Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ Hitting Rock Bottom ( Chapter 20 )

 

 

The Never Played Symphonies

 

Chapter 20: Hitting Rock Bottom

 

 

Sasuke scowled for what felt like the millionth time that day. It was not due to the mission either, because the very thought of the hopelessness of that situation had already numbed him into a state of apathy. No, it was the fact that while he was going through all of these heart wrenching, life-changing, momentous decisions; Itachi would not talk to him.

 

He hadn't even said a word since they had left headquarters and started south towards Konoha. It was either he was really upset about something, or he knew how much this would piss Sasuke off, so he was doing it just to spite him. Honestly, neither would surprise him, but if he were banking on one it would be the latter; because pissing him off in whatever way possible was one of Itachi's very favorite pastimes.

 

Whatever the case may be, it didn't even matter at this point because it was pissing him off regardless. How dare that ass make this any harder on him than it already was! Wasn't it enough that he was going to do the very thing he told himself he would not? That he was going to utter the very whisper of betrayal that would lead him to betray what he had many times considered to be his only friend? How could he be callous at a time like this? He should by all rights be kneeling at his feet, begging him to pick his `dear loving Aniki' over Naruto, because if their roles were reversed that's what Sasuke would be doing.

 

Though that in on itself was laughable, because their roles would never be reversed. Itachi would have never let himself be put in such a situation, because he was the strong one, and that right there was what was more maddening then anything else. For once he wanted to get one-up on his brother, make those emotionless eyes widen in shock when he realized that his Otouto wasn't just the nice little toy he thought he was, and watch that `superior than thou' attitude he had come crumbling down around him. And when it did, Sasuke would be there to pick up the pieces, poking that bastard on the forehead and watching all of his hopes and dreams fall into the black abyss where Sasuke's lay, tattered, broken, and alone.

 

Scowling once more, Sasuke pushed his way through the trees, having to go at full speed to even keep up with his elusive brother. He would not win this battle. Not when there was so much at stake. It was in that moment that Sasuke decided that no matter what he had to do, or however long it took to accomplish, he would not throw Naruto to the wolves.

 

He was like a star shining through all the blackness that was Sasuke's life. He was the one thing that had no yet been tainted by Itachi's or the Akatsuki's hands, and he wouldn't let that stop now. They wouldn't lay a finger on him if he could help it. He would die for Itachi, he would kill for Itachi, but he wouldn't do this.

 

Naruto was the only one who ever looked at him and saw the part of himself that wasn't soaked in darkness. It was the part that his brother had tried to destroy, and possibly accomplished such a feat, and yet he wondered if those brilliant blue eyes were to shine on him again they would wash away all the taint that Itachi had always promised to, but only continued to darken more. He wondered…if he saw him again, would the dobe hate him? Was he too far gone now that not ever Naruto could see that small glimmer of light?

 

“Nii-san, the first time you entered the village again, how did you feel?” They continued to jump through the trees, and even though there was noise all around, Itachi's silence was deafening. He hadn't said a word to him since he had woken up, and he wondered for the first time whether or not the reason was because his injuries were still hurting.

 

The speed they were going had to be putting enormous strain on the body. Any normal person would have collapsed already, and yet Itachi was anything but normal. The very notion of slowing down due to an injury was enough to personally offend him. Though now that he was looking he saw how clammy Itachi still was, and how there were beads of sweat just waiting to fall down his brow line and off the crook of his nose. …And so he asked a different question.

 

“Itachi, are you alright?” He asked, knowing it would get the same answer it always did. …He wasn't disappointed.

 

“Fine.” He croaked, continuing at the high speed Sasuke knew for a fact that his body would no be able to keep up with. He wouldn't be surprised if his brother didn't even make it to Konoha. If he had to take a guess he would be collapsing any moment, and they would have to rest until he had enough strength to go on. A thought occurred to Sasuke then. If Itachi did collapse it would probably be the only chance he ever got to warn Naruto about what was coming. After all, Itachi had already made it perfectly clear he wasn't going to allow him any shenanigans while he was there, but while he was sleeping was another matter entirely.

