Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ The Other Side of the Coin ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Never Played Symphonies

Chapter 23: The Other Side of the Coin

“Itachi…” Sasuke groaned, back arching as he slowly lowered himself down onto that cock. His muscles were stretched and content as he rose himself back up in the slow steady rhythm they had been going at all morning. The third time was lazy as he leaned down to kiss his brother, tongue swiping along Itachi's as he took him inside. He was so sore it was almost painful as he rode him, but he needed him. A warmth he couldn't explain had nestled deep within him, and he was drowning for Itachi. He was stripped bare except the necklace bouncing on his flesh. Itachi's hands gripped his ass as they moved him up and down slowly, so different from the night before it was jarring.

He was in an almost daze when he felt Itachi cum. His eyes were hazed over and cloudy as he kissed him deep, warm and sticky as he was flipped over on the bed. He shivered in content as he was lifted off and laid back on the bed. “I feel...strange…” Sasuke whispered, but then Itachi was covering him and kissing him again, and nothing mattered. His arms wrapped around his brother's neck to get him closer, fingers in his hair. “I have to get to training…” He tried, knowing where his mind should be, but the thought of leaving this bed...of leaving him was almost too much to bear. He pulled Itachi closer at just the thought of having to let him go.

“It can wait.” Itachi assured him, those kisses trailing off and down his body. His pale porcelain skin was completely unmarked even through all of their rounds when it should have been bitten and bruised. Sasuke smiled at that, arching as he was drawn to the side, Itachi kissing every spine bone on his back, biting along his thighs as he kissed at the back of his knees. “Take a sick day.” He said, and Sasuke could feel him smirk against his flesh, the command for some reason sending his mind even further into haze.

He nodded in agreement, willing to do anything his brother wanted as Itachi lavished him with affection. He dragged his hip over so that he spread his legs. Itachi kissed up his calves, pausing at his knees, finger dragging over his flesh as he paused. Through utter strength of will, Sasuke fought off the haze to look down at where Itachi was. “What's wrong?” He asked softly. “Niisan?” He murmured, groaning as Itachi kissed his knee.

“It's healed.” Itachi said, almost questioningly. “You were a mess last night, and yet there doesn't appear to be a mark on you.” His hip was gripped almost painfully then. “How Sasuke?” He asked, the demanding tone causing the haze to break up a little. Sasuke slowly came back into himself, fighting off how he just wanted to sink into more of Itachi's affections.

“You mean you don't know?” He asked him, surprised. His brother seemed to know everything about him, and yet somehow he didn't know this. Sasuke sat up, his long legs spreading out to either side of Itachi's thin hips. Sasuke blinked at him, reaching underneath Itachi's pillow to grab out a kunai as he handed it slowly to Itachi. The other's eyes were hard and questioning. “Cut me.” He gave him permission, his exhausted cock twitching a little at the thought.

Itachi didn't hesitate, like all things in life his brother was fearless. He used the kunai to slice a line up Sasuke's hip, causing him to hiss out in pain. He bit it back though, being strong for Itachi as his hot blood dripped down his leg and onto their bed. “What is the point of this, or are you trying to inform me of another way to sate your growing list of desires?” His brother asked mockingly. However, when Sasuke bit his lip at the thought of it, his brother's eyes seemed to change into wanting. That same haze washed over Sasuke again, threatening to spill back into the endless cascade of it all...of wanting. His cock stirred as he stared at Itachi. He pictured every dirty thing his brother wanted to do to him with that kunai.

He shook his head to dispel the thoughts. He tried to focus as he watched Itachi. His eye glowed that electric green as the slash across his thigh slowly knitted up. He healed without even a trace of a scar. “I am still special Aniki.” He murmured pridefully as he watched his brother. Itachi's eyes were searching, Sharingan coming to them as he tried to see why...to map out how Sasuke had done it. “Deidara's gift to me.” Sasuke explained. “I didn't know it had these powers either, don't worry.”

Sasuke hissed as the kunai stabbed out then, digging all the way into his leg. Itachi was careful to avoid any arteries as he dug it through his leg. This time Sasuke couldn't bite back the pain as he screamed. Itachi shoved him back, anger lit across his face.. “Brilliant Sasuke, as always you never cease to amaze me with your stupidity.” He hissed and Sasuke cried out as he dug the kunai around in the wound. “You let him take away everything that made you like me, and let them put that thing in your eye? Do you have any idea what that is?” He asked him, yanking out the kunai to give Sasuke a chance to answer. The jagged wound was already starting to mend. “You once asked me what the Akatsuki was collecting? I took you to the vault and let you see our secrets. This is one of them. The cursed eye, brought to power with a forbidden jutsu. Power like that always comes at a price Sasuke, foolish Otouto, don't you know that by now?”

“I didn't ask him to put it in.” Sasuke hissed at him, pushing on Itachi's chest as the other blanketed him.

“No.” Itachi agreed. “You just asked him to take your eye.” He hissed right back.

“Better mine than yours Itachi!” Sasuke hissed at him, trying to make him understand. “You're the prodigy, remember? What would a prodigy do without his hmmffff…” He was never allowed to continue as Itachi kissed him roughly at that. The necklace glowed unnoticed against his chest as the anger welling in his chest switched, threatening to drown him once again in that haze. The pain in his leg was the only thing stopping him from slipping all the way under. It was becoming harder to resist, however, with how entranced he was by the way Itachi's tongue fit perfectly in his mouth, by the way he slid between his thighs, and god Sasuke was a sticky mess. Itachi couldn't try for four...there was no way. He used the pain in his leg to fight it, a thought making its way into his head before fading all together just as quickly as it had came. Was Itachi doing something to him?

