Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ Behind Dead Eyes ( Chapter 33 )

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

The Never Played Symphonies

Chapter 33: Behind Dead Eyes

Sasuke finally calmed down. A person can only cry for so long. He calmed down, and he pushed everything deep under the surface. He had shoved Itachi away from him after about an hour, getting to shaky feet and stumbling towards the cave. Everything hurt, and he tried to use as much chakra as possible to numb that. His skin began to grow back, the punctures through his body sealing. To his credit, he only fell twice on the way in. No one helped him up. He would have attacked them if they had tried. He tried to hold everything together, feeling the uncomfortable pain between his legs that he tried to ignore. Nothing happened. Nothing. Orochimaru tortured him. He tortured him. But nothing happened… He looked around the cave, eyes finding his sword as he limped slowly towards it, sheathing it behind his back.

“Sasuke.” He slipped on his sandals, ignoring Sasori's voice from behind him. He focused on putting one foot in front of the other...and not focusing on… Nothing fucking happened! “Sasuke?” Sasori asked again, and this time Sasuke slowly turned.

“What do you want Sasori-sensei?” He asked, voice as lifeless as he felt. “I'm just packing up. We can't stay this long in one place.”

“Can you move in your condition?” Sasori asked him, no sympathetic pity in his voice.

“I'm fine.” Sasuke hissed at him. “If we stay too long we'll be noticed. I saw where we were through the Kyuubi's eyes. Why would you guys ever be stupid enough to stay here?” He asked, though he already knew the answer. “You should have just left me.”

“Did you really expect us to do that?” Sasori asked him. “After we spent all that time rescuing you?”

“Oh?” Sasuke asked. “Did you rescue me?” He asked with sarcasm. “Did my brother kill him?” He asked then, and he really didn't think he had to explain who he was talking about.

Sasori seemed to hesitate, and Sasuke frowned as he saw that flash of pity. “No.” He conceded. “He had already escaped by the time we got there.”

“What a rescue.” Sasuke mocked, eyes locking with Itachi's at the mouth of the cave as he approached, knowing his brother had heard. “Are we going now?”

“Can you run?” Itachi asked him, eyes locked with Sasuke's. Sasuke couldn't read him. He hated him for that. He always had.

“If I have to.” He said. “If I die..well...no great loss there.” He murmured with dark sarcasm, watching Itachi's eyes narrow to slits.

“Did you want to talk before we leave?” Itachi asked him, voice hesitant.

“Why?” Sasuke asked with mock surprise. “Do you want to hear my feelings?” He forced a smirk onto his face. “Pretty sure I'm fine.” As long as he didn't think about...nothing...nothing fucking happened. “But thanks for the worry. I could obviously see your level of compassion when you ripped me out of my mind earlier...you're a saint niisan, really.” He openly mocked him, sneering at his brother as he knew the other wouldn't dare do a thing about it. He pushed past Itachi as he exited the cave, and was surprisingly allowed to. Hmmm...maybe one good thing had come from the torture.

“Hey Sparky…” Deidara said as he came back out, the blond surprisingly cowed. “You're looking better.”

“Strange.” Sasuke murmured. “You're just as ugly as ever...it's sad that I can regrow all of my skin, and you can't seem to change your face.” He murmured, raising one eyebrow as Deidara didn't respond. “You're pathetic.” He grumbled, pushing past him as well.

“Go.” Itachi said, obviously speaking to the two with them. He'd know better than to use that tone on him now. “I'll meet you at the rendezvous point in three days. Do recon on Tobi's location. Do not approach if you find him.” Tobi huh? Coward would leave the heavy lifting to someone else.

“What about...err...you know.” Deidara tried.

Sasuke spun around defiantly, trying to keep every bit of emotion from his face. “Orochimaru? You can say his name. I don't care. He'll be needing to heal somewhere I daresay.”

“Why?” Itachi asked him after a moment, voice hard and calculating.

“Because I bit off his dick when he tried to touch me.” Sasuke said, voice nonchalant as he shrugged. He ignored the way Deidara flinched, and the way Itachi's hands tightened to fists at his sides. “I also sliced off his tongue...and broke his wrist one of the times. Stop looking at me like I'm weak.” He hissed, anger flaring as his chakra flared. “Stop looking at me like that Itachi!” He screamed, and with his scream he shook the very trees around him. “Let's go. If we find Kabuto we'll find his master.”