 

“I'm getting hungry.” Sasuke tried, knowing that neither one of them had eaten before they left. “Can we stop for awhile and eat?” Honestly, he hadn't had much of an appetite for days. He figured it probably had something to do with the fact that he had been forced to smell the scent of Itachi's burning flesh, and after that eating was the last thing on his mind, but if it got Itachi to stop, then he would force whatever he could down his throat.

 

His plea didn't get the other Uchiha to slow down in the least, and he wasn't even met with a response. A frown adorned his features as anger bubbled up in his chest. He could not handle this bullshit anymore! His legs stopped altogether as he leaned up against the tree, watching Itachi continue to run off in the distance until he was almost out of range. Though before that time his brother did stop, and with that Sasuke bounded after him, stopping about five feet behind his still turned back.

 

“You're a dick.” He grumbled, jumping out of the trees into the clearing underneath. He reached into his pack, pulling out the necessary provisions that had brought along for both of them and dealing big enough portions for Itachi and himself. His brother still had yet to jump down to join him, but that really didn't matter at this point. Sasuke was sure Itachi's stomach lining wasn't strong enough to eat yet anyways. It would probably just end up making him sick. The point was he had gotten him to stop, and so maybe he could avoid having the stubborn bastard collapse.

 

He bit in to the dry tasteless bread they had brought along; somewhat thankful at the blandness of it, because he wasn't sure he could keep anything else down. Not only was his appetite gone, but also his stomach was a bundle of nerves at the thought of just what might occur in just a few short hours when they reached Konoha.

 

“Are you thirsty?” He asked Itachi, who was still lingering silently up in the trees, ever the cautious observer. Sasuke knew he couldn't keep that act up long though. Since he had awakened, Itachi had been drinking an insane amount of water to compensate for the heat inside of his body, and he knew there was no way with the amount of running they had done that his brother wasn't dying of thirst. He may be able to get away with not eating anything Sasuke had to give him, but drinking was another matter entirely.

 

Sasuke placed the canteen to his lips, drinking down the now slightly warm water and sighing in content as it quenched his thirst. The container was about half full, and he made sure that every last drop landed into his belly. He stomach sloshed when it was all over, but he was allowed to hold it up, shaking it to show that it was empty, and so it was worth it.

 

“I'm sorry Nii-san, I drank it all. I'll go get more!” He said quickly, half way up onto his feet when Itachi finally jumped down, pushing on his shoulder to make sure he couldn't sit all the way up.

 

“I'll get it.” He said coldly, holding his had out for Sasuke to place the canteen in.

 

“You don't have to Aniki! You should rest, I'll…”

 

“I said I'll get it.” Itachi hissed, the grip he had on Sasuke's shoulder tightening. “Wait here until I get back. You're the one that wanted to rest and eat, so eat up.” Sasuke sighed at that, shrugging the hand off of his shoulder.

 

“Itachi…” He tried, but then realizing he would get nowhere with such a plea he just nodded instead, turning his head to the earth. “Never mind. I'll be here when you get back.” He said, not being able to keep the disappointment out of his voice. That disappointment only continued to grow when Itachi said nothing in reply, and just headed into the woods.

 

He knew he shouldn't let him, but Itachi's rejection bothered him, especially with everything going on today. Not to mention his brother had succeeded in yet again messing up one of the only plans he had managed to come up with. He could still go through with it, and yet, the risk involved might be more than he cared to be bargained with. It seemed that Itachi already suspected something, so there was a chance that even though he was off getting water he might be more enguard than normal. Though this may be his only chance, if any, that he had to get away from Itachi's ever-watchful eyes. So no matter what the gamble, it was a chance he had to take.

 

Reaching into his bag, Sasuke quickly grabbed at a slip of paper, writing in a code that only him and the fifth Hokage understood, and rolling it up, he summoned a pigeon, attaching it quickly to it's leg and sending it flying hopefully before Itachi ever knew he moved from the spot. He prayed anyways, because if Itachi ever did realize it he didn't even want to think of what would happen.

 

Itachi had made it perfectly clear that he expected absolute loyalty from Sasuke today, in large part because Sasuke was sure that his brother knew that was the one thing he could not give. Another part he was sure of was that it had to do with Naruto, and Sasuke knew from experience that his blond dumbass friend was not in good-standings with his brother. Mainly due to the fact that the last time he had seen him Sasuke had been half naked and lip locked with the dobe.