Sasuke was drowning in this. Desire welled up inside him as he spread his legs for Itachi, pushing Itachi down as he let his brother kiss down his body. His heart was pounding with the want of it, like he couldn't help himself from it. He was angry though, angry and resentful and even under all of that, Sasuke felt...sad? Tears welled up in his eyes that he was sure weren't his own. He looked down as tachi kissed at his stomach, and Sasuke felt guilt then mixed with the sadness. Guilt? When was the last time he had ever felt guilty about what him and Itachi did together? Want rushed through him then, making him fall back with the weight of it, the guilt and sadness fading with the need as he didn't care anymore.

“Aniki…” He begged, lost in the haze as Itachi grabbed his thighs. He spread his legs to reveal the mess he had left between them, cooling cum running down his thighs. Itachi's pleasure was transparent across his ass. “I can't…”Sasuke tried. He couldn't for another round. He'd die of it all.

“You can….” Itachi assured him. The wound on his leg was almost completely healed by now as his brother kissed where it was almost apologetically. He met Sasuke's eyes briefly, before pressing between those legs. A warm tongue lapped at the mess inside of him.

Sasuke's back bowed with pleasure. His stomach arched up as Itachi reached up, pressing him back into the bed. He pressed his tongue in deeper, lapping at the mess inside of him, all but swallowing it as Sasuke felt his cock begin to swell. He didn't even know such a thing was still possible after the morning they had had. His legs found their way onto Itachi's shoulders, heels digging into his back as he lost himself in all of it. The swallowing noises coming from Itachi made his cock drip with pleasure. “Itachi…” He begged him, not knowing if he wanted him to relent or keep going. Hands found their way to that soft hair as he shivered with it all. The eroticicism of it blanketing his mind as Itachi did the dirtiest thing he could think of between his legs.

That tongue swiped over and over inside him. It made him forget all about their earlier fight, the weird echos of emotion he didn't think belonged to him, and the way he felt swallowed with this all. He was close, so close even though he had no idea how his body would summon the strength to cum another time. His dick disagreed with his mind as it dripped wet with pleasure.

He hardly noticed as the door to their room opened, bastards not even bothering to knock anymore. He expected Deidara, though the blond showing himself to Itachi would be beyond stupid right now. It wasn't though. “Niisan…” Sasuke heard his voice say, voice a breathy moan that he didn't even recognize.

Itachi looked up at the same time he did, seeing their visitor. His tongue swirled inside Sasuke as he watched him, the masked figure staring down at the two. Sasuke looked over at Tobi, his new partner strangely silent in the room. He didn't care, not now. He wouldn't be interrupted, not here. He grabbed for Itachi's hair as the other tried to pull away, pressing him deeper between his thighs as he felt a faint whisper of almost pride sweep across him. He met with Itachi's self satisfied expression, before the other went back to work. He didn't care who saw him. He didn't care who watched him moan like a slut for his brother, because that's exactly what he was. He panted, twisting in the sheets, back bowing in the room as Itachi lapped at his prostate. The warm wet center inside of him making him spill over the edge yet again as he came. He shot hard against his belly and chin as he collapsed boneless on the bed.

His eyes were heavy and lidded as he lay in an almost drugged state. He sighed as Itachi leaned up his body, kissing him with that messy mouth as Sasuke tasted himself and spunky taste of cum. “Do you have to go?” He asked him, body heavy as he played with that hair. He didn't know how, but he knew Tobi hadn't come in here to get him. He watched Itachi nod, sighing as he was kissed again. Each kiss had him drowning more and more in that haze. He didn't even realize the necklace glowing bright on his chest as he could only focus on Itachi.

“Don't worry Otouto, I'll be back. Give me just a moment.” He kissed him again, and Sasuke's eyes closed. He couldn't open them again as he nodded lazily. He was a debauched mess, legs spread wide open, feeling faintly as Itachi closed them for him. Sasuke managed to drag his eyes open one more time to watch Itachi and Tobi stare at each other. His new partner seemed almost...angry? He wasn't allowed to contemplate further as Itachi glanced towards him. He saw him frown a little before placing his fingers against his forehead, and Sasuke drowned under the weight of it all.

When he woke up the bed was cold, and he still couldn't help reaching across for Itachi. Gone. For how long? How late had it become? He pushed up in the bed, still feeling drugged. He knew for sure now. Itachi had done something to him. He fought for control of his own limbs as he pulled out of the bed, yanking on a white yukata and fumbling into some sandals as he all but fell into the wall. The bed beckoned for him as he fought the urge not to obey. He shouldn't leave here. Itachi would be upset with him...he would punish him. He shook his head, dispelling the thoughts as he struggled forward, one foot after the other. He knew now that whatever was outside that door, Itachi didn't want him to have any part of it. Which meant he undoubtedly needed to find out what it was. Naruto? He wouldn't...they wouldn't do the ritual without him there.

He struggled out of the door, falling asleep only three times as he dragged himself against the wall. Considering how hard he was struggling, he considered that quite the accomplishment. What the hell was his brother planning? Why would he...he fell to the floor as the overwhelming urge to sleep once more came over him. He needed to please Itachi. The need pulsed through him over and over. If he loved him, if he was good, Itachi would be back soon. He struggled as he pushed himself up, struggling into a standing position as he pushed down the hall and to the cell. Naruto was in danger. Itachi had told him he wouldn't hurt him, that Naruto wouldn't be killed. So why? The necklace pulsed angrily on his chest, and he looked down then, eyes widening in realization of how foolish he had been, before his eyes turned blank, and he fell face forward onto the floor.

