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Avenger's Choice	By : Shakirah Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1039 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Avenger�s Choice

Pairing:� SasuNaruSasu with other side pairings mostly
implied.�

Genre:� Drama and angst with romance all mixed into
a big pot.�

Rating: Hard
R/ NC-17 depending on your take.�

Warnings and Spoilers: Mild
violence, language and graphic sexual situations.� But no spoilers if you�re at least past Sasuke�s defection, however
there are obscure references to events past that, but nothing concrete.��

Status: 4/10

Disclaimer:� Naruto isn�t mine� I just play with the boys
because it�s fun.

Summary:� Vengeance was always a deep part of
Sasuke, something Naruto had to accept when they became lovers.� But now that Uchiha Itachi is dead the blond
shinobi discovers that the real battle to become the most important part of
Sasuke�s life has just begun.
�

Author�s Notes:� Thanks everyone for reading, I
appreciate all the comments.� I hope the
lime was enjoyable.� ^^� The first lemon is actually next
chapter.� Just to make sure the present
timeline of this fic is clear, Sasuke went after Itachi and killed him
Monday.� Chapters 2 and 3 took place
Tuesday.� Chapters 4 and 5 take place Wednesday.� And according to Tsunade, she thinks the
longest she can wait to perform the procedure is Saturday.� The days of the week were implied when
Naruto figured out he had four days including the current one to get Sasuke to
change his mind.� But it was subtle, so
I thought I�d clarify that point.

Two last things, now that
all the establishing scenes are over with (involving Sasuke going after Itachi
and Naruto and Sasuke ending up together) the flashbacks won�t be scenes that
take place one after another in the span of a few weeks, days, or hours.� They�ll just be vignettes, that take place
at more random intervals.� Also, this is
the only chapter in the fic told entirely through Sasuke�s POV, and
conversely chapter 5 is exclusively Naruto�s POV.� This wasn�t intentional and there isn�t some
deeper reasoning behind it but as you�ll see the scenes in both chapters work
better told in their respective �voices�.�
�

Chapter 4:� Disillusioning Wake

Sasuke wasn�t sure if the acrid
taste of bile would have still permeated his senses when he woke despite the
nightmares, or if the dreams aided in the nauseating disquiet he was left with when
he opened his eyes and rejoined the world of the living.� His general disposition when he awoke from a
drug-induced slumber at a quarter to five was that at least in death he�d no
longer have to suffer from early mornings.�
He hadn�t attempted to go back to sleep, the pain had dissipated to
tolerable doses.� And after yesterday�s
endless tests, altercation with Naruto, and bouts of unconsciousness brought on
by the medication he saw no need to interact with human beings for as long as
possible.

By the time the sun peeked out
from the horizon the brunet Uchiha had already settled himself, been given a
mild dose of some medicine that did who only knew what, and been checked on by
Sakura, who promised she�d be back later after she tended to a few other matters.�

Right before eight Naruto burst
into the hospital room, a goofy grin on his face, made especially goofier
considering what time it was.� He
prattled on and on about Sakura-chan�s mistreatment, ramen for dinner courtesy
of Iruka-sensei and how he had only stopped in to say good morning before he
hopped back to his own room for a shower and to find something to eat for
breakfast.� Which was where Naruto was
presumably now.�

More staff had come in and out
for various reasons and Sasuke had rested silently through all of it�through
Sakura and Naruto�through the nurse with the glasses and the one with the
aquamarine hair.� An unrelenting feeling
remained the constant� tinged in dark and blood and tears�Sasuke had woken with
it�suffered from it�and knew quite well that its presence couldn�t be ignored,
nor would it release its hold.

Which brought him back full
circle.� Back to waking sweat-drenched
from nightmares.� Though he�d admit it
was more like one long nightmare, warping and twisting out of shape, endlessly
drifting in and out.� He also supposed
that not everyone would call the images that played out in his mind nightmares
either.� But that was how he classified
them�and even if they didn�t terrify him they left him aching and unsettled
upon awaking.�

His mother had been there
�coming and going�and his father� scrutinizing�
judging�disappointed�disapproving.� It
was hard to remember exactly what about his parents had been so disturbing,
perhaps the fact that they were among the cast of characters in the first place
was enough.� And the funny thing was, he
was very much conscious, throughout his sleep, of reality.� That Itachi was dead and so were his mother
and father.� How it had happened� when�
where� and maybe on some level that he was dreaming in the first place.

The truly disturbing part of it
all, the thing that made his skin crawl was that he had run� run to catch up to
them�he could tell it was them, the way certain facts in dreams are just known
as such.� He couldn�t get close enough,
and when he finally touched his mother and she turned�

Sasuke shivered.�

No face.� Well, no, not no face.� He was sure she indeed had one, and that the
woman he was running towards was in fact his mother.� But he couldn�t see her face.�
As if his memory couldn�t find the image in storage.� Certainly he knew what she looked like�he
could remember, envision every curve and laugh line�and yet�in that nightmare�

So many of the things concerning
his mother, and father for that matter, where lost to him, or remembered
imperfectly.� So much would remain lost
an eternity� something you had to overcome, get over�but a face�her smile?� It had just been all-together cruel.

Sasuke was a logical person; he
knew that dreams carried as many messages in them as a bowl of ramen noodles
did.� But his nightmare had done one
very important thing.� Rekindle the fire
of doubt, hatred and aching he had felt quietly simmering inside him since he
regained consciousness in this damned hospital room.

Yesterday those dark edged thoughts
of hating his parents for dying and Itachi for killing his spirit were able to
run wild as he lay helpless, undergoing unpleasant exams.� Things with Naruto, when the blond finally
finished entertaining Neji, could have been better.� But he conceded at the very least the idiot had kept his mind off
of those self-damaging thoughts.

And predictably Naruto had come
tearing into the room today early and promised his return once he finally got
his x-rays taken.� The blond was
obviously determined to treat today as a fresh start.� Sasuke could imagine Naruto had probably worked out his argument
for the procedure in the shower.� That
was Naruto, that had always been Naruto.�
He rolled with those metaphorical punches, (the blond had trouble
dodging the real ones).� He was way too
optimistic for his own good, to the point of stupidity.�

Why Sasuke ever allowed himself
to get involved with him he still wondered.�

The truth of the matter was Sasuke
wasn�t looking forward to death�he played it cool with Naruto but he didn�t
welcome it.� There was still more he had
hoped to accomplish, there were still barriers he wanted to tear down.� What the blond didn�t get, and probably
wouldn�t, was that the alternative was really anything but appealing.� Naruto had heard what he wanted to hear, and
he saw the matter in stark black and white.�
And the grey areas were far more important.