 

Leaning back against a rock, Sasuke grabbed at another piece of bread to nibble on until Itachi got back. What terrified him the most was the fact that if he turned against the Akatsuki, and if he turned against Itachi, he would not be allowed to turn back. He was trapped. He knew one thing though, today he was either going to lose his best friend, or he was going to lose his brother, and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

 

When he heard barely there footsteps coming up to him, his eyes shifted back to the path Itachi had taken to see that he had already returned. His brother came over to sit casually beside him, setting the canteen down in front of him and for the first time that day actually turned towards him and acknowledged his existence.

 

“I've caught us some dinner before we reach the village. Go get us some wood and I'll start a fire.” Sasuke's stomach lurched at just the thought of food, but if Itachi had his appetite back he wasn't for a second going to argue. He hadn't eaten in so long from his injuries that Sasuke could say he had lost at least 10 pounds.

 

Pushing himself up, the younger headed into the woods, grabbing at any stray branches and logs he could find lying around. Itachi's color looked better than it had before, and hopefully with this food he would have enough energy to make it the rest of the day, and yet it would be so much easier if he didn't.

 

Sasuke dropped the piles of twigs in front of his brother, raising an eyebrow at the scowl he received because of it. Doing the hand signs, Itachi blew onto the wood, letting a raging fire spring up on top of it, turning Itachi's red eyes and almost burnt orange with the glow. He took a seat next to him, worried about what this heat was going to do to Itachi's fever.

 

“So, did you catch a rabbit or something?” He asked, determined to make Itachi say at least one thing civil to him before the day was over.

 

“A bird.” He replied with, continuing to stare into the ever-growing flame. Itachi reached into his robes, handing over the dead animal that had already been plucked of all its feathers. “Prepare it.”

 

Sasuke stared at the tiny skinned bird, wondering what could possibly have possessed his brother to kill such an insignificant prey. “What kind of bird…bit puny isn't it?” He asked, but right as the words left his mouth a very cold hard fact seemed to occur to him. …It couldn't be.

 

“It's a pigeon.” Warning bells went off in his head, and his very first instinct was to run, but the only good that would do was to get Itachi even angrier.

 

“Aniki, I can explain…I…” Sasuke cried out in surprise when Itachi lunged out grabbing him by the back of his scalp and forcing his head forward so that it was just inches away from the fire.

 

“Now Otouto, we are going to have a little chat, and if you don't tell me what I want to know, I'm going to press your face closer and closer until it burns itself off.” Sasuke struggled to move his face away from the fire, but the firm grip Itachi had in his hair was making that quite impossible, and at the angle he was at he was having to use his hands to press into the ground to avoid sending himself flying face first into the flames.

 

“What the fuck is wrong with you!?” He cried, starting to feel the affects of the fire already, his cheeks were growing red and he could already feel his skin begin to blister. “Let me go Itachi! I was just sending out something to distract them! I thought we could use it to keep the ANBU off our backs!”

 

“Is that right?” Sasuke gasped as Itachi pushed him even closer, so close in fact that he couldn't even breathe with the smoke now being forced into his lungs. “Tell me, Otouto, then why is that the note you sent said `Keep Naruto away. It's a trap. Trust no one.'?” The elder asked, causing Sasuke's heart to speed up to almost a painful speed. He knew!? How could he know the code!? “Wondering how I know, precious?” He hissed with coldness. “You see the thing is I've been intercepting your messages for months now. It only took a few minutes to translate the code.” He leaned into the fire, pressing Sasuke's face even closer as he did so until his skin began to boil and bleed. “The thing is, they haven't heard from you since you killed that Hyuugi girl. As far as they're concerned, you're a traitor.”

 

“Bastard.” He hissed, trying to bring his face away from the fire as his head got even cloudier. The pain was almost unbearable by this point, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he either passed out or his face caught on fire. “If you know all that what then!? What the hell do you want!?” He screamed, feeling his lungs blister as the burning ash filled them and he ended up coughing in all his pained.

 

“Is it the Hokage who set this all up, or are you working under another source? You were intelligent enough to at least never give a clue as to who your correspondences was.” He twisted his hand in the hair, not seeming to care that his lover's face was turning to mush.