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

Six Months Ago

Shikamaru sighed, leaning back on the grass to look up at the clouds. How long had it been since it had happened? Four months? Five? How was it that he still got nightmares of that evil red place? Being sucked into those eyes. Sasuke Uchiha, the traitor of Konoha, and his bastard brother. They were to blame. It was all so tedious, having to worry like this. Having to be scared like this. His mind had always been level headed, from the day he was born. He had never lost his cool, and yet he had screamed when it came to being trapped in those eyes. It was tiresome. He woke up in those same nightmares, night after night. He had never thought it possible to hate someone before. The act of hate was entirely too much work. But he hated him, Sasuke and his brother. He hated them more than anything. The only problem with that? He had been told to keep his mouth shut. He had actually been told as they were attending the funeral of Hinata that he wasn't allowed to spread propaganda about Sasuke. As if he really wanted to go around spreading rumors that Sasuke took his own brother up his ass. He wished he'd never seen them that day in the shrine. He wished he didn't have to walk around with the knowledge that they had been betrayed by a sick freak, and not only that, but they wanted him to keep quiet about it.

Not like he had to really be a genius to know what that meant. Tsunade for some reason trusted Sasuke. Trusted him even after Hinata, as if she was just a necessary sacrifice..a pawn in whatever game they were playing. It was irritating. He hated being involved. Why was he? Oh yeah...that troublesome secret, and the other thing.

“Stop frowning!” Shikamaru glanced over at the brash excited voice, exhaling his cigarette as he blew it up into the sky.

“What do you care about my facial expressions?” Shikamaru asked the excited blond shinobi, keeping the look of amusement from his face as he plopped down right beside him. “What happened to training with Jiraiya?” Shikamaru asked him, the other in a black tshirt and orange pants.

“Took a break.” Since when? Naruto didn't take breaks. “So I heard a lead.” Ah...there it was.

“A lead?” Shikamaru exhaled. “I see...and what does the worldly news say about Sasuke's whereabouts today?” He asked, exhausted at the effort of having to put up this front for him. Naruto was the last person he wanted to keep a secret from.. To hear him talk, you would swear Naruto thought that guy walked on water, and didn't kill his own kind or suck his brother's cock. ...To each his own he supposed.

“Apparently there was someone matching his description in the Land of Waves.” Naruto explained, frowning a little. “It's weird though.” At the strange tone Shikamaru turned his head to him, frowning at that look of sadness that seemed permanently etched into Naruto's face. “A lot of people were found dead...exploded...like with bombs or something.” Naruto said quietly. “And there were talks of cloaks.”

“Let me guess?” Shikamaru said sarcastically. “Black with red clouds?” He murmured, not at all surprised. “So what? You going there now? Trying to run after his coat tails some more?” He sighed in boredom, this was becoming tedious.

“Hey, don't be like that Shikamaru.” Naruto tried, and he glanced down as the blond grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers. Oh yeah that. Shikamaru found his hands entwining with Naruto's before his head could really think about the logistics of doing this with someone who was clearly in love with someone else.

“Keh....What a drag.” He murmured, and sighed as his lips were covered even before he had the chance to argue. How had he let this happen again? Oh yeah...Naruto had been the only one to take care of him after Itachi had used his eyes on him. He had heard him scream every night. From there...well.. he supposed these things happen. So much for his plan to marry an average looking woman and have babies.

Shikamaru pulled away, watching those bright blue eyes look down at him. “Don't be mad Shika...You know it isn't like that.” Wasn't it exactly like that? Naruto had never looked at him the way he looked at Sasuke. Not once. Not even when he wanted him to. Still, he supposed his cloud envy was made a little better by Naruto being in his sky.

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

Sasuke kept very still as he came back into consciousness, the far off voices making him on edge. He was back in his bed, that much was certain. As to the voices, one of them was his brother's, and the other sounded somewhat familiar, but he couldn't place it.

“I'm surprised.” The stranger said. “Waking up while under your nin-jutsu, that's truly impressive. He shouldn't even have been able to move, let alone make it all the way down that hallway.”

Itachi scoffed at that. “My brother is a lot stronger than he gets credit for.” He said. “He limits himself.”

“Still angry about the eye Itachi?” He asked, almost amused. “I told you I'd teach him to use it. If anyone can I can, remember?”

“If only he knew his true potential, of what he had given up.” Itachi almost hissed.

“If anything he did you a favor, better to rip it from Deidara's eye than your precious little…”

“Enough.” He heard Itachi hiss. Sasuke's stomach clenched at that information, at the implication. “Sasuke has always been held back. First by the cursed mark, and here I go to all the trouble of finding a way for him to break it, and now this.” Itachi mused. “I hold him back. When he wanted to kill me he had a purpose, now that he loves me he has none. He's making himself weak.”

“For you….how sweet.” The voice mocked. “If he only knew, huh?” Sasuke heard laughter, and it took everything within him to remain silent. What did that mean?

“Imagine if he only knew his own strength, if he knew he was just like us?” Itachi asked, Sasuke's heart was pounding with the knowledge of it. Us?

“But you don't trust him with that knowledge. You don't even trust him with what's happening right outside. What will you do if he sleeps right through the attack on our compound...the death of all the members of the village he ever held dear? Sakura, Shikamaru, Kakashi...they're all here for the Kyuubi. Will you explain it away with more of your kisses?”

“Are you mocking me?” Itachi hissed at him.

“Of course not Itachi, only pointing out that this little plan of yours to make him fall for you has gone a little far.” He said. “If I didn't know you better, I'd say you fell too.”

“It's a good thing you know me better.” Itachi shot immediately back with. “Just find a way to get back that eye, alright? Let me deal with my brother.”

Sasuke felt sick. Beyond sick. His mind was still pounding with that haze, threatening to drag him back under. The necklace...it was going to make him pass out again. He had to. He lifted his hand, the jutsu making it feel like a million pounds as he reached for his throat, trying to drag the necklace away. He barely managed to get a hand on it, ripping at it before his eyes faded back to black.

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

One Month Ago

“What do you mean he's gone!?” Shikamaru demanded, slamming his fist into the wall in Tsunade's office. He used a rare display of emotion, Naruto the only one on the planet who could make him feel this way. He had gone off on a mission with Sai, and he had never come back. That was three days ago. ANBU Black Ops were scanning the lands and forests. Everyone had been trying to find where the two may have gone to, and now this.