The procedure didn�t equal
life.� For one.� And going past that, supposing that he lived
through it, his chakra circulatory system would never really be the same
again.� According to Tsunade it involved
redirecting some of the channels.�
Especially since chakra 101 taught you that organs essential to molding
chakra, and conversely vital to normal human functions, were wrapped around
chakra channels.� Removing or
redirecting them obviously meant limiting or completely disabling the body�s
ability to mold chakra in the first place.�

And that was only a part of
it.� Performing a major procedure was
clearly taxing on the body, and the potential recovery time was extraordinary,
not mentioning the physical and emotional toll.� Tsunade had mentioned the pain as his body learned to adjust to the
new �configurations� would be severe at times and rattled off a list of other
side effects.� And even if Sasuke pushed
himself, and tried to work his way back to his former glory it would be easy
enough for an overachiever like him to overdo it and really kill himself
the next time around.�

So much of his abilities as a
ninja were wrapped up in his Sharingan, and powering it ate up a lot of
chakra�which didn�t leave power for much else, at least the way Tsunade had
described it to him.� That wasn�t to say
Sasuke couldn�t eventually get back to an acceptable level after he started
almost from scratch again.� But there
was no way to know if he physically �could� get back to anything close.� And just what was he supposed to do if he
was no longer able to live as a ninja anymore?�
Being a ninja was so wrapped up in who he was as a person he didn�t know
himself otherwise.� And what did that
mean then?� Did he go out looking for
another job?� Work at a food stand?� Or man the mission desk to earn an
income?�

There was no shame in a ninja no
longer on active duty.� There were
plenty of shinobi with a bad leg, or a bad back who took deskwork after
fulfilling careers.� Females often
stopped taking missions once they settled down in family units and raised their
children.� But Sasuke could never accept
that.� He was only 19; young even by
ninja standards.� There were still so
many things he could accomplish.� He
couldn�t settle for that.� Not when he
knew that he could be better utilized on dangerous missions, not when his pride
would never accept assigning other shinobi missions he should have taken for
himself.�

And so then what?� If he didn�t get an outside job and didn�t
do shinobi desk duties then what?� Did
he lie in his apartment bemoaning his former strengths and abilities?� Naruto wouldn�t take care of him forever�or
maybe he would, which was probably another part of the problem.� He had had to fend for himself for so long,
from such an early age, he couldn�t accept pity, he could never get used to
being looked after and helped.� He
couldn�t share a bedroom with Naruto as he continued to get stronger, listen to
tales of successful missions from the blond and his friends.� Wait at home for Naruto�s return week after
week, playing nursemaid when a mission didn�t go so hot, comforting him,
remaining indifferent when the most exciting part of his time would be hearing
Naruto�s excitement.�

It was just cruel.� It was just unacceptable.� No, he didn�t want to die.� But there were so many unknowns, so many
what ifs, and if the procedure saved his life there was no going back, if he
ended up losing his shinobi powers there would be nothing he could do.� It would literally destroy him; rip his soul
to shreds until god only knew what he�d do to escape the torment.� As for Naruto, he didn�t doubt the blond
cared for him now, or that a part of him always would, but having someone
around, being with someone who was useless, defenseless�Part of what he was
sure attracted Naruto to him was his strength, his resolve�it was the same on
his end�he wouldn�t be the same person anymore�what if Naruto couldn�t accept
it.� If Naruto left him, if Naruto got
fed up, which was very possible�

I�d be alone again�all alone
again.�

That was enough in itself to
kill him.�

He wasn�t being arbitrary.� He wasn�t being vain.� He hadn�t made his decision with the hopes
of destroying whatever he did have with Naruto.� But the facts were the facts.�
There was no way to guarantee anything, the worst case or the best
case.� Vomiting blood, having his body
wracked with sharp pain�being nothing�that�s what he saw, that was
reality.��

This was not the �miracle cure�
Naruto believed it to be.�

- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
A Year
and a Half ago
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sakura finished pulling out the last
of the containers and gave both Sasuke and Naruto a smile.� �There we go, that�s all of it.�� Naruto moved in to snag some of the food for
himself and Sakura�s quick shinobi reflexes caught the blond�s wrist in mid
movement.� �Oh no you don�t, Naruto,
we�re waiting for. . .�
��
Sasuke glanced out of the corner
of a dark eye as the leaves picked up and moments later Kakashi was standing in
front of them, one hand in his pocket the other on his well-worn copy of his
favorite Icha Icha volume.�
�Yo.��
��
�Kaka-sensei,� Sakura started,
delighted.��
��
�Sorry, I�m late, I was trying
to avoid another one of Gai�s challenges so I had to go around the village
twice.�
��
�Oh, no, you�re not late,�
Sakura explained.� �I lied about the
time we were gonna have our picnic lunch so you�d get here when we did.��
��
Naruto frowned.� �Why haven�t I ever thought to do that?�
��
�I�m just smarter than you,�
Sakura answered, with a victorious grin.�
She put two fingers up to prove her point.��
��
Kakashi rubbed the back of his
head.� �Well, actually I figured you
told me the wrong time on purpose, but I thought since today was important I
should try to get here reasonably early.��
��
�Ha, Sakura-chan!� Kaka-sensei didn�t fall for� owwww!�� Naruto clutched his battered skull.��
��
Sakura lowered her fist.� �Well, since you are here now,
Kakashi, let�s eat hmm?�
��
Kakashi shrugged and sat at the
vacant side of the blanket.� The three
males waited as Sakura carefully uncovered the spread.� When she was done she simply nodded and they
dug in.� Kakashi ate at the speed of
light, like he usually did.� Sasuke took
small concise bites and Naruto made a pig of himself like normal.��
��
�I suppose since you guys aren�t
talking and just eating you rather like lunch?�� Sakura wondered, sipping from her drink.��
��
�It�s good, Sakura-chan,� Naruto
answered with a smile.� �I never can get
my rice balls to taste this good.��
��
�So Sasuke tells me,� Sakura
answered.� Naruto made a face.� �Well, if you�re all done we should get to
the gifts.�� Naruto�s smile returned in
full force.� �Help me clean up first
before you get that eager grin on your face, Naruto.��
��
�Why should Sasuke and I have to
help clean up?� We�re here celebrating
our promotion to jounin after all and�OWWW!��
Sasuke ran his thumb along his other fingernails.��
��
�Gather up all the garbage,
Naruto, and make yourself useful for a change,� the brunet insisted.� Naruto shot Sasuke a look but did what he
was told to.� Sasuke looked at Sakura
crucially for a moment.� �It wasn�t
necessary to get us anything.� The idiot
and I were bound to make rank sooner or later.�
The picnic was enough.�
��
�Don�t be silly, Sasuke, if
Sakura-chan wants to shower us with expensive gifts we can�t disappoint her,�
Naruto insisted.��
��
�Teammates usually give each
other gifts when they make rank,� Kakashi added.� �Though Sakura is quite the team member to make such a delicious
lunch too.� Of course maybe that�s just
Sakura�s jounin sensibilities.��
Kakashi�s eye crinkled in a smile.�
Sakura beamed brightly at the praise.��
��
�I still say Sakura making
jounin a month before us was based solely on the fact that she�s been training
under Tsunade-baba for so long,� Naruto decided, pushing the last of the trash
into a garbage bag.� Sakura narrowed her
eyes.� �Not that she doesn�t deserve to
be a jounin.� And she�s certainly the
prettiest and smartest jounin ever.��
��
�Oi, Naruto, Sakura�s abilities
as a medic-nin rival Shizune�s,� Kakashi explained.� �And if you had been a jounin for longer than three days you�d
probably know that.� In any case, now
that you are jounin you�re not going to be allowed to go on any high-ranking
missions until you master basic medic jutsu, so it�d be a good idea to remember
your manners.� Especially where Sakura
is concerned.��
��
�That�s right, Naruto.� Unless you want to get trained by that guy
with the mole.�� Naruto shuddered.� �I didn�t think so,� Sakura thought,
smirking.� �Now then, on to the
gifts.� Sasuke, you can just leave all
the food containers in the basket, I�ll worry about them when I get home.�� Sasuke finished packing it away.� �The one in the gold paper is yours,
Naruto.� And the one in the silver is
Sasuke�s.�� Sakura handed them both
boxes that were the same size.��
��
�Thank you,� Sasuke offered
politely, taking his.� Heavier than he
would have expected.� What did she
get us?�
��
Naruto ripped into his package
the moment it was handed to him.� Sasuke
gave him a nudge.� The blond looked
up.� �Thanks Sakura-chan,� he remembered
before he got back to tearing the wrapping paper to shreds.��
��
�Oi, Naruto!� You�re supposed to read the card
first.�� Sakura frowned.� �There are a lot of �congratulations on
making rank� cards at the gift shop you know.�
It took forty minutes to pick out two for you guys.�� She sighed.� �Just make sure you read it when you get home, okay?�
��
�Yeah, yeah, I will.��
��
�I�ll read it to him if
necessary,� Sasuke added, reading his.��
�
��
�Shut up, Sasuke!��

Sasuke ignored the blond.� He was untaping the wrapping paper on his
present so it could be thrown away in one big sheet instead of little bits of
paper like Naruto�s had left.� Sasuke
put his card back in the envelope.