 

“Piss off!” He hissed, regretting his insubordination immediately when Itachi pressed him further into the fire, flames actually coming close to licking at his cheeks and causing him to scream out in agony. “It was the Hokage okay!” It seemed Itachi left his face in the fire a few moments longer than he had to after he had received his information, but after a lifetime, it seemed, he finally relented, pulling him up and tossing him to writhe in agony on the ground.

 

Sasuke dirty hands were pressed into his face, trying to stop the absolute suffering he was going through as his fingers touched the scorched burnt flesh that used to be his face. What the hell was wrong with him!? He gave a grunt when Itachi's foot kicked him over onto his back, and then a fresh stream of cold water from the canteen was poured onto his aching flesh.

 

“You'll heal.” Were the harsh words spoken by his torturer, “I made sure that pretty face of yours won't scar.” The body leaned over him as Sasuke fought with everything in him just to remain conscious. “Now. I think you've learned your lesson and won't try anything like that again.” It took a lot of effort to nod, but he somehow managed to accomplish it, and he hissed when Itachi leaned in, kissing his cracked lips. “Good. Now get up because I want to get to Konoha before sunset. It will be easier to catch the JinchÅ«riki in the dark.”

 

With the pain he was feeling, Sasuke was pretty sure that Itachi's request would be impossible. His face felt like crispy chicken, and the pain was so bad that he was still close to passing out. “What the hell is wrong with you?” He moaned from the ground, placing an elbow underneath himself to push up. It took about three tries before he was successful. He eyed the fire still blazing next to him with almost fear, knowing that if Itachi had held him any closer for any longer that there would have been permanent damage, hell he could have even died. As it was though it was like a third degree sunburn, a sunburn that hurt a lot.

 

Leaning down to him, Itachi placed the canteen back to his lips, pouring the refreshing water down his parched throat, all the while ignoring the way the younger was glaring at him. “I lost my temper.” He explained easily, and Sasuke would have to say that was the understatement of the year, but thankfully the crazed look was now gone from his brother's face. “Can you walk?”

 

Not being able to form words to that strange apology, the Uchiha said nothing at all, instead using all of his remaining strength to push himself up onto shaking legs, ignoring the burning sensation in his lungs, or how the air now whipping at his face felt like it was full of shrapnel. His eyesight was rather blurry due the smoke, but he would be damned if he told that bastard that. How dare he do that and then suddenly feel bad! Though the thing is he probably didn't even feel bad. He was probably just saying that to make sure Sasuke continued to do every little thing that he said!

 

“I'm fine.” He croaked, sounding more and more like Itachi by the second. “Let's just get this over with so I can get away from you.” It was the truth too. The sooner this mission that he knew he could no longer avoid was over with, the sooner he was allowed to get away from the bastard who would do such a thing to him. He would make him cut the last ties he had to his normal life.

 

Now he was the one sprinting as quickly as possible, taking off almost immediately into the trees after gathering up his things. He left Itachi to douse out the fire, which had caused him such pain in the first place. He pressed on through the branches, stumbling once or twice for balance. His head was dizzy, and with this elevation it was only getting dizzier. He could barely focus on the sea of green heading towards him, and the sounds of Itachi's movements behind him were getting dimmer. It didn't take long for his foot to miss, and for his eyesight to go completely black.

 

The next thing he remembered was Itachi over him, holding his head with the tree tops above him. “Did I fall?” He asked breathlessly, eyes shutting again as sleep began to overtake him.

 

“I caught you.” He heard Itachi mumble, before he slipped away altogether.

 

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

A groan escaped the Uchiha's throat as his chin bumped something over and over again. Struggling to open his eyes, Sasuke noticed how his face seemed to be pressed up against a dark fabric, and that the world was moving around him. As his disoriented state wore away he noticed how he pressed snugly up against the back of a body, with his legs wrapped tightly around their waist. …Itachi was carrying him.

 

“Where are we?” He croaked, the pain he had been trying to ignore now coming back full force.

 

“About a mile out of Konoha. You've been asleep since you fell.” Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed, not quite getting the full extent yet of what that could mean.

 

“So you carried me?” He asked, the large act of compassion being the only thing to grace his mind. Itachi didn't answer, and yet the grip he had on his thighs tightened as he raced through the trees. The Uchiha laid his face back down against his brother's back, hearing the ragged inhales coming out through his lungs. “But you're sick. You shouldn't be carrying me.”