“There's no trace of him in the village.” Tsunade explained patiently, chin resting on her hands. “We're searching surrounding villages…” She tried.

“Why even bother?” Shikamaru spat. “We know what happened. We know exactly who did this!”

Tsunade sighed as she stared at jounin. “There's no proof it was the Akatsuki, but we're looking into the possibility.”

“It was Sasuke Uchiha!” Shikamaru stressed. “You know it was. That little rat would be the only one that could distract Naruto enough to get captured. You know it!”

“I've told you to trust me about Sasuke.” Tsunade said patiently. “I still need you to do that. Hinata was a tragedy, but he's in place to be exactly where we need him.”

“Do you honestly believe that?” Shikamaru asked. “You haven't seen him with his brother. He's blinded.”

“Sasuke Uchiha is of the Hidden Leaf Village.” Tsunade said slowly. “He wouldn't let Naruto die. It may not seem like it now, but he will come through for us in the end. You need to practice patience. If they took Naruto, we'll find where they're hiding.”

“You're blind by your devotion to Sasuke.” Shikamaru said matter of factly. “He'll betray this village just like Itachi...Just like Orochimaru.” Shikamaru turned on his haunches. “I'll find Naruto myself...and if Sasuke did take him, I'll kill him.”

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

When Sasuke woke up again there was none of the familiar haze surrounding his head. His thoughts were clear. So were his memories. He went to rip for the necklace, only to find it no longer there. He looked around the room, unsurprised to see Itachi sitting there.

“I was wondering how long it was going to take you to figure it out.” He said, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he saw the necklace back around Itachi's neck. Why had he ever taken comfort wearing such a cursed thing? “Not that I didn't appreciate this morning...you played your part so well...my good whore.” Sasuke recognized this tone of voice. This was the one reserved especially for when Itachi felt guilty. The one designed specifically to push him away. Not that he didn't have a reason.

“You fucking bastard.” Sasuke hissed at him, eyes flooding with the sharingan. “How could you?” He hissed, pushing out of the bed. “I'm not your puppet Itachi! You don't get to use that on me, not after what happened between Orochimaru and Sasori!” He remembered something...a conversation Itachi had had with someone...a fleeting memory, or was it a dream? “You don't get to use mind control on me!” He hissed.

“My using that necklace on you with Orochimaru is the only reason you lived. It certainly wasn't any of your doing. You're so weak right now it disgusts me.” More echos, a distant memory.

“I disgust you?” Sasuke asked. “You use me as a whore all morning...you make it so that I…” Itachi stood up then, walking over to him, getting right into his face.

“I only amplified the feelings in your heart Otouto...I'd been gathering them for the last week. All those times when you felt love...desire...hatred...friendship...it was easy to make a mock up of it after that. I'd never used the stone for something like that before. Thank you for allowing me to test my limits.” Test his limits?

The statement rocked him, jarring every last wall he had built up to allow him to believe that Itachi was his love. That his brother was who he was truly destined for. ...To test his limits...he'd heard those words before. “You used me again. What should I feel this time Aniki? More hatred? Do you want me to despise you again, is that it?” He pushed down what Itachi had told him, about what had happened between them this morning being all him. “What's going on? They've come here for Naruto, haven't they? You want to keep me away from them? You don't trust me?”

“I don't trust you.” Itachi agreed. “You will screw this up. The other members of the Akatsuki can take care of your little friends. They won't touch the Kyuubi.” Itachi assured him.

“His name is Naruto!” Sasuke snapped, eyes angry, shrugging off the hand that ran through his hair.

“It's funny...your level of caring for this Kyuubi.” Itachi said, voice dangerous. “I felt what you felt. You touched him.” He accused. “You wanted to kiss him, as if your lips would ever be for anyone but me.” Itachi hissed. “So no...you don't get to participate today Sasuke.” Itachi hissed.

“You're punishing me when you were the one that got into my head?” Sasuke asked incredulously. “You're insane Itachi. Truly insane!” He snapped, turning to head to the door. Itachi appeared in front of him.

“You aren't going anywhere.” Itachi said, almost boredly. “Sit down, be good, or I'll put you out again.” He ran a hand through his hair, this time Sasuke allowed it as he watched him with hate filled eyes. “I liked it better when we were getting along.”

“No you didn't!” Sasuke spat at him. “You don't want me to like you Itachi!” He accused. “That's why you keep doing these things.” He hissed. “You're doing your job `very' well. I was always stronger with hatred than with love.” He said the words, even though he didn't know where they had come from. “Let me go now and I'll consider staying here...keep me in this room and I will spend every waking moment finding a way to kill you.”

Itachi watched him almost boredly as Sasuke said that, tilting his head, eyes roaming up and down Sasuke's body. “You want a part of this?” He asked him then. “You'll go out there dressed just like that..” He lashed out, grabbing Sasuke by the front of the yukata and spinning him around so he was pressed back against his chest. He spun them to face the mirror. “You want them to see you like this?” He asked, and Sasuke didn't even have to ask what he meant. The yukata was open and splayed, his hair a mess, his lips swollen...white was streaked down his thighs, dried and flakey. “I have an idea, let's tell them you've become whore to the Akatsuki? It isn't too much of a lie, is it?” Itachi asked him.


Sasuke glowered back at the mirror, shoving back against Itachi. The arms were strong and unrelenting around him. “I'm not a whore.”

“You're my whore.” Itachi whispered into his neck. “Don't you think it's time they knew that?” He asked. “I've protected your secret for far too long.” He murmured, before dragging Sasuke towards the door as the other panicked. He tried desperately to get away and get his feet under him.

