to join him. The two Uchihas were already sparring, their speed ridiculously fast. Sasuke had gotten stronger, but it was clear that he was still outmatched. Itachi landed a brutal blow to his gut and slammed his knee into his chin before sending Sasuke flying. He landed in the clearing below with a heavy thud. Naruto leapt down and rushed over to him, but Itachi intercepted him before he could get there.

"No! Nnnn! Let go!" he fought to free himself from the Uchiha's grasp, desperate to get to Sasuke.

Naruto could see him struggling to push himself up, blood sliding down his face, and something in the blonde changed. Anger sparked in his gut like a rush of gasoline on hot coal. He could feel it flowing up his arms, curling in his fingertips, billowing up his throat.

He clenched his teeth together tight, but it did little to relieve the tension in his face. His jaw was on fire as his mouth widened, stretching his skin taut. He could feel his canines elongating, cutting into his bottom lip. They were razor sharp.

What is this?

What's happening to me..?

Sasuke lifted his head, blinking through the blood slipping down his face to look at the blonde. He froze, shocked by what he saw.

Naruto?

The whisker-like markings on his face stretched as his face tightened around a gruesome, feral mouth. His hair was longer and standing on end- like raised hackles on an animal ready to attack. Red chakra engulfed his entire body, flowing from every fiber of his being. The skin on his hands looked raw, like it was being torn apart from the inside.

Naruto threw his head back and screamed as his body morphed into something that wasn't entirely his own.

Itachi took a step back and watched with growing interest, seemingly deep in thought.

Sasuke, on the other hand, could only stare in utter horror. He opened his mouth but couldn't get the words to fall out. Naruto.. His voice was unsteady even in his head as he watched the blonde's disturbing transformation.

What the hell is happening to you?

He could feel panic spreading in his mind when he didn't respond.

Naruto?

Still nothing.

Dammit, Naruto! Answer me!

Naruto isn't here right now.

Sasuke's eyes widened. You're.. you're not Naruto, are you?

Heh, heh.. Not quite.

Author Note:

I've been listening to a lot of Midnight Tyrannosaurus lately, and the villainous voice in the songs Body Count, and Brain Sludge is what I have in my head as I write Kyuubi. If you haven't listened to those songs, do it- but be prepared for beautiful bizarre chaos.

You'll feel like you're losing your mind while you dance.

And you'll love it.