 

“I'll live.” Itachi replied, continuing to run through the trees until he landed on a particularly large branch on one of the canopies. “This is far enough.” Sasuke bit back a whine in the back of his throat as he was set down on the branch; he immediately took full advantage of the trunk Itachi had set him next to. He was feeling very woozy, and he was sure he had a fever. The thought of taking Naruto on in this condition was not one he looked forward to.

 

The thought of it actually caused a slight snicker to escape his throat, and that snicker soon turned into a chuckle, and that chuckle escalated into a full blown laugh. Soon he was laughing so hard he had to physically grip the tree just to remain standing. The events of the last couple days finally caught up with them, and he was sure that he had 100 percent lost his mind. But then he thought that if he really had gone crazy, he probably wouldn't even realize it, and that got him to laugh even harder.

 

“May I ask what you find so funny?” Itachi snipped from beside him, causing Sasuke to shoot a lazy grin his way.

 

“Us Aniki. Us.” He gestured to them both. “Look what we've become. We both have the same scars, only my ugliness is show on the outside instead hidden behind a beautiful face. You're about ready to collapse and yet you're carrying me…You're carrying me after what you did to me, and after what you did to me I'm concerned that you're carrying me. Don't you see the insanity in that!?”

 

Itachi scoffed. “I certainly see something insane.” This caused Sasuke to scowl, not at all liking the fact that his brother had completely brushed off is observation like that, but hell, he was used to it by this point.

 

“Maybe I am. But if I am it's only because you made me so.” He replied quietly, eyes starting to tickle with tears.

 

Though at his reply, it was no Itachi's turn to laugh. “Otouto you are like a broken record. I did so much to you didn't I? I corrupted your innocence. I killed your parents. I stole you from your friends. I am the monster in your fairytale.” His laugh soon turned into a glare. “These are all things I've heard before, and yet you fail to point out the all of your own fallacies. Do you really think you were some innocent bystander before I came along?”

 

“Yes.” Sasuke replied without thinking. If Itachi had never existed then he would be normal just like the rest of his classmates. His father would have favored him. He would have been the prodigy everyone in the village looked up to!

 

Itachi laughed again. “Innocent is never what you were Sasuke…even when you were a child.” He took a step forward, causing Sasuke's back to hit the tree. “If I hadn't been around you would have forced your perversions on someone else.”

 

“Perversions?” Sasuke asked in disgust, not believing he would place that label on him. “It seems you really got the two of us confused. It's you that's perverted Aniki.”

 

“Perhaps.” Itachi said huskily, now completely backing Sasuke against the tree trunk and pressing his body fully into his. “But I watched you. I watched you touch yourself and scream for me long before I ever made you cum against that tree.” Sasuke's heart sped up, and his face turned a dark red. “Stop making excuses Sasuke, it's pathetic. I've never raped you. I've never forced you to do anything as a matter of fact.” He grabbed his chin, and the younger winced at the pain of having him touch his sensitive skin. “You've killed people, and you've enjoyed it. You've been fucked by me, and you've begged for more. You're the one that gets off on this, who constantly needs the drama to even be able to function.” He smirked at him, letting a hand trail down his chest, leaning in to whisper against his earlobe. “Even now you're hard, aren't you?” Sasuke's breath hitched when teeth clamped down on his ear, causing him to indeed press his hardness against his brother. “What, my dear Sasuke, have I done to you that you wouldn't have in someway done yourself.” He pressed into him then, revealing his own arousal as forced him almost painfully against the tree. “You love it…just like you love me.”

 

Onyx eyes opened, meeting Itachi's red ones after they had bled into the Sharingan. “I do Aniki…I'm not afraid of it anymore, but please tell me,” He practically whispered, holding his breath as he tried to force the hardest words he had ever uttered out. “Do you love me?”

 

*Snap* They were both knocked out of their moment by the sound of twig snapping from below, and almost immediately they were both crouched down, becoming practically invisible from their perch above. The moment was long forgotten, and that question, Sasuke knew, would still never have an answer. The Sharingan flooded into his eyes as he scanned the forest floor, searching for any sign of the movement they had just heard. He couldn't believe they had been so careless! How could they have gotten so distracted when they were less than a mile from Konoha!?