“No….” Not like this. He wouldn't let him. This was one lesson of Itachi's he did not care to learn. “Leave me be...Aniki please.” He begged as he was dragged out of the door. Itachi shoved him uncaringly down the hallway. Sasuke spun then, fresh terror on his face as he wouldn't face them, not like this.

“Don't give me that look. You asked for this, didn't you?” He questioned. “Let me by or I'll spend my life trying to kill you!” Itachi mocked. “Show them what you really are Sasuke. Show me.” He hissed, and Sasuke lost it. His feet glowed red with the chidori as his power screamed through him, the sounds of birds echoing through the hall as he used his chakra to run down the wall. Power screamed into his hands as well as he swung then, the speed of his movement being enough to crash his fist into Itachi's chin. Blood exploded along the ceiling as he flipped, connecting both feet into Itachi's chest as the other went flying down the hallway. He went crashing through the drywall as Sasuke ran to meet him in his rage.

He kicked, flying through the air as he flipped through the air. Sasuke landed down on Itachi as he punched him hard, blood splattering. “I am not too weak to be yours Itachi!” He yelled. “I have worked hard! I've become everything you asked of me.” He hissed at him, hand smearing across Itachi's face as he spread the blood. “You treat me like a pet! Like your bitch dog! You fucked me like a bitch dog.” Sasuke hissed at him, aware of their position on the floor as he hissed into Itachi's face. “I'm not your whore.” He hissed, hands digging into Itachi's hair.

“You really are.” Itachi assured him, eyes blood red as he gripped Sasuke's ass. He thrust up to let him feel how turned on he was, and Sasuke was right there with him. He burnt in the sin of it. How was it that they could fight to the point of blood, and yet Itachi could be this ready for him? Sasuke leaned down then, harshly connecting their mouths. He smeared his own face with blood as their teeth clashed, and Itachi's hands pulled him all the closer. His yukata all but fell off of him as they kissed. He wanted this...needed this...needed all of Itachi...his drug...his damnation.

“Oh my God.” He heard a voice say...a voice he recognized very well. He felt Itachi smirk into his mouth, and his heart pounded. His eyes were wide as he met his brother's cold dead ones. He slowly drew his mouth off of his brother's. His hands were on Itachi's shoulders to support him as he steeled his heart. He took a deep breath before he finally looked up.

She had always been pretty, but now she was beautiful. Strong. She looked so strong even as she was staring down with wide disbelieving eyes. “Sakura…” He said, looking up at the kunoichi. He had been caught with Itachi's blood smeared all over his bruised lips, sat atop his waist. He couldn't keep his heart this hard. He was going to drown in the weight of it all. How had she gotten in? What was she, of all people, doing here?

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

Present

Shikamaru stared up at the castle, inhaling on the cigarette as he looked around at the group he had convinced to come with him. Sakura was to his left, Kakashi to his right. It had been a month of searching, of trying to convince them that the notes coming in from Naruto weren't real. He wasn't just off training somewhere. He was missing, and the Akatsuki had him. When no one could find Sai either, Kakashi at least had started to listen to him. It didn't take much to bring Sakura in on the plan. Tsunade, however, had forbade it. She said it was too soon for an all out assault on the Akatsuki. She stressed that that they didn't have proof. He knew what that meant though. She was waiting for Sasuke's word. Obviously convinced that if Naruto was there he would send them some word. As if. Sasuke Uchiha didn't have a loyal bone in his body, except maybe the one that was shoved up his ass all the time by the other Uchiha bastard.

Figures the Akatsuki would be hiding in plain sight. They had been looking in all the wrong places, when really they were hiding out in the very forest that surrounded the Village Hidden in the Leaves. As far as strategies go, he had to give it to them that this was a good one.

“Are you sure they're in there?” Sakura asked. “Just looks like an old run down patagonia.” Sakura murmured, eyeing the place. “How could they be keeping Naruto in there? What cell could hold him?”

“He's in there.” Kakashi said slowly. “Can't you sense the chakra energy coming from inside? There are at least five powerful shinobi in there.”

“I count six.” Shikamaru said, feeling out the chakra. “There's nine total, right? Not including Naruto.”

“Or Sasuke.” Sakura added. “He's probably in there too.”

Shikamaru scoffed. “I was definitely including Sasuke.” He murmured, because no matter how much he tried to convince her, Sakura wouldn't believe Sasuke had betrayed him. ...No wonder she was Tsunade's prodigy. “Four inside, two in the trees.” He murmured quietly, glancing around as he began to make hand signs. Shadows began crawling slowly backwards as he knew they were there.

“Come on out!” Kakashi called, dragging his forehead protector up to reveal his sharingan eye. “We know you're there.” Shikamaru glanced at the trees, unsurprised to see two cloaked figures jump out at them.

“Eh, they spotted us, un.” Deidara murmured, blond hair in front of his face. “Sasori-danna, you were being too loud again.” He mocked him, sticking his hands into the bags on his hips, eating at the clay. Shikamaru recognized the blond. He had fought him before, knew he was going for his explosions.

“This is the bastard that was there when Hinata died.” When Sasuke killed her, though he wasn't allowed to tell his companions that. “He used that clay to make explosions.” He told the others.

“Deidara.” Kakashi agreed. “The missing nin that was one of the youngest members of the Explosion Corp.” He explained. “And the other one?”

“I've never seen him before.” Shikamaru admitted, the creature somewhat frightening, but it wasn't real. It was a puppet. Whatever was inside had an ungodly amount of chakra, it was almost disconcerting...almost.

Deidara laughed. “Poor Sasori...I'm more popular than you.” He teased his companion, and Shikamaru drew the shadows slowly closer at the distraction.

“A vast achievement I'm sure.” The puppet mocked him, his voice burly.

“So how do you use that puppet of yours? Must be hindersome fighting inside it.” Shikamaru said, and he glanced over as Deidara laughed.

