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), self-harm, & angst.

It's All In Your Head

Chapter 93: Fall

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Kakashi stopped and glared down at the man who had kept Naruto prisoner, the monster who had undoubtedly tormented him just as he had two years ago. The bastard he had already eliminated once before.

The one he was eager to kill again.

"You should have stayed dead, Itachi."

The raven looked up, his fractured gaze cold. Empty. Truly the eyes of a lifeless vessel, nothing more.

"I've been hearing that a lot lately" he said, the words devoid of emotion. As hollow as his stare.

Kakashi may have once pitied the man, but no longer. He felt nothing towards this corpse but hate. Time to end this, he thought to himself. For good this time.

Kakashi tore a kunai free and grabbed a fistful of dark hair. He jerked Itachi's head back, exposing the length of his sickly pale neck. He pressed the edge of his blade to it, and Itachi just.. let him.

Kakashi furrowed his brows. He should be fighting back. So why isn't he?

It's not like I caught him off guard, and he doesn't seem to be in pain.

His eyes shifted to the mangled mess that had once been Itachi's right eye. I don't think he can even feel pain. He studied the injury closer. There isn't any blood.

Kakashi slid his gaze back to the knife pressed to Itachi's throat. Will this even work?

Itachi was too calm, and not in the same way he was the last time Kakashi killed him. Back then the Uchiha had clearly given up. He saw no reason to keep going when Naruto had already ruined his plans and Sasuke had rejected the Mangekyou. He'd accepted his death, which made it easy for Kakashi to deliver it. But now, something was off.

It was too easy.

Maybe Itachi knows that I can't kill him this way.

His eyes widened.

Or maybe…

Kakashi jerked the knife across Itachi's throat and a mass of dark feathers erupted from the gaping hole, scattering all around him. They disintegrated as they fell to the forest floor and soon after Itachi's shadow clone disappeared with them.

"Shit."

Kakashi threw his head up fast as he ran for the cabin. "Sasuke! Get Naruto out of there now!"

Kakashi moved fast but something else managed to move faster, cutting off his progress. He threw his kunai out in front of him, and blade met blade in a violent clash as he came face to face to with Itachi Uchiha.

Again.

Kakashi glanced over at Obito and Sai to see if they fared any better, but both of them were engaged in their own battle with their own Itachi. Though, Kakashi had a feeling none of them were the real thing. Itachi was a highly capable and formidable foe- there was no doubt in his mind that it worked the same way with his vessel.

He went back in that cabin.

Back to Naruto.

The shadow clone moved his hands fast, forcing Kakashi to refocus his attention on his own threat. He would fight through as many clones as he had to, but in the meantime he could only hope that Sasuke would protect Naruto. That he would get him out of that damned prison.

That he would do everything Kakashi had failed to do.

Help him, Sasuke.

No matter the cost.

--

Naruto slowly pulled back to get a look at Sasuke's face. He needed to know that it was really him, that he wasn't alone here anymore. That he was finally safe.

It's really you, right?

Sasuke gave him a sad smile. "Yeah Naru" he said softly. It's really me.

The blonde gave a shaky sigh of relief, but it didn't last. He sensed something in the hall just past them, and had a feeling he knew exactly what it was. Wide blue eyes shot up fast, watching with growing horror as Itachi stepped towards them.

"Naruto.."

Red slammed into Sasuke's eyes and he quickly released his blonde and turned back to face his brother. He threw his arm out to shield Naruto as he rose to his feet, his body already vibrating with rage.

"You have some fucking nerve coming back in here" he snapped.

Itachi slid his remaining sharingan over to his little brother, noting the Mangekyou in his. The one he had so vehemently rejected the last time they met.

A part of Itachi was curious about it. He was tempted to ask his brother what made him change his mind, how long he's had it, if he resented him for it or if he finally understood why he had gone to such lengths to ensure he had one. But that curious side of him was small, but a remnant of an Itachi that no longer existed. An Itachi he had already snuffed out.

One that he had no intention of bringing back.

The raven shifted his gaze from his brother's scarlet eyes down to the blonde hidden just behind him. The reason he was here in the first place.

"I can't let you take him, Sasuke. Naruto is mine."