Naruto finally got to his
gift.� �Got it open.� What is it, Sakura-chan?�
��
�Well, you are jounin now, and
we might not be on missions together all the time or you could be sent on solo
missions.� Anyway, I know you heal fast,
but I still say it�s important to have a medical kit just in case.� You jump into everything head first Naruto,
you need something practical like that.��
Naruto looked at the kit.��
��
I wonder if he�s going to
complain about it.��
��
�This�this is thoughtful of you,
Sakura-chan.� The next time I have to
bandage up Sasuke I�ll think of you.��
Naruto smiled genuinely.� That
little idiot.�
��
�You don�t have to appease me,
Naruto.� I know a medical kit�s not much
fun.� That�s why I got you something
more entertaining too.�� Naruto glanced
at her.� �Lee and I were out by the
coast when we took our vacation together last year and we saw this shop that
makes personalized gifts.� Like Sasuke
said, you two would have made rank eventually.��
��
Naruto pulled the blinding orange
t-shirt out.� �My favorite color!�
��
�I know,� Sakura remarked.� �Did you see what it says?
��
�Future Hokage!�� Naruto smiled big enough for all of
them.��
��
�There�s more, Naruto,� Sasuke
pointed out, tracing his hands over the rest of the characters.� �Future Hokage and Current Annoyance.��
��
�I�m not annoying,� Naruto
defended.� Kakashi, Sasuke and Sakura
all lifted an eyebrow.� �Alright
fine.�� He crossed his arms over his chest.� �I�m just glad you�ve finally acknowledged
your soon to be village leader, Sakura-chan.��
Naruto held up the t-shirt triumphantly.� �And to think you blew your chance with me for Fuzzy-
OWWWWWW!�� Sasuke and Sakura both
lowered twin fists.
��
�Another medical kit, hmm?�� Kakashi wondered, peeking over at Sasuke�s
unwrapped gift.��
��
�And another t-shirt,� Naruto
added, leaning against him, his hand on the brunet�s thigh.� �So?�
What�s it say, huh, Sasuke?� Huh?� Huh?�
��
�Sakura,� Sasuke began, glancing
at the blond, �you really didn�t have to add the Future Hokage
part.��
��
�Shut up, Sasuke!�� Sasuke ignored him again and unfolded his
t-shirt.��
��
�I Live With Naruto and All I
Got Was This Lousy T-shirt,� Kakashi read out loud.� �That�s clever.�� Sasuke smirked instantly.�
There was one thing he could say about Sakura, the girl had sharp
wit.��
��
�You better not wear that around
the village, Sasuke,� Naruto threatened.�
Sasuke gave Naruto a more obnoxious smirk just to mess with him.� Naruto narrowed his eyes.� �Maybe you should exchange it, Sakura-chan.�
��
�You can�t exchange personalized
gifts, Naruto,� Kakashi answered simply.�
�Besides, she�s obviously only teasing you.�
��
�How come I�m always the one
being teased?� Naruto demanded.��
��
�Because you get the most worked
up about it,� Sasuke answered.� �Give me
your shirt, so I can fold it back up.��
Naruto shot Sasuke one last annoyed look before he did as asked.� Sasuke carefully gathered up their presents
and placed them in the shopping bag Sakura had brought them in neatly.� �Act grateful and not like an idiot, for a
change.�

�The picnic and the gifts were
really nice of you, Sakura-chan,� Naruto offered.� �Thanks.��
��
�Of course.�� Sakura smiled.��
� �
�Well, then, I guess it�s my
turn.�� Kakashi turned so he was facing
the grass and no longer the blanket.��
��
�You got us stuff too?�� Naruto wondered.��
��
�Yes.� But I�m no good at wrapping so Iruka did it for me.�� Kakashi did a couple of quick hand seals
before he pressed his hand into the grass.�
Two gifts wrapped in navy blue paper were left after the summoning
technique�s smoke cleared.� �The square
shaped box is yours, Naruto.� Sasuke,
yours is the rectangle.��
��
�Gee, thanks, Kaka-sensei.�� Naruto was all grins again.��
��
�No cards, I figured Naruto
wouldn�t read one anyway.� Well, that
and I forgot,� Kakashi continued.��
��
�It�s fine.� Naruto was ripping
apart more wrapping paper while his lover once again undid the tape at the
corners.� �Gift..gift�gift�Kakashi
bought me a gift��
��
�Well, actually it�s something
of a hand me down, Naruto,� Kakashi began, just as Naruto finally got to a
silver case.� �Those weapons belonged to
my old sensei.��
��
Naruto looked up.� �Your sensei?� You mean the Fourth?��
The silver-haired jounin nodded.�
�How awesome is that!�� Naruto
opened the case slowly.� Sasuke and
Sakura leaned over to see.� �This is the
best, Kakashi!��
��
�Yondaime gave them to me.� I haven�t had much occasion to use them over
the years.�� Kakashi�s eye
crinkled.� �You�re growing at a rapid
pace, Naruto, I thought you could put them to good use now that you�ve made
jounin.��
��
�Oi, Kaka-sensei, you�ve always
been smart enough to see how strong I am.��
Naruto fingered the cool silver.�
Then he grinned again and lounged at the other jounin, tackling him in
for a hug that Kakashi got out of.� But
he did manage to give the teen a few pats on the head.� �I�m gonna go try them out right now.� It won�t be long until I�m Hokage at this
rate.��
��
�Naruto, those aren�t normal
shuriken and kunai.� If you don�t master
them you could end up hurting yourself.�

�I can do it!� Naruto made an
eager fist.� He dashed off with the case
in hand.� Sasuke made a face.� He never learns.� �

�It�s really a wonder he�s lived
long enough to make jounin, I didn�t know Tsunade-sama was in the habit of
promoting reckless idiots,� Sakura thought, standing up.� �I guess it can�t be helped, someone�s gong to
have to keep him from doing something stupid, and since Sasuke�s still opening
his gift I suppose it�s my responsibility.��
She sprinted after him.� �Oi,
Naruto�some of the academy sensei brought their kids out to the training
grounds today�you can�t go throwing weapons around so hastily!��

�Come watch what me in action,
Sakura-chan!��

�Naruto!�

�His rank may change but Naruto
will always be Naruto,� Kakashi decided, rubbing the back of his neck.� He looked at Sasuke.� �Do you usually take this long to open your
presents, Sasuke?�

�Whether I open them fast or
slow the gift will be the same,� Sasuke answered smugly.� He was presented with a long rectangle case,
also in silver, for all his unwrapping.�
He didn�t look up at Kakashi as he unsealed it.� �This is��

�It�s rather old, they don�t
make katana like this anymore.�� Sasuke
looked up at the one-eyed ninja.�
�Figuring out what to give Naruto was a lot easier.�

Sasuke lifted the sword out of
the case by the hilt.� Then he carefully
withdrew it from the scabbard.� �I don�t
know how to use a katana,� Sasuke mentioned.�
Though obviously Kakashi knew that.