He started walking at that, not bothering to look behind to see if he was being followed as he jumped into the trees, taking off as fast as his body would allow him. He ran from them. He ran from those pitying looks, because he knew them well. He had had to endure that look all of his life. He had never been strong enough. He had never been able to defend himself when it really mattered. Not against Itachi, Naruto, and now Orochimaru. He had suffered and endured so much pain through his life, and he had never learned. It was his own fault. He brought his own hell on himself. He was the monster of his fairy tale, not Itachi. His mind ached from the thought of it. It ached from the realization that this was his normal. This life of pain and suffering, he had brought all of it on himself.

He ran faster, pushing his body to the limit as he tried to block out the pain. He tried to wash himself in the numbness of the fox's chakra, but he couldn't reach it. Itachi was blocking it, the bastard. Even now he was doing everything just to spite him. He'd let it happen. Not that he'd ever tell that to Itachi, but he had. After days of torture, it seemed an easy solution. ...It seemed like an easy out. A break from his pain with Kabuto to endure quite a different kind. It could have been worse...that first time. He had shut his mind and endured, and all things considering it could have been worse. There was more pain after that. More hours spent with Kabuto as they tried to figure a way to get the diadem off to extract the tailed beast. Days spent in that nightmare with the sociopathic med shinobi using him as his guinea pig. He'd never felt such pain before...even from his injury from Kisame.

Orochimaru was nothing compared to that. He hadn't wanted it, but it's not like he had stopped it. His body was too exhausted. His will power had been run down just like his muscles...his bones...his flesh. He'd let it happen a second time. It was an end to the pain for almost an entire day as he rotted in his cell. Enduring became exhausting...as did the notion of going back to Kabuto's laboratory. So he decided to end it. When Orochimaru pressed himself to his lips, Sasuke bit as hard as he could, lashing up and breaking Orochimaru's hand as he tried to choke him. He spit out the flesh, grinning wide at the bastard. He waited. He waited for him to strike as he screamed and bled. He hadn't though. No, he had laughed. He had laughed at him with his flesh spat out on the ground. ...He had laughed and there hadn't been an end to the pain after that.

He had been running for almost a half a day, focusing on his rage...his anger over that pain...over his weakness. It's not like he hadn't know what the bastard had wanted when he got there. It hadn't been like the first time...with Naruto...with his friend. He could shut it out. However, Kabuto was a different story. There was no shutting him out.

“Sasuke!” He heard from behind him, ignoring his brother as he ran faster. The punctures in his stomach and legs opened, dripping blood behind him as he pushed on. What did it matter? What did any of this really matter? Tobi had won, hadn't he? Or Madara...Obito...whatever he was calling himself these days. He had forced a wedge between him and Itachi. He had ruined them. He had given him to Orochimaru...to Kabuto...and they had ruined him. “Sasuke!?” He heard Itachi say more desperately, and grunted as he was grabbed from behind, forcing him to a stop as he stiffened in his arms.

Sasuke stood there, trying not to react to the familiar arms around him. “What? Do you not want to catch up to Kabuto?” He asked, voice harsh and deadly. He had learned from the best.

“You're bleeding everywhere.” Itachi murmured. “You're going to pass out soon. You need a break.”

“Don't baby me.” Sasuke hissed, trying to pull away as Itachi held him tight. “I'm fine.”

“You're hardly fine.” Itachi reminded him, jumping down out of the trees with Sasuke in his arms. Sasuke ripped away as soon as their feet landed, turning to glare at his brother. “I said I was fine!”

“I don't care what you said.” Itachi assured him. “We're resting for the night so you can build up chakra. What exactly do you plan to do against Kabuto if you even find him?”

“Kill him.” Sasuke growled, feeling unsteady on his feet, blood leaking down his legs from the wounds in his thighs. “Believe me...He has it coming.”

Itachi watched him strangely at that. “Kabuto?” He asked him softly, voice testing.

“Kabuto.” Sasuke agreed, but probably not for what Itachi was thinking. ...That was fine. Let him stew in his lack of knowledge. “I don't feel good…” He managed, choking as blood left his lips and he fell down to his knees. “We can rest….just for a bit.” He conceded, hands digging into his thighs as he panted.