Naruto flinched, and Sasuke's fury grew.

"You're sick" he growled. "You are fucking sick! Naruto tried to kill himself to get away from you! Don't you get that?!"

Itachi shook his head. "You're wrong, little brother. Naruto just couldn't bear to be parted from me, and you were about to take him away. Don't you see? He would rather die with me than live with you."

Sasuke blinked.

How the hell could he be this delusional? Where is this even coming from..?

Not that it mattered. He would make sure that Naruto was never stuck with this monster again. Itachi's fantasies and bizarre delusions would die with him.

"Enough."

Sasuke flicked his wrist as he channeled a burst of energy to his palms. Sharp electric chakra flashed all around him, flickering in his crimson eyes and crackling in the space between them.

"I'm ending this" he snarled. "Once and for all."

Sasuke shifted out of view and instantly reappeared in front of his brother. He threw his arm out, unleashing an attack that Itachi easily dodged just as a shadow clone did the same from above. Unfortunately neither of them landed, which immediately pissed him off.

Itachi evaded every one of his attacks, but he never countered them. It infuriated Sasuke to no end. He wanted a fight, he wanted his brother's head, and he wasn't getting any closer to either one. It was clear that Itachi had no interest in battling him- all he cared about was getting to Naruto. His one working eye kept slipping back to him, gleaming with excitement every time he got a good look.

Sasuke couldn't stand to see it.

He leapt back to his blonde, blocking him from Itachi's sight.

"Naruto, I'll distract Itachi. I want you to go outside. Sai and.. Kakashi and Obito are out there" he said, though he was still unhappy to have their last imprisoners with them. "They'll keep you safe" he added.

When he didn't hear a response, Sasuke glanced over his shoulder. "Naru-"

His voice faltered as he realized why Naruto wasn't answering. Because it's not completely Naruto anymore.

His blonde was encased in thick demonic chakra, and it was quickly becoming stronger. It tore at his flesh as it consumed him, and ignited something in his eyes- something feral.

Naruto slowly rose to his feet as Kurama's power continued to pulse through him, as it changed him. His canines elongated, tearing past his bottom lip, and his hands stretched into long razor-sharp claws. He leaned forward as a deep growl echoed through him, a sound more animal than human. One that both Uchihas knew quite well.

Nice to see you again, Kurama.

Those reddening eyes shot over to meet Sasuke's, recognition flickering inside.

Can't say the feeling is mutual, Uchiha.

I know you don't mean that, Sasuke thought back.

He turned his attention back to his brother, who was watching the scene unfold with a complete lack of concern. Like he doesn't understand that Kurama is coming for him. That he is about to tear him apart.

Not as dumb as you look, are you.

Before Sasuke could respond to the snarky fox, Naruto suddenly shot past him and lunged at Itachi. The raven flickered out of view before Naruto could land an attack, but it didn't deter him. The savage jinchuriki spun around fast, dropped down on all fours, and rushed for the Uchiha all over again. This time when Itachi dodged him Kurama's violent chakra shot out, tracking his movements before unleashing a swift and sudden strike. It slammed into Itachi hard and sent him flying back into the living room.

Naruto ran forward to deliver another brutal blow and Sasuke rushed in to join him. Or rather, he attempted to. But everytime he tried to go after Itachi, Naruto blocked his attacks. Just like he did the last time they were in this situation.

It was just as frustrating now as it was back then.

"Dammit, Naruto, will you just let me-"

"We don't need your help" the fox demon growled. "Not anymore."

Naruto threw another chakra infused fist out fast and slammed it into Itachi's face, sending him reeling to the floor. Before the Uchiha vessel could react, Naruto grabbed him and threw him up against the wall- a hand wrapped tight around his throat. He made sure to avoid the Uchiha's remaining eye and the sharingan spinning inside as he leaned in, another deep growl ripping through him.

"You will die for what you've done to him."

The raven still didn't seem to have enough sense to understand the position he was in, to heed his threat. He didn't fight him, and it was clear that he didn't fear him. Not in the slightest.

Itachi reached out, pushing his hand through demonic chakra, unbothered by the way it tore his flesh apart. The hand around Itachi's throat tightened, but it didn't stop him from sinking his fingers into Naruto's hair, cradling his face in his nearly skinless palm.

