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 46: See
--
Naruto jabbed his elbow back fast, then spun around and sent his fist flying. Itachi already expected this kind of reaction from the blonde, so he was quick to react to it. His hand shot out and grabbed his fist, stopping it in its tracks.
"Nnnn- let go!" Naruto tried to wrench his arm free, but the Uchiha had no intention of releasing him.
Itachi forced his fist back against the door and slammed his palm down on the other side of him, trapping the blonde against it. "I won't let you leave."
Fearful blues stared up at him, the weight of his words settling in his chest.
"You interfered with my plans" Itachi said slowly, "so there is no point in trying to get to him now. I suppose that means I have time to get closer to you."
His eyes flashed with something dark, something that made Naruto's stomach clench tight and his breath quicken. He didn't want to be afraid of him anymore but being trapped like this.. seeing him look at him like this.. That fear wasn't going anywhere. And he had a feeling that he wasn't either. But that didn't mean he had to make it easy for him.
Naruto turned his face away as he swallowed back his fear, hardening his resolve. "I refuse" he said between clenched teeth.
"Refuse all you want. I still have no intention of letting you go."
"And I have no intention of letting you keep me here!" Naruto snapped, jerking his head back to glare at him. "You can't make me want this!"
"Maybe not. But I can help you forget that you don't. With enough time."
Naruto's heart was racing, a rabbit trapped in his chest, frantically trying to break free. He couldn't stand being under this man's control. It scared him, but more than that he was fucking angry. For a while there, he had thought better of Itachi. He was kind to him, and he truly seemed to care about how he felt. But now that just felt like a lie- like he had been wearing a mask that didn't quite fit and was eager to remove it to reveal the truth hidden beneath it.
Naruto understood that people were complicated. There were dark sides to Sasuke that alarmed him as well. Hell, he had even found those jagged parts in himself. But not like this. Not to this extent. The only time Sasuke had treated him like this was when Orochimaru had taken over his body. Itachi, on the otherhand, was in full control of himself.
He could stop if he wanted to, Naruto thought. But he doesn't.
"I should never have doubted.." Naruto muttered. "You really are just as cruel as I thought you were."
"Is that right.."
"Your nice-guy act didn't last long. I guess that shouldn't surprise me." Blue eyes glared up at him. "It's hard to be something you're not, isn't it."
Itachi's sharingan had faded, leaving behind those empty dark pools that seemed to pierce right through him. It made him feel.. uncomfortable and after a while he had to look away, unable to bear the sight of it.
"I was not kind to you for the reason you think" he said slowly. His hand slid over towards his face, sinking into soft honey locks. Naruto grabbed his wrist to stop him but flinched as his torn palm made contact, and he couldn't manage to pull him away.
"I like you" Itachi murmured. "Whether you believe it or not, it is the truth."
Fucking piece of shit!
Sasuke's voice cut through Naruto's thoughts, startling him. He didn't realize he was listening in.
"I don't feel the same way" the blonde replied, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. "You know how I feel about Sasuke. If you.. if you really like me, then respect that."
Itachi's hand moved deeper into his hair as his heart sank further into a place he couldn't get back from. "I can't do that" he breathed. "I don't want to let you go."
"If I have to kill you, I will."
"If Sasuke won't" Itachi murmured, leaning in as he pulled Naruto's face towards him, ignoring the plea in his eyes, favoring the longing in his own, "it might as well be you."
--
Sasuke's fists clenched tight, murder flaring in his eyes. He could still see everything that was happening in that place- could see his blonde trapped against the door, could see his brother pulling him in, could hear Naruto's angry outbursts turn to fearful pleas. Could see Itachi ignore all of it as he kissed him anyways.
Goddamnit!
He turned away from the prying looks of everyone on his so-called team and turned his attention back to the strange clearing. Something flickered before him- a change of the light that shouldn't happen in an empty space like this. The only sign of the barrier hidden within it.
"We have to find a way through this fucking barrier" he snapped, his desperation making his voice razor sharp.
Kakashi nodded. "I know. We've tried a number of things, but so far nothing has worked. This barrier.. there's something different about it."
Sasuke glanced over at him. "Different how?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Not sure yet, but it seems like it's been altered somehow. A barrier like this should be relatively simple to take down. Find the seals, remove them. But he's done something to this. It requires something else, but I don't know what yet."