Itachi leaned down then. “Plasma pills.” He said, forcing them towards Sasuke's mouth. “Chew.” He commanded. “You need your strength.”

“Why?” Sasuke asked, looking up with his mismatched eyes as he chewed on the iron tasting tablets. “Do I have something important to keep my strength up for?” He asked him. “Am I of use to you in some way?”

Dark eyes scanned his face, searching. “Whatever happened to you...You can tell me. I'm trying here Otouto.”

“And failing as always.” Sasuke assured him, wiping at his mouth after he had drank some water. “He fucked me three times. Is that what you wanted to know? Orochimaru didn't touch me after I hurt him. He left...days ago. Kabuto made me regret it. He took his time severing all of my nerves and reattaching them again. He broke every bone in my body and mended it. He broke me.” Sasuke tilted his head. “What does that say about me Niisan? What does that say about you? I endured getting fucked by that sannin freak, Hell...I looked forward to it compared to everything else I was put through. I endured because you've taught me as much. Your trained body you were bragging about earlier.” He mocked, and wasn't surprised when his head snapped to the side as Itachi backhanded him. He licked at his split lip, turning to face red furious eyes. “Did you want me to cry some more?” He asked. “I haven't tears left for what's been done to me in my life. I don't want to be defeated again. Not ever. I won't endure anymore Itachi. Not from you...Not from Kabuto...Not from Orochimaru. I'm strong. I'm strong.” He repeated. “I made myself vulnerable for you, but I won't do that again.” He leaned in then, cupping Itachi's face. “Itachi...I'm over you.” He assured him, and slipped the ring off his bloody fingers, setting it on the ground. “Find someone else to be your weakness.”

Itachi frowned at him, holding up an apple from their pack. “You need to eat.” Sasuke eyed the apple with disdain, mind flashing to the last time Itachi had given him an apple.

“No thank you.” Always best to keep up your manners. “I'd rather starve.” He pushed himself shakily to his feet. “This was all a lesson for you, of that I'm sure you're already aware. It's funny, isn't it? Somebody finally teaching you a lesson?”

“Sit. Down.” Itachi said patiently. “You're hurt, and your chakra is diminished. You won't make it to wherever it is you think you're going.”

“What are you going to do about it?” Sasuke threatened. “Hit me? Force me into submission?” He asked, grinning. “You wouldn't dare...not after what I've just gone through.” He assured him. “Besides...you took the diadem off. I don't need my own chakra...or your `rescuing'” He mocked. “10 days...10 days in that place...just what did you think you were saving?” He laughed bitterly, the sound foreign on his own lips. “Who do you think you're trying to save now?”

“Eat.” Itachi repeated, holding out the apple. “I don't care if you're a smart ass brat...eat.”

Sasuke crossed his arms, watching Itachi. “No fight? You're boring. Did you think any of that earlier was about Orochimaru? I told you I let him.” He walked forward. “I told you I took care of things.”

“By whoring yourself out to him?” Itachi asked, teeth clenched.

“By making sure he can't ever touch anyone again.” Sasuke agreed. “I can take care of myself. I don't need you anymore. You're a hindrance.” Itachi reacted at that, losing his calm as he grabbed the front of Sasuke's shirt, yanking him down to his eye level.

“I'll forgive you just this once...since you're obviously hurting, but mind your tongue.” Itachi assured him.

“Why?” Sasuke asked him. “You going to make me use it on you?” He hissed darkly, licking his lips. “You try anything Itachi...and I'll bite yours off as well.” He reached down, taking the apple from his brother's hand and took a bite, eyes never leaving Itachi's. “Thanks for the meal...Aniki.” He mocked him, pulling away as Itachi let him go.

“Do you hate me for it?” Itachi asked softly, and Sasuke could hear the pain in his voice.