"I'm already dead, Naruto. But that doesn't mean we have to be apart. I won't ever leave you."

Naruto's lips pulled back from his fangs as rage and revulsion coursed through him.

"I wouldn't count on it."

His hand squeezed down hard, and a sharp crack pierced through the room. Itachi's body went limp in his hands, but Naruto wasn't done. He didn't trust that it was enough. Itachi was dead to begin with- a broken neck might not be enough to truly kill him off.

Naruto's claw dug into the Uchiha's throat and with one sudden motion he tore it out.

Sasuke grimaced at the sight but he wouldn't turn away from it. He didn't trust that Itachi was gone either. Not yet.

Naruto opened his hand and Itachi's vessel fell to the floor. His head hung heavily to the side, the bone in his broken neck protruding at a grotesque angle. But there was something about him that seemed.. off.

He's still alive.

Sasuke saw blue flash in Naruto's eyes, a hint of his real self pushing past the Nine Tails' power. He looked down at the man at his feet- the person he had once cared for, the man who had violated him, imprisoned him, who terrified him to the point where Naruto chose suicide to escape.

Someone he just wanted to forget.

Someone he suddenly had the urge to destroy.

Naruto's eyes flickered blue and red, blue and red, as his inner demon fought for control- eager to carry out his revenge for him. Naruto's fists tightened. This was his fight, and this time he wanted to be the one to end it.

In the end, Kurama relented his control. Even so, he wanted to help. The fox shifted his demonic chakra to Naruto's arms, his clenched fists, relinquishing his hold on the rest of him. He could sense Naruto's gratitude, even if he didn't say as much.

Naruto pulled his arm back as he narrowed his flickering eyes on the Uchiha at his feet.

"Don't come back this time, Itachi."

Then he threw his fist down into his face. He hit him over and over, pummeling him until every bone in his face was shattered.

And Itachi let him. Even more…

he smiled while he did it.

Sasuke tore his horrified gaze away from that gruesome smile to look at his blonde again and his face immediately fell. Tears slipped down Naruto's cheeks, one after the other. Even as he continued to punch the Uchiha into the ground, Sasuke saw no enjoyment there- no semblance of victory. All he saw was pain, as if every punch shattered something in Naruto too.

Sasuke moved over to his blonde's side and quickly grabbed his arm to stop him. Naruto tried to wrench it free, but Sasuke held fast and refused to let go.

"That's enough, Naruto."

All of the fight drained away from Naruto, almost as suddenly as it had appeared, and Kurama's power with it. Sasuke pulled him away from Itachi's remains and into his arms, shielding him from the grisly sight at his feet. And Naruto let him. Whatever strength he had found, it was gone. Now all he wanted was the comfort his boyfriend offered, a sanctuary from his turmoil. And Sasuke was more than willing to give it.

Naruto fell against him as a sob racked through his body- one he just couldn't hold back. Sasuke tightened his arms around him, enveloping him, wanting nothing more than to take away his pain.

"It's ok, Naruto" he murmured softly. "It's over now. It's over."

Naruto wanted to believe him- he was desperate to. But nothing ever seemed to change. All of the traumas from his past, they just kept coming back. Over and over in a never-ending loop, and he couldn't escape it. He wanted it to be over, but he just couldn't trust that it was.

He wasn't sure he ever could.

Sasuke sensed his blonde's doubt, his fears, but he didn't comment on it. He was afraid to say the wrong thing. Instead he held Naruto close, smoothing back his hair as he sobbed against his chest- as everything he had gone through suddenly came crashing down on him.

They heard the rest of the team approach, but neither pulled away. And no one expected them to. Sai hung back, patiently waiting for the chance to support his friend, and Kakashi and Obito stepped over to examine what remained of Itachi.

The real one this time.

The damage was severe, but they were also well aware that this man was a reanimated corpse. It was definitely possible that there was still life in him.

They couldn't allow that.

The two exchanged a look and nodded in silent agreement. Without a word Obito activated his Kamui. Careful to avoid the others, he pulled the Uchiha corpse inside and sealed him away.

For good this time.

Author Note:

I'm sorry Itachi! I do adore him, but he's just too easy to make into the villain.