�Well, you plan to be ANBU don�t
you?� You�ll have to learn
eventually.�� Kakashi took the katana
from Sasuke�s hand.� �Though this is heavier
than the standard issue ANBU-grade.�
Actually I learned on this when I was a kid, I thought if I learned on
the heaviest sword in the house I�d be able to master the other katana easier.�

�And?�� Sasuke lifted an eyebrow.�

�I was a little small to wield any
sword properly, however, when I did start practicing with a lighter weight I
found it very comfortable.��

�I see.�

�I haven�t needed to use one of
these in a long while,� Kakashi continued, turning the blade slowly.� He stood up with both the sword and the
wrapping paper covering in his hand.� He
tossed the wrapping paper up and then with movements faster than Sasuke could
track with his naked eye he sliced the paper into quarters, then quarters
again.� Kakashi shrugged.� �I�m obviously pretty rusty.�

�That carving pattern on the
hilt is very intricate, Kakashi.�
Swordsmiths don�t spend so much time on detailing anymore.� That sword must be pretty old indeed.�

Kakashi turned the blade
again.� Sasuke caught his reflection in
it.� �It belonged to my great-grandfather.� He was part of the first ANBU platoon of
Konoha, appointed by the Second Hokage.�
He kept it in remarkably good shape.�
It�s been in the family ever since, going from one generation to the
next.�

�If that�s the case obviously I
can�t take it then.�� Sasuke
frowned.� �You shouldn�t give away
family heirlooms so carelessly, Kakashi.��

�You�re right.�� Kakashi rotated the sword a third time.� �This was the sword I always imagined I�d
give to my son, the way my father gave it to me.� However, the last time I checked I never copied any forbidden
jutsus that would allow Iruka to get pregnant.�� Sasuke met the older man�s visible eye.� �I want you to accept it, Sasuke.�� Kakashi held the sword out for him.

He wants me to have this?� Something so valuable and important to him
and the Hatake family?� Doesn�t he�why
would he�does he really, could he really see me as� as a. . .?

�Such a serious face�Sasuke-kun.�� Sasuke looked at Kakashi whose eye was
crinkling again.�

�Oi, Sasuke, you should have
seen me!� These weapons Kakashi gave me
are the coolest!� And�oi, what�s
that?�� Naruto was running at full
speed.� Sasuke took the katana and put
it back in the sheath�

�It�s obviously a sword,
Naruto,� Sakura answered, catching up.�

�Kakashi got you a sword?�� Naruto tried to make a grab for it but
Sasuke moved it out of the way.� �You
don�t know how to use a katana, do you, Sasuke?�

�I�ll learn.�� Sasuke might have been speaking to Naruto,
but he was looking steadily at Kakashi.��
��
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Now
- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.� �Why are you hesitating to tell me?� It�s not like I�ll be at the next jounin
briefing,� the brunet stated.�

The ANBU officer looked at her
captain.� He nodded.� She turned her head back towards
Sasuke.� �Details are only just now
coming in from one of the outer patrols.�
It would seem the previously mentioned suspect was spotted near the
border of River Country.�

�Kisame.� The only person who matches that description,�
Sasuke supplied.

�Although Naruto took Uchiha
Itachi�s head with him from the battle site by the time the hunter-nin arrived
on the scene to dispose of the rest of his body it had already been removed by
parties unknown.� Kisame�s alleged presence
doesn�t mean anything concrete.� And
really any other information that intelligence has gathered is or will soon be
classified.�� The officer flipped her
notebook page over.� �Now then, was
there anything else you wished to��

�It was just the three of us,
like I said yesterday.� Kisame wasn�t
there.�� Sasuke�s eyes narrowed sharply
again.� �If he were there Naruto
would have been taken by him and I doubt I�d be alive to tell you that.� Itachi would probably be alive as well.� I have nothing else I wish to provide for
your report.� You, however, can provide
yourselves an exit from my room.��

�We�re only trying to conduct an
investigation, Sasuke-san.��

�You can conduct it
elsewhere.�� Sasuke turned his
head.� �If you seriously believe I�m
leaving out some important details, like the fact that other members of
Akatsuki were waiting in the wings to whisk Naruto away send Morino Ibiki in to
do a full interrogation.� If he lives up
to his reputation maybe he can torture me into changing my story.�

The captain of the squad cleared
his throat.� �If you need to contact us
for any reason you may do so via ANBU headquarters, Cell 15.� Have a good morning.�� The ANBU offers did the seals for the
transport jutsu in sync and were gone.�

The second ANBU squad in two
days.� And Kisame had been spotted in
Fire Country.� Akatsuki might have been
a great number of things, but stupid wasn�t on the list.� By now Sasuke had to believe they suspected
something had happened to Itachi or would very soon, even if it wasn�t Kisame
who came in contact with the remains.�
Itachi had to have been checking in with his partner or someone else in
the organization in regular intervals, after all, it wouldn�t have been the
first time someone from the group decided to leave.�

In any case, Itachi�s death
meant the group would have to do some reconfiguring.� The last time one of their members had been killed it had taken
until now to make another move.� It
didn�t really surprise Sasuke that Itachi would try this plan, especially since
Uchiha men were nothing short of ambitious.�
Even the deranged ones.�
In any event, Akatsuki would probably lay low for a while, not make
another attempt on Naruto, maybe even go after someone else the next time they
did strike so they could regroup.�

And even when they did decide to
come after Naruto again, which they certainly would, Sasuke had no doubts the
village would react the way they always had�taking the necessary precautions,
preventing Naruto from going on any solo missions, restrict his movements to
the village if things got really dangerous.�
And Naruto�s network of close friends and comrades would defend Naruto
with their lives if it came down to it, the same way Naruto would do that for
them if necessary.��

Naruto would be fine.�

Despite his outward appearance
and penchant for mischievousness he had grown into one hell of a ninja.� Not that he didn�t need looking after now
and again because he was so easily provoked and could never come up with decent
plans once he got past his breaking point.�
That was the blond, though.� For
better or worse, that was who Sasuke had ended up attached to.�

The brunet jounin glanced at the
window, and at the lopsided plants that lined it.

Naruto had had his clone
retrieve the airborne fauna and then he spent several long minutes fussing over
them.� Actually the entire thing had
been a little surprising.� It took a lot
to make the blond truly mad, especially at Sasuke because he made it a regular
habit to tease and taunt Naruto, but once the blond did get mad�

Naruto did find ways to provoke
Sasuke.� And after the morning he had
had yesterday, coupled with Neji�s visit, well Sasuke hadn�t wanted to let
Naruto off the hook like he usually did.�
Naruto was a handful; that was the best way to sum it all up.� He was bouncy, and horny, and strangely
na�ve despite his ninja training.� But
somehow Naruto�s bad qualities made him almost endearing, in a pathetic sort of
way.�

Sasuke didn�t intend to upset
Naruto again like he had managed to yesterday and the night before, especially
now that he wasn�t in such a sour mood, despite his nightmare.� That wasn�t to say he wouldn�t lash out on
Naruto again, though.� There was no
telling if Sasuke would be able to keep a tight leash on his dark emotions when
Naruto was around.� And there was also
no stopping the inevitable fight that would ensue the next time Naruto brought
up that damn procedure again.

That didn�t mean Sasuke didn�t want
Naruto around.� Even with all the
blond�s shortcomings he found a kind of calm with Naruto, which was ironic
since Naruto was usually being annoying and obnoxious.� He had wanted Naruto around yesterday during
his tests, especially once Sakura had told him Naruto had spent the night in a
hospital room.� He hated to admit that
it upset him Naruto hadn�t come in, not even for a few minutes, and it upset
him even more that Naruto would be audacious enough to ask Sasuke to reconsider
the procedure after being caught up with Neji for several hours.�

Neji...��

It wasn�t Naruto Sasuke didn�t
trust.� A statement that offered Naruto
little solace, but that was the hard fact.�
He didn�t trust Neji as far as he could throw him.� And even though he hadn�t been dumb enough
to try to make an actual move on Naruto he did nothing to hide his feelings
towards the blond either.� Naruto, for
his part, was a little stupid when it came to such things and probably never
really picked up on it.� Even though
Neji wasn�t all that subtle.