Sasuke felt just as confused as Kakashi looked, but he didn't want to voice anymore of his own insecurities and concerns than he already had. Too many eager ears were waiting to know more, likely to use against him at some point. He stepped away from the others, avoiding their curiosity and useless pity, and began circling the perimeter of the clearing. He stuck his foot out, but it simply went through it, appearing as normal- as if there was nothing there at all. Kakashi was right. There was definitely something off about this barrier.
Just think. What is Itachi after? What is he trying to do? What is the purpose of the barrier?
His first thought- to contain Naruto. But.. that might not be it at all. Why did he take Naruto to begin with? There was no sign of the Akatsuki, and if it really had been for their benefit they would have shown up by now. He claims he likes the blonde, and maybe he does now, but Sasuke didn't believe that those feelings were there beforehand. Likely, they formed from being stuck in close quarters over the last few weeks.
So, why Naruto?
Because I love him.
The thought popped into his head without permission, but he immediately knew he was onto something. He could feel it. Everything that Itachi was doing to Naruto along with the fact that he had kept him in the dark about what really happened to their family- making him believe a lie all these years.. It's like he wants me to hate him.
But why would he want that?
He had a feeling Naruto knew the answer to that as well. He tried to push the question into his mind, but unfortunately his focus was being pulled in a completely different direction.
--
Naruto jerked his face away from him, tearing free of his embrace. Itachi's eyes flared, and he suddenly grabbed him and dragged him to the other side of the room. Naruto punched him in the stomach, in the face, fighting to break free, but Itachi didn't even react. Adrenaline and rage and lust consumed him- not leaving room for anything else. Not even pain.
He roughly shoved Naruto down on the bed and crawled on top of him, never taking his eyes off his face. Naruto used his elbows to pull himself back, but Itachi moved closer, refusing to let him get too far. Naruto jerked his knee up, aiming for his gut, but Itachi's hand got in the way. He forced Naruto's leg to the side and slipped in between them. Naruto tried to pull away again, but he grabbed hips and yanked him back.
Huge blue eyes shot up to stare at him, horrified. "St-stop!" he screamed. "Get off of me!"
He went to punch him again, but Itachi forced his arm back down. His hold on him tightened and his eyes flared with a fury beyond anything Naruto had ever seen in them. His heart slammed against his chest as cold fear snaked up his spine. He was suddenly, unbelievably, terrified.
"Mangekyou."
Before he could do anything to stop him, Naruto was under the sharingan's control once more- but it was different from the last time. Sasuke was no where to be found. Not even his voice resided in here. And there was no sign of Kyuubi either. It was as if Naruto had been sealed in a small soundproof room.
Sasuke? he called out, unable to stop himself from trying. Can you hear me?
Itachi grabbed his jaw and jerked his head towards him. "No. He can't."
Naruto swallowed. "Why am I here?"
"You think you're clever, don't you."
Naruto stared up at him, confused and still just as fearful. "Wh-what are you talking about?"
"You told Sasuke."
Naruto knew there was no use in denying it. He considered it, for the briefest of moments, but the look in those blood-red eyes told him that wasn't a good idea. "I.. I told him that you were ordered to kill your family."
"And you said who ordered it."
"Y-yes.."
"You understand that nothing happens in my illusion without my permission, don't you?"
Naruto's brows furrowed over nervous blues. He didn't understand, but he was too afraid to voice it.
"Maybe I couldn't stop you.." his eyes sharpened, "or maybe I saw an opportunity and took it."
Naruto just stared at him, utterly confused.
"Sasuke's conflicting emotions will only make the deed all the more devastating for him" Itachi said smoothly, though he could still see the anger fuming in his eyes. "You have done him no favors, Naruto. In fact, you've made it worse for him."
"Worse" he repeated, still struggling to understand.
"Sasuke will kill me. Maybe not for the Uchihas" he admitted, "but I have no doubt that he will after he sees what I do to you."
Naruto paled. "Wh-what..?"
The illusion faded once more, and Naruto was once again no better off. Itachi moved fast and ripped his pants off, then started to unfasten his own. Naruto tried to get away, but Itachi grabbed his leg and flipped him over onto his stomach. He slammed his hand against the back of his head, forcing it firmly against the mattress. Naruto blindly kicked out at him as he reached back, clawing at the hand buried in his hair.
"Nnn.. st-stop!!"
He gasped as Itachi dropped down on top of him, knocking the breath from his lungs. As Naruto fought for air, he could feel Itachi shove his boxers down, exposing him completely. The Uchiha pressed closer, moving his arousal against him. Naruto flinched.