“Hmm...yes.” Sasuke replied after thinking on it. “It's not just that though. I hate you for putting me into the position, that much is true...but it's more than that.” He thought outloud. “You made it so easy for them...letting them see your weakness. You made me a target because you never give them what they want. You betrayed Obito...so he attacked me. You denied Orochimaru a body, and so he tried to take mine. It's all because of you and your ambitions.” He sighed. “I have ambitions too Itachi, and they no longer involve you. Die...I don't care. I hope Obito does kill you. As for me...I'm going to kill Kabuto and Orochimaru...and then…” He grinned, teeth pointed with his borrowed chakra. “I'm going back to Konoha...and I'm to kill the Hokage for sending me on this mission to begin with. I'm going to kill her, and then I'm going to come back.”

“And kill me?” Itachi asked him then. “Is that what you desire?”

Sasuke shook his head. “No. I want to make you suffer first.” He pushed it all down, everything that made him feel anything besides hatred. Anything besides hatred had died in that room. “You were right earlier Itachi. I'm an avenger.” He motioned between. “This...thing...It was a nice distraction while it lasted...and I should be thanking you really. You gave me the skills I needed to survive. Orochimaru certainly appreciated them anyways.” He mocked him darkly, and when Itachi lashed out to touch him again Sasuke's eye flooded with the sharingan, trapping Itachi in them. He stopped him in his tracks as the world flooded red around them, and he dragged Itachi up by chains. The same chains that he had been hanging from in that room.

“Do you think your jutsu is stronger than mine?” Itachi asked him, sharingan flooding his own eyes. Sasuke drew on the fox's chakra, strengthening himself against it.

“Yes.” Sasuke told him. “I think I am stronger than you, and on top of that...I think you want to be punished.” He observed. “You're weak...pathetic...you can't protect anything, not even yourself.” He laughed. “To think...I let you fuck me all those times. Was it any different with you than with him? I thought I loved you I suppose...I don't think I love you now. You're redundant.” He used the hateful words Itachi had once said to him. “Don't worry about me though Itachi, I'm going to make things square between us.” He blinked, a phantom Kabuto appearing behind him. “I'll let you know exactly what I endured for your ambitions.” He tilt his head. “When we see each other again...my dearest Aniki, let me know what you think, alright?” He asked him, backing out of the kekkai genkai and allowing Itachi to endure. His heart never even skipped a beat when he heard the screaming behind him.

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

Sometimes he would think about what he had given up. Sometimes he would remember the nights he would stay up with his brother, not even having sex, but just talking. He remembered all those times in his head that were like his only sanctuary when he could just let go. He remembered how much he loved him. That was before. Before Kabuto and Orochimaru. Before Itachi had once again failed to save him. He knew better. He had learned from Naruto just why Itachi chose to fail at things. He had some plan. This was his play, and as always Sasuke was the punchline in his joke. He felt sticky. He had tracked Kabuto all the way to the land of fire...so close to Konoha he could taste it in the air. Good. He would be there soon enough.

He was garbed in black, fishnet clinging to his skin as he peered down from the tree. His hand tightened on his sword, the same sword he had once thought he killed Orochimaru with. That had really winded up biting him in the ass. Oh well, what did it matter now? Sex was sex. It didn't have to mean anything. It was a way of getting pleasure. Good for Orochimaru for taking what he wanted. Good for Naruto. ...Good for Itachi. It was all the same. It was all about power, and who had the most of it. That's why Sasuke had never topped before. He had always been weaker. ...He wouldn't be again. The thought of giving someone that power sickened him, the strong sense of revulsion making bile rise to the back of his throat. First thing first...Orochimaru went wherever Kabuto went. It was time to take his power back.

Sasuke slipped silently through the hallway, the only light was from the torches littering the walls. It had taken a month to track them down, and from the screams he would say Orochimaru wasn't fairing well. The downfall of immortality. Orochimaru always had to rely on others for his strength, and it was so fleeting. Given the wound he had sustained, he would say that body of his was almost done with. Three years wasn't long at all. Better to die gracefully than this mockery. Did he think this made him a great ninja? Did he think it made him anything different than a pathetic old man that was afraid of getting old? He was just as pathetic as Tsunade, but at least hers was just a glamour.

He heard the hacking wheezing cough of a body that was on its last legs. He should let him suffer here...suffer for all he had done, but he had other plans. Why settle for just the power of a fox, when you could have both the fox and a snake? He grinned to himself, eyes red and deadly with the Kyuubi's chakra. He had learned to control it completely now that his power wasn't being guarded. He had learned to control it now that he was presented with right kind of motivation. Hatred was always a much more powerful motivator than love. His mind flashed to Itachi, a familiar longing threatening to come to the surface. Then he remembered why he was here, and that he had found Orochimaru before Itachi had. He didn't care. He never had.