Nowadays, the Hyuuga clan member
spent a lot of his free time with his female teammate instead of the private
moments with Naruto he used to.� Naruto
insisted that proved Sasuke should drop the whole thing.� But it really didn�t mean much.� Even if the girl in question was infatuated
with him Neji�s feelings were obviously directed at someone else.� Naruto was obstinate just the same.� According to him, the two ninja had a �date�
last night at Tenten�s house, and the blond had insisted that meant they were
very much involved with each other.�

Even if Naruto was correct in
his assessment (though Sauske was sure Naruto�s idea of romance and sex were
based solely off of Icha Icha volumes) all that proved was Neji was a
cad as well as an opportunist.� What he
chose to do with the brunette was his business, but if they were hitting the
sheets when Neji knew his heart longed for someone else Sasuke�s distaste for
the other jounin was soundly justified.�
A person like that had no right going after Naruto.� Period.

Sasuke�s possessiveness for
Naruto didn�t extend into death, meaning he�d never tell the blond to never
become intimate with another.� If Naruto
met someone he cared about more power to him, but Neji.. . Sasuke didn�t attest
to his own perfections.� And he didn�t
fully believe he was right for Naruto.�
In a lot of ways he was very wrong for him.� But, Neji�the very thought sickened him beyond belief�made him
want to spew up more bile tinged with blood.�

This went beyond rivalry.� Neji wouldn�t have Naruto.� It was simple.� It was clear-cut.� He
wouldn�t.� Before the Uchiha heir took
his last breath he�d see to it that he wouldn�t.� He�d say whatever he had to say to Naruto, whatever deathbed
manipulations he�d have to pull.� He
knew, he believed with everything he had that if he told Naruto not to be with
Neji the blond would listen to him.

Sasuke had to believe that.�

What other choice did he really
have?

- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

There was a brisk knock on the
door, Sasuke turned slightly, wondering if someone from Tsunade�s office was coming
to reprimand him for his behavior towards the ANBU.� It wasn�t every day someone ruffled the feathers of two platoons
in two days.� He glanced at the wall
clock.� He had only been napping for a
little more than an hour it seemed.� And
according to the hastily scribbled note on the chair next to his bed, Naruto
was finished with his x-rays but decided to let Sasuke sleep and would be back
later.�

These drugs kill my
senses.� It�s not like Naruto�s the quietist
shinobi in the village.� I should have felt
his presence even if he didn�t make noise.�
Fuck, I doubt he came hobbling in here on one good foot without making
noise.��
�
The knocking stopped and the
door opened.� �Yo.�� Kakashi�s hand was up in greeting.

�I�m not allowed to have any
visitors, Kakashi.��

�So I hear.� Usually patients in this wing of the
hospital aren�t.� Especially patients
that get debriefed by two separate ANBU squads.�� Kakashi closed the door behind him.� �I guess with that broken arm and sprained wrist Tsunade-sama didn�t
see the need to handcuff you to the bedrails huh?�

�She told me she wasn�t filing
charges.�� Sasuke frowned.� �Do you know something I don�t?�

�No.� But I do sincerely hope I�m around if Ibiki comes by to have a
follow-up chat with you.� That�d be one
for the books.��

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.� �You�re in an exceptionally good mood today,
Kakashi, considering the circumstances.�

�Circumstances?�� Kakashi lifted a silver eyebrow.� �You mean you�re impending death?�

Sasuke made a little noise in the
back of his throat without meaning to.�
�If you�re here on Naruto�s behalf��

�I haven�t seen Naruto.� Not since Monday night,� Kakashi
stated.� �Actually, I stopped by out of
professional curiosity.��

�Meaning?�

�It�s not everyday you develop the
Mangekyou Sharingan.�� Sasuke focused
his steady gaze right on the older jounin.�

�That information was
classified.� Even if you spoke to some
of your friends in ANBU I doubt they�d risk their careers to tell you that.�

�Actually they didn�t tell me.�� Kakashi took a step towards him.� �You did�.Sasuke-kun.�� Sasuke made a face.�

No matter what I do he�s four
steps ahead of me� he always is�damn it.

�What made you come to that
conclusion?� To develop the true Mangekyou
Sharingan you�re supposed to��

�Kill your best friend.� Yes, so I�m aware.� However, you chose a long time ago not to follow that path,
ne?��

�Are you purposely avoiding my
question?�

�I rather assumed, especially
given the turn your relationship with Naruto took, that you�d gain it
protecting him.� If you were meant to
gain it at all.�� Kakashi was moving
towards the window.� �I didn�t see the
plants Iruka was picking out for your and Naruto�s rooms, but I would have
thought he�d have found one�s that weren�t so�sad.��

�Your lover didn�t find plants
that could fly,� Sasuke answered.

�I see, so Naruto really did toss
these out the window yesterday afternoon.��

�Does Iruka tell you everything
Naruto tells him, or were you just in a talkative mood last night?�

�Iruka keeps confidential
statements made by Naruto to himself.�
But I do hear things that pertain to you, Sasuke.�� Kakashi turned to look at him.� �Of course, Sakura�s always been my number
one source when it comes to your wellbeing.�
Some things never change I suppose.��

�You still didn�t completely
answer my other question, Kakashi.��
Sasuke gave him a firm look.�
�That�s a rather annoying little habit you have.�

�There isn�t anything else to
say about it, Sasuke.� I�ve never been
able to use my Sharingan eye to its full potential.�

�And they call you the Copy-nin
for kicks too?�� Sasuke sat up a bit,
slowly.� �You didn�t offer to supervise
my further training with it when I got back from Sound if you didn�t think you
had anything to show me.� Don�t give me a
song and dance now, Kakashi.� You might
be able to get away with it when it comes to Sakura and Naruto, but it�s never
worked on me.�

�No, you�ve always been
different, Sasuke.� As for the Mangekyou
Sharingan I had no way of knowing you would develop it.� I had to safely assume you wouldn�t kill
Naruto for it.� The bottom line is this,
there are only so many different ways I can say the same thing.� True power is only gained when protecting
something important to you.� If you
didn�t believe it before you should certainly believe that now.��

Sasuke turned his head, looking
back out at the bright late morning sunlight.�
�It doesn�t really matter how or why I developed it.� I�ll never use it again.�

�Oh?�� Kakashi lifted his eyebrow again.� �Does that mean you�ve decided it�s too risky a finishing
move?� Or does that mean you�re
declining Tsunade-sama�s procedure.�

�More gossip about me from
Iruka?� Sasuke asked bitterly.� I
don�t want a lecture from him�not now�

�You�re quite flippant when
you�re dying, Sasuke.�� Kakashi shrugged
then.� �Actually, Naruto hasn�t told
Iruka about your decision yet.�

�Then it must have come from
Sakura then.� I�m sure she�s heard, from
Shizune or Tsunade herself.�

�You are so very bright,
Sasuke.�� Kakashi�s eye was grinning at
him.�

�What the hell are you doing
here, Kakashi?� I�m in no mood for your
games today.� If you came in here to
lecture me about why I need to have the damn procedure and look underneath some
underneath get to it.� Your patronizing
is hardly tolerated when we�re training together, it certainly won�t be
tolerated now.�

Kakashi opened his eye back up
and looked at Sasuke with that deadly look of his.� The one that was the real Kakashi when he was serious.�

�There won�t be a lecture,
Sasuke.�� Kakashi�s voice was clipped
and cold.� �Frankly, my opinion on the
situation is irrelevant.� Actually, the
last time I gave you a speech you ended up leaving for Sound that very same
night.� You�ve always been something of
a smug little brat when it comes to authority in the first place.� I�m not your teacher anymore.� And I have no intention of wasting any
wisdom on you.�

Kakashi�he�I never would have
thought Kakashi would�

Sasuke let the comments roll off
his back, refusing to let Kakashi see him fazed.� �Then what are you doing here?� If it�s not to convince me to have the procedure why did
you��

�I guess in some ways I�m
partially to blame for your confusion, Sasuke.�� Kakashi turned away from him.�
�I�m not your father.� I never have
been.��

Kakashi�

�Then why did you�� Kakashi turned, lifting his eyebrow.� Sasuke looked away. Embarrassed he had
almost said more than he should have.�

Kakashi was studying him
intently.� �You already have a father,
Sasuke.� You don�t need another
one.��

�I had a father.� In case you forgot why I�m here in the first
place Itachi killed him, him, my mother, and every other living relative I
had.��

�Death doesn�t break ties,
Sasuke.� He�s still your father, and
always will be.� Until you understand
that you�re not going to get anywhere.�
Killing your brother will just be in vain.��

�And next you�ll remind me that I
should have given up on revenge a long time ago too.�� Sasuke refused to look at the other ninja.� �You contradicted yourself the day you told
me if I joined ANBU I could move up in the ranks and request a special
assignment to hunt him down and kill him.�
And besides, I thought you weren�t here to give me a lecture.� Isn�t that something a father would
do, after all?�� Sasuke looked at him
with icy eyes.� �And there is no
comparison between my father and you, Kakashi.�
So don�t flatter yourself.��

Kakashi looked at him
unperturbed.� �You�re just as thick
headed now as you were the day we met, Sasuke.�
Telling you to give up on revenge wouldn�t be enough for you.� And even when I gave you a safer alternative
you still jumped at the first chance to chase after Itachi that came your
way.� But I expected it, Sasuke.� Not much you�ve done has truly surprised
me.� Even this choice you�re
making.� It�s time you learned what it really
means to be a man, Sasuke, instead of pretending to be one.�

�What the hell do you know?� And what the hell right do you have to come
in here anyway?� Snooping around,
getting information about me.� You have
some nerve to��

�Why didn�t you finish your
thought, Sasuke?�� Sasuke stopped in mid
rant.� �You were asking me a
question.� What�s stopping you from finishing
it?��

Sasuke paled before he looked
back out the window.� He knew that
Kakashi was already well aware of what he intended to ask him before when he
hadn�t been thinking.� He was fucking
with him.�

�Why did you give me that katana,
Kakashi,� Sasuke responded, eyes on the glass he was turned towards.� �If you never thought of me as�� Sasuke narrowed his eyes.� Did he really want the answer?� If Kakashi just wanted to give him a sword
to learn with why give him something so sentimental?� But then, just now��It makes no sense to give me such a gift.�

�I�ve never given you the
answers, Sasuke.�� Sasuke looked back at
the cyclopean jounin.� �Even when I
taught you chidori and you struggled with it at first I didn�t tell you what
you were doing wrong.� An important part
of the process is figuring out the trick for yourself.�

�The trick?�� Sasuke met his eyes.� �Why are you being like this?� You tell me to ask you my question and then
you��

�Ah, but that�s part of the
answer, isn�t it, Sasuke?� Right now you
think my behavior today and my actions the day we celebrated your promotion
contradict one another.�

�And you�re saying they don�t?�

�You never cease to amaze me with
your endless intelligence, Sasuke.��
Kakashi�s eye smiled at him again.�

�Is this some kind of tough
love?� Sasuke asked, making a face.�
�Some sort of reverse psychology?�
Do you think that childish stuff will work on me?�

�Hardly.� I�m a genius, I don�t need to deal in such
silly manipulations.�

�Then what are you�� Sasuke looked at him carefully.� Kakashi was still smiling at him in that
placating manner.� He�s not going to
answer anymore of my questions.� He�ll
wait until I come to him after I figure him out.� Sasuke looked back out the window.� �It amazes me how you act like the conversation we just had
didn�t happen.� I thought you were angry
with me.�

�You know, Sasuke, if you want to
keep your status as my sharpest former student you can�t expect me to repeat
myself.� Otherwise, I�ll have to give
the honor back to Sakura.��

�Repeat yourself?�

�Nothing you do surprises me,
Sasuke.� That goes for things you say as
well.��

He expected me to yell at
him.� He expected me to wonder why the
hell he gave me that katana too�and he�he expects me come to the conclusion on
my own.� He gives me a gift he always
thought he�d give to a son�then he makes those comments about me
misunderstanding him and seeing him as a substitute father�what the hell�I
never once told him I thought of him that way.�
Kakashi�s just�he�s just been there�for a while�I�ve known him for as
long as I knew my father�but that doesn�t mean I wanted to replace my
father�and what the hell was he saying that Itachi�s death would be in vain
unless I understood� understood what?�

�There�s that serious face again�Sasuke-kun.�

�Stop being condescending.��

�Why?� It�s fun.� You�re too
uptight, Sasuke.�

�Should I go around reading porno
in broad daylight then?� I could dye my
hair silver and wear my forehead protector over my eye.� We could be a regular Gai and Lee.��

�Konoha might be able to sustain
two Beautiful Green Beasts.� There�s
only room for one Copy-nin, Sasuke.��
Kakashi reached into his inner vest pocket.� �Which reminds me.�
Here.��

Kakashi tossed him a book.�

Sasuke didn�t catch it, since he
didn�t want to do any more damage to his wrist.� And his other arm was sitting in a sling.� �What�s��
Sasuke looked at it more closely.�
�A bingo book?�� Sasuke did a
double take.� �This is the ANBU
edition.��

�Mind as well get in some reading
well you�re just lying there.� I figured
Icha Icha would probably go unappreciated by you.��

�This is recently updated, your
source in ANBU gave you a copy?��

�I don�t have much use for it,�
Kakashi answered with a shrug.�

�Of course not, no one�s getting
sucked off in this.�� Sasuke ran his
hand along the pages, separating them slowly.�
�Why?�

�Why?� I hardly think the sexual preferences of some of the most
dangerous shinobi in the world is relevant to village security.�

Sauske made another face.� �You know what I meant.�

�You act like I�ve never given
you a bingo book before.�

�You haven�t.� Especially not an ANBU edition.��

�You�ll get your own updated ANBU
edition when you make ANBU.� Besides,
I�ve always believed in being pragmatic.�
ANBU is filled with enough surprises already, why not spoil some of the
smaller ones for you?�

�When I make ANBU?�� Sasuke met Kakashi�s single eye.� �If I�m not having the procedure I�m not
making ANBU.�

�Sharp as ever, Sasuke.�� Kakashi.�
�I had other things to do today.�
I need to find Naruto and check up on him.� If I don�t and Iruka finds out�well, you�re already not feeling
good, no sense making you sicker.�

�If you�re leaving, then
leave.� I won�t be responsible for any
lover�s quarrels you have as a result of neglecting to find Naruto.��

�Happy reading, Sasuke-kun.�� Kakashi did the transport jutsu, leaving. ��

Sasuke looked at the book for a
long moment.�

Kakashi.