“This kid's bright...saw right through you.” He told the other, and then his hands lashed out. A cascade of flying spiders came at them, the explosion causing all of them to jump out of the way. Shikamaru worked to trap them with the shadows, but they jumped away as well under the tree.

“We've heard about you too.” Sasori informed him. “We know all about the shinobi of Konoha. Your shadow tricks won't work on us.” Shikamaru looked around, seeing his companions were fine.

“Yeah, and who told you that? Let me guess….Sasuke Uchiha.” He said boredly, trying to keep his calm as he strategized.

“You're hard pressed to get our baby Uchiha to shut up, yeah?” Deidara mocked. “Where is Sasuke anyways?” Deidara asked, avoiding a stream of shuriken thrown by Sakura.

“Itachi probably wouldn't let him come out and play.” Sasori said, voice scratchy and bitter through the puppet. “This was Sasuke's master you know, the one who taught him chidori. I made some improvements on your technique.” He informed the jonin.

Shikamaru glanced towards Kakashi, the other mapping out the other two with his eye. “What do you know about Sasuke?” Kakashi asked. “Is he truly one of you?”

Deidara laughed at that, bending over with full on guffaw laughter as he shot out another spray of spiders. “Oh...you could say Sasuke is very much a part of us.” He said, and then brushed his hair out of his face to reveal the sharingan eye.

Sakura gasped, covering her mouth. “What did you do to Sasuke!?” She screamed at him. “How do you have the sharingan?”

“Don't worry, Sasuke gave it up of his own free will, yeah?” Deidara assured them, running as he dived to avoid a kunai. He sent birds flying through the air to explode, sending Sakura flying into a tree. “I was forced once to obey Itachi's Mangekyo, never again, un. I can beat him with this eye.”

“I wasn't aware the Akatsuki tried to murder each other?” Kakashi asked him, and Shikamaru saw how upset the usually stoic master had become.

“Itachi Uchiha holds a special place in my heart, yeah?” Deidara said, voice low and dangerous. “He took something from me for a very long time.”

“So you took something from Sasuke?” Kakashi asked. “Sasuke wants revenge against Itachi more than anything.”

Deidara laughed more at that. “Oh boy, you guys really don't know my little Uchiha pet at all, do you?” He laughed more as he glanced at Sasori. “Should we tell them?”

Sasori shook his head. “Best not to ruin the surprise.” That scratchy voice bit out. “They'll find out soon...if they can get passed us that is.”

Deidara gave that a thoughtful look. “Well let's hope they can't...that could be bad for us, yeah?” He said sarcastically, jumping towards the Jonin. “You...You can play with me today. I want to test my sharingan against yours.” He glanced back at Sasori. “It'll be like warm up for Itachi.”

Sasori scoffed. “Don't get carried away. You know how much chakra it uses.” He said, and then turned to Shikamaru. “I want to see how your shadow jutsu looks. Show it to me.”

Shikamaru glanced to Sakura, whispering under his breath. “Kakashi and I can handle things here. You need to go get Naruto.” He said. “You have to be careful Sakura. No one can see you.” He stressed. “I'll create a diversion, and you run.” The Kunoichi nodded slowly. “And Sakura?” He said, meeting her eyes. “Do not trust Sasuke Uchiha. If you see him...you run.”

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

Sasuke looked up in horror at his old teammate, the woman staring down at him with shock. He realized how he had just been caught...what she had seen. “How could you?” He hissed, looking down at Itachi, betrayal etched on his face. He had planned this. Itachi had known. He always knew.

“Play nice Otouto.” Itachi whispered, and Sasuke felt the faintest brush of Itachi's lips, before he collapsed forward onto the floor. The body beneath him disappeared, as did the area surrounding them. He was back in his room, on the floor. Itachi had used his Kekkai no genkai on him yet again. It had all been in his mind.

Sasuke panted as he looked up, sure Sakura was an illusion too.She was still there however, staring down at him with shock and revulsion. When he looked down Sasuke finally understood why. In his mind he was still in the yukata, a fucked out mess, but he wasn't. Itachi had dressed him. He was dressed in black capris, bandages wrapped haphazardly to the knee, with a fishnet and tank top. Itachi wouldn't stop there though. He had of course included his cloak. He must look exactly like Itachi. The similarity made even greater by the fact that the cursed necklace was still around his neck.

He got up slowly, sandals sliding along the floor as he watched Sakura. “It's been a long time.” He said in way of greeting, eyeing her up and down. “You've changed.”

“So have you.” She said breathlessly. “Shikamaru was telling the truth. I didn't believe him, but you really did betray us and join the Akatsuki.” She said, hand over her mouth. “You're just as bad as Itachi.”

Where was Itachi? Had he ever been here at all? He wiped at his mouth, as if scrubbing at the imaginary blood that had been there. “I'm worse I would wager.” Sasuke said slowly, trying to read the situation. Would he have to fight her? To kill her? “Did you come here for Naruto?”

“So you did take him?” She asked, tears welling in her eyes. “Who are you? Certainly not the Sasuke I knew!” She yelled, and he looked around at that. If they didn't realize she was here before, they certainly knew now.

“What makes you think you ever knew me?” He asked the girl. “I showed you a sliver of who I was, of what my purpose was.” He explained. “I never owed the Hidden Leaf Village anything. Not after what they let happen to my clan.” He hissed.

“Itachi did that to your clan.” Sakura reminded him. “And you came here to join him.”

“It's complicated.” Sasuke shrugged, looking around to try to sense his surroundings. Hidan and Kakuza were gone on a mission, so were Zetsu and Konan. That left Sasori, Deidara, Leader, Itachi, Kisame, and Tobi. He didn't sense Deidara and Sasori, but who knew where his brother might be hiding. “Do you want me to show you where they're keeping Naruto or not?” He asked, because he had always been willing to make this choice when it really came down to it. He would take Itachi's wrath if it meant he could still look at himself in the mirror.