Chakra lit up his fingertips, the familiar singing of birds filling the hallway. He pointed his hand towards the door, and shot a beam of electrified light towards it. The door exploded, the light extending in as it hit Orochimaru in the chest. His eyes had turned slitted like the fox, teeth growing sharp and pointed, claws extending as he made his way in. Orochimaru was yelling on the bed, holding his chest where the chakra was hitting him. His body was covered in bandages, half of his tongue still missing so he made some sort of gurgled gasp as he cried out in pain.

“Sa-Sa-” The old pervert tried, but his tongue made him struggle on the syllable. “Sasuke?”

“Correct.” Sasuke murmured, teeth biting out his scathing reply in a growl. “Miss me?” He asked him, eyebrow raised as he increased the chakra. “It took awhile to find you. Kabuto was hiding you well. I had to wait almost a week before he went out and left you all alone.” He mused. “Pity to find you in such an unreputable state.” He sighed. “This is going to be almost too easy.”

“Now now Sasuke...don't be like that. You know you were always my favorite.” He tried. “You know we have a connection...what you did. I forgive you.”

“You forgive me?” He asked, voice quizzical. “For biting you? For ruining that body that you stole? How kind.” He mocked, twisting his chakra to start severing the nerves in Orochimaru's body.

“I know you were just scared.” Orochimaru continued. “But we can be a team...you and me...I want you to be mine still. I know you want me too Sasuke...that you miss me” He begged, bargaining with him.

“It disturbs me to hear you speak of this apparent connection of ours.” He said, voice dead with lack of emotion. “There will never be an us...we were never a team. You mean less than nothing to me.” He assured him. “I didn't come here tonight to tell you how you've hurt me, or to plead with you. I came here to kill you. I came here to kill you, and take every essence of power you think you have.”

Orochimaru laughed at that. “Foolish boy. Who do you think you're dealing with?” He asked, his skin started to warp as a snake crawled from his mouth, his body growing as well. “Do you really think you're a match for me? A Sannin?”

“Yes.” He said, not at all afraid. He had been before, when he didn't have his powers. He had been afraid before when he was blanketed in the comforting weight of the Kyuubi. “I think you're a sick old man who has long outlived his usefulness….But don't worry. I have one more use for you before you go.” He promised, not even flinching as the giant snake head struck.

Sasuke blinked as they were in the world of his controlling now. Dark clouds rolled in, surrounding them as it started to pour blood. “Did you really think that would work?” He asked calmly. “I had you in my eyes 10 minutes ago. I killed you 10 minutes ago, and there's not a thing you can do about it.” He told him. “Still want to fuck me now?” He mocked him, and with another blink a hundred swords pierced Orochimaru's flesh, a final slicing down to lop off the snake head. “I'll use the powers you covet so much to kill your protege. I'll do so much worst to him than you. Physically anyways. You see I talked to the Kyuubi in my head. He has a special spot all picked out for you.”

“No!” Orochimaru shrieked in between screams of pain as the swords dug deeper. They were soaked by now with the blood.

“Yes.” Sasuke assured him, hissing through his teeth. “You're mine now. This is your life.” He leaned down, grabbing Orochimaru's chin. “Aren't you glad you're immortal?” He mocked him, blinking as he came back into himself.

Sasuke stared at the corpse on the floor. He could feel the power within himself. He could feel it pushing against the fox's chakra. He could feel it being locked deep away for when he needed it. That was all he felt though. This revenge...it didn't feel like it should. Maybe it was because it wasn't complete yet? He still had Kabuto...and Konoha. Orochimaru was just a drop in the bucket to what lay in front of him. So why this rotten feeling in his gut? He had just killed one of the legendary Sannin. He had proven himself. He had gotten his revenge, but all he still felt was empty.

He shut his eyes as he sensed the presence, beating down the part of him that cared that he had come. “You're too late.” He told him, warring with the powers inside of him. He tried to ignore the fact that they all seemed to come to heel at the sound of the voice.