"No.. no! Get the fuck away from me!" He threw his elbow back, jabbing him in the ribs. Itachi growled, eyes flaring with rage. He grabbed his wrist with bruising force and slammed it back down on the bed.
Kyuubi!! Kyuubi, help me!
Naruto could feel the Nine Tails stirring, his chakra growing- could sense him fighting to reach him- but whatever drugs had been used to hold him back were clearly still in his system. He knew he was there, but he was horribly out of reach. Just like how it was with Kabuto.
Kyuubi.. please..
Itachi brought his face lower, his lips grazing against his ear, making him flinch. The Uchiha clenched his jaw tight as he murmured an order, one he expected the blonde to follow.
It was the only way he could get his brother to do what had to be done. To become strong enough to face any challenge, including the corrupt elders- who would love nothing more than to see his early demise. This was the only way he could prevent that from happening.
The only way to preserve the last bit of the clan that he had single-handedly destroyed.
"Let him see."
--
"No.. no, NO!!" Sasuke moved his hands fast and threw his palm towards the ground. "Chidori!"
A sound like the shriek of countless birds in insurmountable agony pierced through the clearing as sharp electricity filled his hand. Sasuke brought his arm up and shot it through the space before him. It went cleanly through and struck a tree on the opposite side. It sliced through its thick trunk, instead of Itachi's throat, and sent it careening to the forest floor.
"I will fucking kill you, Itachi!!" Sasuke screamed, startling the rest of his crew. "Do you fucking hear me!? I will KILL YOU!!"
"Sasuke! Stop! That isn't helping." Kakashi grabbed his shoulder, but the raven jerked away from his touch. Comfort was the last fucking thing he needed right now. He wouldn't calm down when Naruto was in there, when Itachi was..
"Fuck you!" he screamed, needing to direct his anger at something. It wasn't Kakashi's fault, but he was there and Sasuke was hurting. He needed someone else to hurt with him.
"Itachi is going to fucking rape him and we are just sitting here!!"
All the blood drained from Kakashi's face. "What..?" he breathed.
"I need to get in there now!"
"Why would he do that?" Kakashi's voice caught in his throat, making his words sound fragmented.. painful.
"Because he wants me to fucking hate him" Sasuke snapped. "I don't know why, but it's pretty fucking obvious that he's baiting me to.."
Crimson eyes widened.
"He wants me to kill him." He looked over at the jonin. "Why would he want that?"
Mismatched eyes widened with him. "The Mangekyou."
He could see the raven's confusion and quickly added. "It's the sharingan he has. It's what makes him so powerful, how he's able to use illusions to control people.. to torment them." He tried not to think about his own experience with that, knowing reliving that trauma wouldn't help them now. "The only way to get it is to face something so horrible that it shatters a part of you- in a way that you can't get back. Generations of Uchihas have done it by killing someone close to them. Like.."
"A brother" Sasuke interjected. "He wants me to kill him to get the Mangekyou Sharingan. So why the barrier?"
He looked ahead at the hint of refracting light, the invisible barricade that kept him from saving Naruto. And from killing Itachi. He raised his hand and pressed his crimson-stained fingertips against the open space. Fingertips that slowly slid through, but not to the other side of the clearing.
He couldn't see them.
"What..?" He jerked his head over to Kakashi, making sure he was seeing the same thing.
"That's it" he thought aloud. "He only wants me to get in."
Sasuke tore a kunai free and, without hesitation, sliced it across his palm. Blood pooled in his hand, and he quickly brought it up and forced it against the barrier. This time a small opening appeared, and he could see a different part of the clearing inside. And a cabin.
He started to rush forward, but Kakashi grabbed his wrist, forcing him to stop. He glared back at him, which turned to confusion as he wrenched the kunai out of Sasuke's hand. For the blood, he realized.
"Save him, Sasuke."
He looked up and saw Kakashi blinking back tears.
"No matter the cost."
Author Note:
I'm sorry if the back and forth is getting.. annoying? Old? I don't know why I can't seem to just let it go. Scratch that- I do know why. It's because I'm a sadistic monster and I like seeing Naruto constantly tormented. Sorry Naru! Xoxo
Hopefully some of you are just as terrible as I am, and that you are enjoying the continuous trauma.
For those of you who are beyond over it, don't you worry. Sasuke found a way in. Things are bound to get better.
… Right?