Sakura stared warily at the offer. “Why would you help us?” She asked. “You're the one that's had him locked up all this time.”

“Do you want the help, or don't you?” He asked her, reaching up to rip the necklace off of him, shoving it into his pocket. He wouldn't allow Itachi to mess this up. “He's down this way.” He said, grabbing Sakura's arm as he led her down the hall. “We don't have much time, whatever they're doing to cause this diversion will only distract the Akatsuki for so long.” Sasuke murmured to her as they ran down the hall. “How many of you are there?” He was dimly aware he had referred to his old companions as a completely separate entity, but he didn't allow himself to focus on it. He was far too busy trying to strategize how to get Naruto out.

“Kakashi-sensei and Shikamaru.” She said. “None of the others would come. They wouldn't believe him.” She said under his breath. “They should have.”

Sasuke took that information in stride, surprise welling in his gut. They hadn't believed Shikamaru? Did that mean… “You didn't know I had joined them, did you?” He asked her, and she looked away. That pain and disgust were back on her face.

“When Hinata came back…” Tears welled in her eyes as she said this. “We were told the Akatsuki killed her. Did you have a part in her death?”

“Yes.” He said, admitting his sin. “I killed her.” The weight of the sin hung heavy in his gut as they ran around the corner. He slowed down as they stopped at the door to the cells. He turned to Sakura then. “I'm not a hero Sakura. I'll still be here when you leave, but that doesn't mean I won't help you save my best friend's life.” He told her, pushing the door to the cells open.

They hurried inside, and Sasuke tried to imagine how he was going to get through all the jutsus protecting the cell from being opened. Not only that, but it had been keeping Naruto's chakra trapped and inside. The blond was standing at the bars glaring. His hands were wrapped tightly around them...of course he was. Naruto, ever the eager shinobi for a fight.

“Sakura!?” Naruto called, waving. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of him, and their gazes met. “Has he hurt you?” He asked Sakura, turning to the Uchiha. “What are doing here Sasuke?” He hissed, angered disgust mingling in his tone.

“Kind of ungrateful for the person that's going to save you Dobe.” Sasuke scolded, sending him a small smirk as he locked the door behind him. “We don't have much time to figure out how to get this door open.” He explained, strategizing as they went. He glanced up at all the sigils in the walls. “They're keeping your chakra locked in this cage. We need to find some way to break the seals.” He said, ignoring the looks from his companions.

“Sasuke, are you seriously helping us?” Naruto asked, skeptical, eyes searching. Ever the believer that there could be something good deep down in his heart. There wasn't.

“I was always going to help you Naruto.” Sasuke said. “I wasn't…” He took the coward's way out, he lied. “Tsunade sent me to this place. I'm a spy.” He told them. Sakura gasped and covered her mouth, and slowly a smile broke across Naruto's face.

“Seriously!?” He asked. “I knew it! I knew you weren't this big of a bastard Sasuke-teme!” He said, laughing at the elation.

Sasuke nodded to him. “I'm sorry I haven't been able to get you sooner.” He felt a strong sense of revulsion well up inside of him as he justified his actions. As he actually led them to believe that he hadn't been Itachi's lap dog for the past two years. “Do you have any ideas?” He looked around the pair for advice. He was honestly rusty at breaking jutsu. He had subconsciously pushed down the will to practice bettering Itachi, and that meant bettering his eyes. He was the worst kind of person.

“We need to somehow find the jutsu to break the seals.” She told them. “This is definitely forbidden jutsu. You can tell from the markings alone. Would they keep anything like that here?” She asked Sasuke, and Sasuke scrambled to think, before finally nodding.

“The vault.” He took his ring off, handing it to Sakura. “Down the hall, two rights, one left, two more rights...the ring will get you inside. The scrolls are there. You should be able to find the one to break it.” He told her. “I'll work on things here. Somebody has to be here to protect him if they find out.” He told her, entrusting Sakura with the key to the kingdom. It was everything he had worked the last two years for. “Go Sakura!” He yelled at her, and she seemed shocked at first, but nodded and ran in the direction he had sent her.

Sasuke's heart was pounding as he turned back towards Naruto. He grabbed the bars right above where his hands were as he leaned in close. “I can't go with you.” He told him, their foreheads touching. “He won't let me go. They would hunt us down...I think I can make it look like Sakura got you out.” He felt Naruto's breath on his skin, and it sent a chill of wanting down his spine. “I hate myself for all the pain I've caused everyone in the village...For what you must think of me.”

“Shut up Sasuke...you're acting like this is goodbye.” Naruto grabbed his hands on the bars, and their eyes met. “You're coming with me. You're coming back to Konoha!” He assured him. “I won't let them keep you anymore! You're mine!”

Sasuke's eyes widened in shock at that declaration. The conviction alone in Naruto's voice was enough to leave him trembling. It was nothing like when Itachi said this to him. There was nothing dark and twisted hiding just underneath. Naruto said it like it was fact, like the entire world knew it and laughed at the thought that there could ever be anything different. “Keep those sentiments Naruto.” Sasuke said, heart pounding. “I told you I can't go with…”

“And I told you you didn't have an option!” Naruto yelled. “This isn't who you are Sasuke, and if I have to I'll knock you out and drag you by that stupid spiky hair of yours!” He yelled back at him, and the walls shook with the chakra threatening to spill from him. Sasuke looked around, one of the sigils beginning to crack.

“That's it Dobe…” He assured him, not realizing as he squeezed Naruto's hand. “We can break the seals with enough chakra.” Naruto had more than any other shinobi he had ever met. “Do you think you can draw on the power of the Kyuubi?” He asked, meeting his eyes. “I'll do my best from out here. Together we should be able to break through the ooommphh!” He managed when in mid sentence Naruto grabbed the back of his head, slamming their lips together. Sasuke gasped into it, feeling Naruto smile as he pulled away. Sasuke's mismatched eyes were wide and fearful. Naruto looked beyond pleased with what he had just done.