“Who says I wanted to deprive you?” Itachi asked, coming to stand beside him as they stared down at the mangled husk that was Orochimaru's corpse. “It's dangerous...having both powers inside you.”

“How'd you know?” He asked him, not glancing over. If he didn't look at him he wouldn't have to feel.

“I know everything about you Otouto.” Itachi murmured. “I gave you your time, but now I want you to come back.” His brother said, so matter of factly. Sasuke's hands clenched at his sides.

“Is that how much time I need to get over it?” He asked him. “A month? Is that all it takes Aniki?”

“Come outside. I got you a present.” He told him, and Sasuke laughed bitterly.

“Forgive me if I decline. I have work to do.” He took a step forward to leave, getting grabbed as he was about to leave. “Don't. Touch. Me.”

“I can do what I want with you.” Itachi assured him, turning him around and Sasuke was forced to look up at him. He held his chin defiantly as he stared at his brother. “I understand that you're hurting, and that you think this is what you want to be. It isn't. You don't want to be like me.”

“I don't want to be that weak person.” Sasuke assured him, eyes skitting to the side. “Stop stocking me. I can feel you sometimes...when you think I'm sleeping. I don't need watched. I won't interfere with your plans with the Akatsuki. I don't care.”

“They were our plans.” Itachi reminded him, hand keeping a firm hold on Sasuke's arm. “And they require you. You'll get over this Otouto.”

“Your compassion overwhelms me.” He murmured to him, grunting as he was dragged out of the room. “Let. Go. I'll handle you just as I handled you before.”

“Keep telling yourself that you did that on your own merit.” Itachi murmured, dragging him towards the front of the hideout. “My patience with you is wearing thin. I don't have time to babysit you while you take your sweet time with this revenge, so I sped up the process.” He hissed, shoving Sasuke out into the open.

Sasuke glanced up to where he was shoved, the same tree he had been doing surveillance in just hours early. A body was dangling from the branches. Sasuke recognized the chain, the position. He had been forced into it for 10 days. “You caught Kabuto?” He asked his brother. “I was going to do that.”

“You're not the only one that wanted revenge.” Itachi assured him. “He had it coming. So does Obito.”

“But not Orochimaru?” Sasuke asked, surprised as he looked back at Itachi. His brother's eyes were death, livid and lifeless in only the way Itachi could accomplish.

“I wanted to kill him, but that was all you.” He assured him. “You taking him into you for the power, it was a mistake.”

“We'll see.” Sasuke murmured, turning to look back at Kabuto. “Is that how pathetic I looked when you found me?” He asked his brother. “Forgive me for not remaining conscious through the whole affair.”

“Just kill him.” Itachi said, obviously not wanting to discuss that night.

“You want to watch?” Sasuke asked. “Is it a turn on for you Aniki?” He mocked him. “Watching me kill?” He asked, not waiting for a response as he walked closer. There were pokers in all the same spot as Sasuke's scars. Kabuto was a bloody mess, his eyes empty. “You tortured him...kind of takes out the fun.” He said, reaching and ripping out one of the barbed pokers. Kabuto's scream filled the air. “Almost.” He murmured, grinning as he ripped out another. “Kabuto...I need you with me.” He said, repeating the words the psychotic med-ninja had said to him over and over again. “I want you very aware of what I'm going to be doing to you. It's not as fun if you're somewhere else.”

Kabuto's dark eyes looked up at him, biting back his screams. “What did you do to Lord Orochimaru?” He asked him, grunting as Sasuke shoved the poker back in.

“I killed him.” Sasuke said easily. “I killed him and took his chakra. It's easy once you realize how to do it.” He smirked. “The crazy pervert actually said something about wanting me, as if what had happened between us was anything more than an escape from you.”

“He should have killed you during the Chuunin exams. He should have never gone after another Uchiha.” Kabuto stressed, eyes furious.

“But he didn't.” Sasuke reminded him. “He had a sick obsession with my brother. I look just like him you know.” He ripped another poker out, shoving it back in through his liver. “Of course you know.” He said, almost bored. “That fight between us earlier. It wasn't really fair. I was hindered. The two of your are cowards.” He shut his eyes, calling on Orochimaru's powers. “Taking me the way I was...with no chakra...it was dishonorable. You're scum.”