 

Taking deep breaths, he willed his body's excitement to retreat, knowing that the last thing he needed was to go into this with an erection. …His blush only increased due to his embarrassment. He could see it now, rogue shinobi finally caught and paraded through the village with a hard-on in his pants. Sadly…he could see such an uncouth thing happening to him….life hated him that much.

 

“Focus.” Itachi snapped quietly from beside him. “I can see the kyuubi's chakra through the bushes.” Well, that certainly caused him to snap to attention, and for other areas on his body to do the exact opposite. Naruto was here? Had this point in time really come already? His body trembled next to Itachi, who was still staring at a point to their left with interest…he could only assume the dobe was over there.

 

“What should I do?” He asked, resigning himself to his fate. He could no longer bluff or lie, and he could no longer pretend that he was ever selfless enough to pick anyone over Itachi.

 

“I'll go down now as Sai. The kyuubi was sent a message earlier to come here to meet him. When his focus is only on me, sneak up behind him, and detain him without struggle. He should never even know you were here.” were the clear clean-cut instructions his brother gave him. Itachi was a genius at improvising plans, and he knew that if they played this just right it should go off without a hitch, and so Sasuke just nodded. Maybe it was better this way. If Naruto never knew he was here, then he would never have to know that he was the one who betrayed him.

 

While Sasuke was lost in his thoughts, he barely noticed Itachi jump down, or rather, Itachi in Sai's body. Just the sight of that little bastard again caused anger to well up within his stomach. Especially at the thought that his lover was once more within someone other than him!

 

“Naruto-kun?” Itachi yelled softly in Sai's voice, signaling the dobe to him. Concentrating on the ground, he waited with bated breath as the footsteps grew closer. They had been apart for over a year now, though it seemed like only yesterday he had been in his apartment and they had shared a final kiss. How different would it have been if he had chosen to be with Naruto over Itachi? He would like to say that he had to come to Akatsuki to protect the blond kyuubi, but that wasn't true. Hell, he was going to be the one to capture Naruto, and so for the life of him he couldn't seem to think of a single way he had helped.

 

His thoughts wavered when Naruto stepped out of the branches, for the first time walking into his eye line, and when he did Sasuke's breath hitched in his throat. He looked…different, but you could tell from anywhere that it was his same stupid dobe. He was taller, his babyfat was now gone, and in its place looked to be a rock hard body, still covered with a little orange. His face had become more defined, making those gorgeous blue eyes stand out even more. All in all, Naruto was beautiful.

 

“Sai where the hell have you been!?” He heard the dobe's harsh voice growl out. “Sakura has been worried sick! They were just about to send out a search party, and then out of nowhere I get a message from you to meet you here!? What's going on?”

 

“Nothing.” He said with that ever-familiar smile…just the sight of it got Sasuke's eyes to narrow.

 

“Then why did you call me out here?” Naruto growled once again, and Sasuke could practically see his anger rolling off him in waves. …He never did have the best temper.

 

“It's a surprise.” Itachi said cryptically, and honestly, if he were Naruto he would have decked him already. He certainly seemed to get Sai's annoying attitude down to a T.

 

“Fuck that! You're annoying me already! You should have just stayed gone and then I wouldn't have to deal with your bull…” But he was never allowed to continue, because Itachi grabbed the back of his skull, pulling him forward and crushing their lips together almost painfully.

 

What. The. Fuck? Sasuke mouthed to himself, shaking in anger as he watched Naruto struggle against his brother's mouth. He was going to beat the shit out of him for that later! Though honestly, he think he would have been more mad if Naruto had kissed back, it gave him a little satisfaction, however, when the blond hauled back with his right fist, crashing it into Itachi's skull.

 

“What is wrong with you!?” He hissed, frantically wiping his mouth to get any trace of Sai's kiss off. “Are you possessed or something?”

 

“I missed you.” Itachi replied, rubbing at his injured face. “Besides you're in love with Sasuke-kun right? I hear the two of us are a lot alike.” At that Itachi glanced up to the trees to the spot where Sasuke was seething, and the younger knew that that was his que to act, and after he acted he was going to kick Itachi in the balls for that low blow.