“I'm so glad you got your spark back Sasuke. Your eyes aren't dead anymore.” He told him, smiling brightly at him. “Now let's do this!” He told him, bending over as he began to try to release his chakra. The power of it starting to make the walls tremble.

Sasuke nodded at him. “That's it!” He said, focusing on the task. He tried not to think of just what his brother would do once he found him, once he realized that Naruto had kissed him. He released his own chakra, shaking at the walls as chidori lit up his feet. He used it to speed up the wall and along it, breaking the hundreds upon hundreds of sigils lining the walls. He glanced down to Naruto, the red chakra starting to crackle and swirl around him. He used his chakra to run everywhere, parts of the ceiling beginning to crack and fall. He flipped off the ceiling, landing in front of Naruto. “You have to do the ones in your cell Dobe. I can't reach those.” He commanded, feeling that they were getting closer as the chakra swirled all around him. The prison was weakening.

They were almost there. If this kept up then they wouldn't even need the scroll from Sakura. The sigils in the cell began to break, and he grabbed for the bars. “Almost there Naruto...just a few more...then we can leave!” He said, not realizing what he had said. “Just a few….” The sound of squishing flesh and blood tore through the air. That was the first thing Sasuke was aware of...the sound of it, and then it was the smell. That hot coppery scent of iron, the acrid biting stench of it all. It made his nose wrinkle. It wasn't until he looked down that he felt it. In the background he heard yelling. He heard Naruto screaming for him, but the words were thick in his ears. It was like someone had pressed heavy cotton inside and he could only hear the sickening squish of his flesh being torn open. He glanced down then, and that's when the pain came. He saw a hand protruding through his stomach, guts and blood poured all over the floor. He was lifted up then by the strength up it. An inhuman moan of agony left his throat as his toes dangled.

He turned his head then, not noticing the blood pouring from his mouth as he struggled to form sounds. He met the silver beady eyes of Kisame. The shark grinned cruelly at him. “Ki...Ki…” He tried, screaming then as that hand pushed up. It was digging through his body and splitting him in two. The sound was cut off as that arm pressed against his diaphragm and lungs, cutting off his air.

“Naughty naughty little Uchiha.” Kisame bit out at him. “Now I have to be the one to explain to Itachi what happened in here.” He mused darkly. “I have to explain how I found you trying to let the Kyuubi out, and I had no choice.” He twisted his spiked forearm, and Sasuke lost feeling then. The pain ebbed as his eyes began to darken. “Do you know how pissed he'll be at me? Man...probably have to find a new partner, but he knows the rules...knows you can't betray us!” He snapped, and Sasuke felt his eyes begin to close until only his hearing remained. He heard the splash of his slowly depleting blood, of his guts hitting the floor...of Naruto screaming for him. Then it got quiet, so quiet he let himself drift.

Sasuke heard a crash, and he fell to the floor. He smashed into it as he turned to look behind him. Able to glance just in time to see the sword Itachi had come down with onto Kisame's head slice all the way through and hit the floor. The Akatsuki's body split like a banana as half fell to either side, drenching Itachi and Sasuke in even more blood.

Itachi's eyes were swirling with the Mangekyo Sharingan. His face was a mask of hate and death as he spun the katana, sheathing it behind him as he turned to Sasuke. Looking at him as if he hadn't just cut clean through his partner's body, as if he had done nothing at all. Sasuke reached for him then, feeling a bit more strength now that the hand was out of him. He grasped for Itachi as his brother leaned down, and he felt pressure being put on the wound. “It's okay…” He heard his brother say. “Just stay awake Sasuke.” He demanded, and Sasuke heard a note of desperation in Itachi's voice that he must have been hallucinating as his dying wish.

“Aniki…” He managed. It was getting hard to talk as he choked on blood. “Aniki...you have to get him out…” He begged. “It didn't mean anything if you can't get him out...You can't…” He leaned in then, laying their foreheads together.

“You're not going to die Otouto.” Itachi hissed at him then. “Your eye...Sasuke remember your eye. You just have to stay awake long enough for it to heal you.” Itachi begged of him, and Sasuke blearily looked down. The wound was slowly beginning to close, but he was still so weak from blood loss. “You're such an idiot.” Itachi hissed to him then, and Sasuke felt his cold bloody lips being kissed before he was laid back.

Sasuke struggled to push himself up as he looked blearily around the room. He was lying in a pool of blood from both him and Kisame. Naruto screamed behind him. He could sense the fox chakra, could hear the walls begin to tumble. He held his own stomach, knowing Itachi was right about his healing. If he could live long enough, his wound would close. He struggled up onto his hands and knees, slipping in the blood as he watched Itachi make a hand sign. The entire wall behind Naruto exploded in black flame, and the door sprang open to the cage.

He was ripped off the ground then, thrust forward as he fell into waiting arms. He managed to look up into Naruto's worried face. The other's eyes were red with the chakra of the fox. Obviously he was about to lose it.

“Go.” Itachi hissed at them. “Take him. I'll distract them.” He told Naruto, and Sasuke shook his head, staring wide eyed.

“No...Aniki they'll kill you! They'll find out!” He bowed over in pain. Naruto was the only thing to keep him on his feet.

“I know how to take care of myself. Leave the others, they'll create a diversion for the two of you to get out.” He said. “Now go!” He managed one more time, and Sasuke felt himself scream. Naruto grabbed him, forcing him to run with him as his body screamed and he wanted his brother. He couldn't leave him like this!. They jumped through the black flame, and he fought to get back. He was trying to get to Itachi. Naruto pulled him all the while as he struggled. He had to pick him up then, putting him on his back as he took off as fast as he could through the woods. Away from his home...the Akatsuki… and Itachi….

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.