“What does that make you then?” Kabuto asked, blood pouring down his chin. “You've ridden Itachi's coat tails to this point. You'd be nothing without the power that was given to you.” Kabuto looked back towards Itachi. “He got all of his power by himself.”

“He really didn't, but you can think that if you want to.” Sasuke's eyes flashed yellow, snakes shooting from his fingertips to wrap around Kabuto's throat. “The truth is it really doesn't matter where it comes from, just that you have it. I am the strongest shinobi. I will rule the world, starting with the Hidden Leaf Village.” He assured him. “But you won't see any of it Kabuto.” He assured him, tightening his grasp as Kabuto choked, the snakes crushing him and all of his organs. “Because you'll be dead.” He sighed, almost bored as the snakes tightened completely, blood spraying all over him as Kabuto was cut to pieces, sections of him slopping to the ground.

He pushed the power back down, letting it go inside of him along with the power of the Jinchuriki. He wiped at his face, smearing the blood as he looked at the corpse. “That pile of flesh on the ground tortured me for days. It's strange when you think about how different it could have been.”

“If I had taken off the diadem you mean?” Itachi asked from behind him, the moon beating down on both of them. “You blame me?”

“How were you supposed to know?” Sasuke asked, turning towards his brother. He was coated in blood and carnage, but he knew Itachi wouldn't care. He never cared about how much blood was on his hands. “I don't care anymore Itachi. Had you found me I would have never realized what I wanted. I would have never realized how powerful I could be if I asserted myself.”

Itachi crossed his arms, watching him closely. “So this is it then? This is how it ends between us?” He motioned to the bloody pile of flesh and bones. “In carnage.”

“It's kind of perfect, don't you think?” Sasuke asked, stomach tightened to knots at Itachi's finality. “You ended it last time in carnage. Do you ever think about it Itachi? If you had stayed?” He asked. “You ever think about just how long it would have taken me to seduce you?”

“For you to seduce me?” Itachi asked him, raising an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

“Did you think it would be you?” Sasuke asked him. “When it finally happened? I've always wanted you more than you wanted me.” He shrugged. “And look where it got me.”

“Yes look.” Itachi said with disappointment. “I don't like this version of you.” He walked closer, grabbing Sasuke's spikes as he dragged him close. “I never wanted you to become this. If this is what you choose...fine. But don't expect to just be welcomed back when you gain your sanity back.”

“My sanity is just fine Itachi.” Sasuke assured him, not about to admit how hurt he was by that statement. He reached out with blood soaked hands, wrapping them around his brother's neck, pulling their foreheads together. “I'm still in love with you, but I can't give you what you want anymore.”

Itachi sighed at that, and Sasuke let it happen. He let him move his face ever so slightly so that their lips connected. It was a quick kiss, delicate almost for Itachi. “Forgive me Sasuke.” He murmured, and Sasuke hardly felt the needle go into his neck before falling into his brother's arms.

“Shit.” Deidara murmured as he came out of hiding. “He's going to be pissy when he wakes up.” He assured him, looking at the carnage at his feet. “Yeesh...Sparky wasn't kidding about revenge, yeah?” He asked, poking at the pile of flesh with his sandal. “Gross.”

Itachi looked towards him, and Deidara gulped at the intensity of that stare. “He'll get over it. We need him.”

“Yeah I know.” Deidara assured him. “Still doesn't mean he's going to like it.” He watched Itachi turn Sasuke, scooping him up into his arms. “You two sure are fucked up, you know that?” He asked him...because given what they had gone through...he didn't hate Itachi as much...He still hated him of course, the guy was an ass, just not as much.

“Sasuke doesn't know what he wants sometimes.” Itachi tried. “When he experiences moments of intense pain, he loses it. He shuts down his emotions.” He told him. “But he always comes back...eventually.”

“Hope you're right, yeah? Because if not I wouldn't want to be you when Sparky wakes up and realizes you drugged him.”

“He's my little brother.” Itachi murmured, and Deidara saw the way he couldn't take his eyes off Sasuke's face. “I'll always be there to bring him back. I'll bring you back.” Deidara heard him whisper. When had Itachi changed this much? When had he let himself become a person? “I'll get you to forgive me.”

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