 

He saw Naruto blush from head to toe before he jumped down from the tree, stealthily through the forest, masking his presence completely. His teeth were practically clattering from the anger boiling inside of him, but he knew he couldn't show it. This was not a time to lose his temper, because they would probably only get one shot at separating Naruto from the rest of the shinobi of Konoha. He was sure Itachi knew that too, which was probably why the damned bastard was testing him.

 

“Who told you that? Don't just assume things!” Naruto replied offensively. “Oh and trust me I did not miss you!” He backed away from the emotionless shinobi, obviously not used to this kind of treatment. He was sure Itachi had gone overboard with that kiss, but then again it certainly got his attention solely on him.

 

Sasuke crept up without a sound, though he was sure everyone within a hundred mile radius could hear his heart pounding in his chest. It was just a few more feet...a few more and this would all be over with and they could go back home. He sighed, realizing that he had just considered the Akatsuki camp home when his real home was only about a mile away. He knew right then and there, that no matter what the outcome of today might be...he could never go back.

 

"Oh Naruto-kun, everybody knows about that." He saw the back of the blond's neck light up in a deep blush. "Did you think you were really hiding it?"

 

Sasuke moved closer and pulled his sword from his waistband. He was shaking slightly as he came up right behind Naruto. His eyes flickered over to glance at Itachi, who was in Sai's body and gritted his teeth. He was really getting sick of seeing that face. He decided the only way to relieve him of it was to quickly get his job done and knock his best friend out cold.

 

He raised his sword above his head so the hilt was above Naruto's and took a deep breath. "I'm not going to sit here and listen to this." Naruto hissed out at Sai, making Sasuke's heart stop in his chest for he knew what was to come.

 

Sure enough, not a half a second later Naruto spun around on the heel of his foot, determined to stomp away in anger...only to stop in actual shock when he saw who was standing behind him, sword flipped and raised above his head.

 

"Sasuke?" He blinked, obviously not believing his eyes. "Is that really you? What are you doing here? When did you get back? Why are you dressed like that? ...Why do you have a sword?"

 

Sasuke couldn't stop the panic from rising in his chest as blue eyes bore deep into his. He didn't know what to do. He wasn't expecting this at all. Naruto wasn't suppose to realize he was here and now the boy knew. Sasuke was so terrified that he could even get himself to give the finishing blow. He could only stare like a deer caught in bright headlights as his best friend's face slowly turned from confusion to semi understanding.

 

He couldn't move, hell he couldn't even breathe! He knew Naruto was going to find out eventually, but not like this. He couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to do it! A scoff was heard from behind the blond, and Sasuke was barely able to pull his eyes away to see the look of absolute disdain covering Itachi's face. He was not happy, that much was very clear. It was made even clearer though when he lashed out, striking Naruto on a pressure point in the back of his head, and then suddenly those already judging eyes rolled to the back of his head, and the dobe fell forward. He barely had enough time to drop the sword before catching Naruto in his arms.

 

Sasuke's gaze shot up to look at Itachi as his body protested under the dead weight of Naruto's. He wondered just how Itachi was going to punish him this time for his weakness. That made anger fester in the pit of his stomach. Fuck Itachi! He really didn't care. It was all over for him anyway. Naruto knew now that he was the one that betrayed him and helped capture him for the Akastuki, so Sasuke just couldn't bring himself to care about anything. Itachi could kiss his ass for as far as he was concerned.

 

That anger faded exponentially, however, when the disguise Itachi was sporting melted into the earth, and his brother's true form was revealed, angry red eyes and all. Just the look of absolute fury on his face caused him to gulp, and he wondered briefly if there would be another incident like the fire. Just thought was enough to make him gasp in pain all over again, his face was still burning and the longer he had to hold Naruto, the weaker his strength became.

 

"We're going back now." Itachi growled, radiating anger off of him in waves. "You carry him, and if you can't make it back on your own, I'll leave you out in these woods to die." Were the harsh words Itachi spoke before jumping into the trees, not even looking back to see if Sasuke would follow as he left the barely standing teen with one hell of a burden...in more ways than one.

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A.N- Yay an update! It finally happened! So tell me what you think of this chapter please because I live for your reviews! Oh and I also I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Raven <3 and thanks Badkitty for helping me finish it and for Myownlife for betaing luv you guys!