�

- - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Eleven
Months Ago
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
�
��

The pain was blunt and immediate,
Sasuke let out a choked scream as the momentary shock gave way to reality.� The cloud-nin that he hadn�t been able to
sense in time had moved faster than he could react to resulting in both of
Sasuke�s hands being run through with a kunai, crucifying them one on top of
the other, over his head, to the tree he was slammed up against.�

The mission had gone to hell from
the moment they stole the document from the Lightening Country diplomat.� The four of them, Sakura, Naruto, Shikamaru,
and him, had engaged the enemy, a large group of chuunin and jounin cloud
shinobi in the Country of Lightening in a bloody battle, finally retreating
when fighting any longer was just out right suicidal.� They had somehow managed to lose them for a day and a half, using
Sakura�s genjutsu as cover and recovering some of their lost strength.��

Sasuke was just starting to drop
his guard when they reached Rice and Field Country, Fire Country�s border to
the north.� He, like the rest of his
team, were shocked to find that the cloud-nin had located them, chasing them
through three different countries.� The
country bordering Rice and Field Country to the east also bordered Fire
Country, but the cloud shinobi had anticipated they�d try running for the
border and familiar terrain.� After all,
once they entered Fire Country they were in their own backyard, they could
easily outrun them, if not count on some other Konoha shinobi to come to their
aid, like the outlying patrols.

Cutting through Rice and Field
Country had been Shikamaru�s idea.� But
it wasn�t a bad idea in theory; for one, the location of their hidden village
was almost directly south of Rice and Field country.� And crossing the eastern border only meant that they�d have to go
through more of Fire Country before they got closer to Konoha.� And there was also a less likelihood of
meeting up with a patrol or other shinobi because there wasn�t much of a threat
to village security from the east.� Especially
since a lot of the country was surrounded by ocean on the eastern coast.�

It had been a frantic five days
and when it was clear the cloud-nin would do whatever was necessary to get the
stolen scroll back the decision was finally made that Sakura and Shikamaru
should go on ahead and Naruto and Sasuke would stay behind to buy them some
time.� Sakura hadn�t liked the idea
period, but there hadn�t been any choice.�
The mission had to come first.�
And after Naruto�s tough guy assurances that he�d �beat all the
cloud-nin bastards up� Sakura and Shikamaru made a run for the Fire Country
border.��

Holding the cloud-nin off hadn�t
gone great.� But Naruto and Sasuke had
managed to put up an impressive fight for two shinobi who were
chakra-drained.� It was only when Sasuke
got separated from Naruto that he really began to worry.� Not for himself, he had been in worse binds
than this one, but Naruto off on his own with any number of trained ninja
attacking him�well, kage bunshin only got you so far.��

Now, of course the only person he
really should be worrying about was himself.�
The pain shot down his pinned arms.�
He had to tear into his lower lip with his teeth to stop himself from
dignifying the scum standing on the same branch as him more screams.�

�You�re the prick that killed two
of my teammates back in Lightening with that fire jutsu.�� The ninja narrowed his eyes.� �But you can�t form seals anymore.�� The cloud ninja pulled a second kunai out of
his leg holster.�

�I killed your teammates?�� Sasuke gave him a defiant look.� �Are you inviting me to their funerals?� Or do you want me to finish off the rest of
your team for you?��

The cloud ninja punched Sasuke
with enough force in his stomach that he could taste blood in his mouth.� �I�m gonna cut your neck open, Fucker, then I�m
going to shoot Hidden Cloud�s secret electric justu into the wound over and
over again.�� The ninja pressed the
business-end of the blade to Sasuke�s neck.�

Keep your eyes open�the second
you close them you�re dead�� Sasuke
fought against the white spreading over his vision.� A flash of metal?��

�Any last words, Leaf?��

�All Cloud assholes as stupid as
you?�� Sasuke met his gaze.� �You should have killed me when you had the
chance.�� Sasuke moved his eyes to the
left.�

The cloud- nin instinctively
looked over his shoulder, then dodged the shower of shuriken that came
streaking towards them.� The next moves
were Sharingan-quick, a term Kakashi had coined to represent movement the naked
eye couldn�t trace.�

Sasuke cupped his hands around
the knife that had torn into him and yanked it out.� He was able to dodge all the shuriken but one, which ripped
through his left shoulder.� The cloud
ninja had dropped his guard, jumping up off the tree branch to avoid the metal
weapons.� By the time he turned in mid
air to face Sasuke again the jounin had already flown through the proper seals
and hit him with the same chakra-fueled fire that killed his team members.�

The ninja screamed as Sasuke gave
him a roundhouse kick sending him flying off the branch.� If the fire didn�t kill him the fall
certainly would.� Sasuke narrowed his
eyes.� �Can�t form seals anymore my
ass.��

Knowing he was temporarily safe
he slid down the tree trunk and straddled the branch.� I talk big but I�m lucky to be alive.� Sasuke clutched his bloodied hands
gently.� Motherfucker�the left hand�s
already starting to go numb�I think he might have hit a chakra hole.�

The movement in the tree adjacent
to him steeled Sasuke�s resolve and he skewed his face back to the expressionless
mask he reserved for missions like this one.�
Naruto jumped onto his tree branch half a second later.� �Sasuke.��

Sasuke pressed his hands close to
him so Naruto couldn�t see the damage.�
Blood on a ninja�s hands wasn�t anything unusual, after all.�� Still alive, huh, Naruto?�

�They�re like roaches, Sasuke,
they just keep coming back.�� Naruto
moved closer to him.�

�Hn.�� The brunet scanned Naruto for any fresh injuries then narrowed
his eyes.� �What�s the deal with your
left eyebrow?� You run into a kunai,
Naruto?��

�This area always bleeds
heavy.�� Naruto pressed against it
absently.� �I didn�t know another one of
those assholes had gotten behind me.� He
managed to cut me before I got control of the situation.��

�I guess you�re just lucky idiots
die hard.�

�Shut the shit up, Sasuke.�� Naruto crouched down in front of him.� �I could have headed for the border and not
have come looking for you.�

�We got separated forty minutes
ago according to my internal clock.�
You�re late.�

Naruto rubbed his finger under
his nose. �I had to make an entrance.��

�Some entrance.��

�It�s your own fault for not
moving quick enough, Sasuke.�� Naruto�s
fingers traced over the open wound on Sasuke�s shoulder.� �I let the metal catch the light so you�d
know it was me.�� Naruto frowned as he
rubbed Sasuke�s wound.� �Looks like it
just grazed it.�

�It�s just a scratch.��

Naruto�s eyes moved down into
Sasuke�s lap.� �Why are your hands all
bloody, Sasuke?� I thought I saw you use
a fire jutsu on that guy.��

�I did.� He did this to me.��
Naruto narrowed his pretty blue eyes.�
�I wasn�t paying attention.� I
was trying to sense your chakra.� It
only took a second.��

Naruto grabbed Sasuke�s right
wrist.� �What�where are you hurt�� The blond jounin was studying the palm-side
of the brunet�s hand.� Then he turned it
over.� He looked back into dark
eyes.� �Sasuke?�

�That spot, above us, there�s
blood, and a cut in the bark of the tree��

�What about��

�My hands were attached to it.�

�He�� Naruto�s eyes became deadly slits.� �Is he dead, Sasuke?� You
better tell me he�s dead so I don�t have to go kill him,� Naruto hissed.�

�Is this rambling of yours going
to go on for much longer?� I think we
should do something about my hands before I lose feeling in the right one
too.�� If not for the adrenaline Sasuke
was pretty sure he would have been tempted to pass out to escape the intense
throbbing.��

�Damn it�� Naruto shouldered off his backpack.� He dug in it and found the medical kit
Sakura had given him.� �You�re going to
have to bear with me, I never used medic jutsu on a real person before.�� The blond�s hands were trembling as he
poured the rest of his water onto Sasuke�s hands, rubbing off the excess
blood.��

�There isn�t any time for that, just
put salve on it and wrap bandages around them tightly.�� Sasuke pressed his ear to the trunk of the
tree they were perched on.�

�There�s a lot of blood; I need
to use heat to close the wounds.�

�I had to yank the kunai out
roughly or I would have taken your shuriken to the head.��

Naruto�s face paled.� �Sasuke�I couldn�t see what was going on�if
I��

�The guy had another knife to my
throat, a shuriken to the shoulder is just a standard occupational hazard, and
as for my hands I couldn�t have done much worse than he already did.�� Sasuke adjusted his ear again.� �Hurry up.��

�I have to use jutsu, Sasuke,
salve and bandages aren�t��

�You know that asshole I just
killed, Naruto?�� Sasuke moved from the
trunk.� �He had friends.��

Naruto lifted his head.� �How many are coming�more than four�wait
no�at least five.�

�At least nine to ten, from what
I can tell.�� Naruto met his eyes.� �It�s an ambush.�

�Damn it.�� Naruto pulled the salve from the medical kit
and opened the top quickly.� �I don�t want
you to bleed to death, Sasuke.��

�Calm down and save your chakra
for our welcoming party.� I�m not going
to be able to form seals anyway, and it�ll take the rest of my chakra to keep
the Sharingan up and running.� Right now
I�m more concerned about Cloud than blood loss.��

Naruto worked quickly but got the
job down efficiently.� �I�ll send a
couple of clones out to meet them.� We
should get out of the trees.�� Naruto
stood up.�

�We can move faster in the trees
and use them for cover.�

�They�ll expect that from
us.� Right now the ground�s safer.�� Naruto moved to do Kage Bunshin.

�The clones are just going to get
destroyed, Naruto.�� Sasuke stood.� �I lost my pack an hour ago, but you should
have some exploding tags left.��

�What are you scheming?��

�We have to create a diversion,
we jump down to the ground now what�s to stop them from finding us and jumping
down to meet us?� When they get close
you send the clones with exploding tags on their backs.� Tell them to channel all their chakra there
so when they go off the chakra will help spread the fire quicker.�

�Like with your fire
jutsus?�� Sasuke nodded.� �Okay, well we�re going to need at least six
clones to get good coverage.� If I make
any more I�m not sure I�ll have enough chakra left in case this doesn�t
work.��

�You get them set and I�ll handle
the tags.�� Sasuke dug in Naruto�s
backpack ignoring the discomfort.��

�This is a pretty good plan,
Sasuke, even though it came from you.��
Naruto moved through hand seals.��

�Pretty cocky for someone who
needed rescuing three hours ago, Naruto.��
Sasuke gave him a look.� �If I
said it once I�ve said it a hundred times.�
You�re no good without me.��

�I just saved you,
Sasuke.�� Six clones appeared.� �Besides, you�re the cocky one.��

�There�s a difference between
cocky and confident, Naruto.�

�And what is it?�

�If you have to ask you�ll never
know.��

�Jackass.�� Naruto took three of the tags from him and
started pressing them on the clones.�
�Alright guys, you have about twenty seconds to run towards the enemy
then channel all your chakra towards the spot the tag�s on.� Move out.��
The clones went jumping through the tree branches.��

�Get ready to jump, Naruto, we
need to go right before the explosions go off or we could get caught up in the
back draft.�

�What happens once we get down?�

�Run for the border.� We�re only about a half hour from it.� Sakura and Shikamaru shouldn�t be too hard
to find once we cross.�� Sasuke zipped
up Naruto�s backpack, mentally ticking off how much time they had left.��

�And your hands?�� Naruto moved towards him.� �They�re not wrapped as tight as I�d like,
Sasuke�we really should try to��

�Damn it, shut up!�� Sasuke grabbed the blond around his waist and
jumped off the branch as everything around them was engulfed in flame.�

-
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Now
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�No.�� Naruto was shaking his head as he poured the rest of the cup of
water into the soil.� �I didn�t see
Kakashi.��

�He said he needed to find you,�
Sasuke remarked mildly.� It was a little
after noon and the long morning had finally come to a close.� �That plant looks pathetic, give up already.�

�No.� He deserves a fighting chance.��
Naruto fussed over the other plants with equal concentration.�

�He?�� Sasuke looked back up at the ceiling.� �Are you planning on naming them too?�

�What�s wrong with giving them
nicknames?� the blond wondered, hopping back over to the chair by Sasuke�s
bed.�

�I remember a time when you hated
that I gave you a nickname.��

�Dobe-kun?�� Sasuke nodded.� �Why shouldn�t I have hated it?�
First of all, our first time together should have been special.� You shouldn�t have been calling me any names
afterwards, anything other than �Naruto�.�
And when I patiently explained to you that now that we had had sex
together �Dobe� was no longer appropriate I didn�t mean for you to mock me with
�Dobe-kun�.� Not only is it a
contradiction, but it�s caviler and taunting.�
Since when do you use honorifics anyway, huh?�

�You were so sure I�d only do it
that first night too�you were certain I�d forget to keep calling you that.� You never would have imagined that the joke
would stick, hmm, Naruto?��

�The joke�s on you, Sasuke.� I don�t hate it anymore.��

�How�s it on me?� You�re admitting to being a drop out every
time you respond to it.� Dobe-kun.��

�Shut up, Sasuke!�� Sasuke looked past Naruto and back out the
window.�

�Did you eat something for lunch,
Naruto?��

�Huh?�� He always gets thrown off whenever I go from teasing him to
being nice.�

�Did you put food in your mouth,
chew it, swallow it� let your stomach acids break it down to began the
digestive process.��

�I ate a little breakfast, after
the shower.� Shikamaru called me this
morning before I went for my x-rays; he said that he�d be stopping by with
Chouji and Ino sometime after one.� So I
told him he should bring me something for lunch.��

�I guess I�ll be taking my nap
then,� Sasuke remarked, turning his head back towards the ceiling.�

�They�re coming to see you as
well as me, Sasuke.� Shikamaru was in
the second group of shinobi looking for us.�
Actually he was looking for you, specifically.� Don�t you think you should at least see them?�

�Stealing Sakura�s lines,
Naruto?�

�Sasuke��

�The medication makes me drowsy,
and I�m not supposed to have visitors anyway.�

�You should at least think about
it, Sasuke.� I�d hate to have to tell
them they came all the way to the hospital and they won�t be able to see me.�

�No one�s chained you to this
room, Naruto.� If you want to go see
them then do so.��

Naruto shook his head.� �I told you before, Sasuke, you can�t make
me choose.� When it comes to everyone
else and you you�ll always win no matter what.�� Naruto shrugged.� �It�s
just as well, Shikamaru would probably want me to play shogi with him.� Not only is he impossible to beat he always
looks at me like I�m an idiot every move I make.�

�Don�t be so hard on yourself,
Naruto.� You have friends that think you
look dumb over the telephone.��

�SASUKE!!!��

Sasuke smirked slightly.�

Just for this moment�this
ten�fifteen minutes�just for right now he could forget everything else� the procedure�his
family�Kakashi�Sakura�he could pretend they were in their bedroom and not in
the hospital�he could imagine Naruto wasn�t working up the nerve to really try
to persuade him to have the surgery� he could tease Naruto and get him angry�
and things could be perfect�just the way they should be�

No matter how bad things got,
teasing Naruto always made him feel better.�

He only wished this fleeting
moment lasted forever, or just long enough to keep the nightmares away.��

Endnotes:� Hope you enjoyed chapter 4.� Chapter 5 is my favorite chapter thus
far�and I�d love to post it on Monday or Tuesday.� Of course being the review whore that I am�I could be motivated
to post it Monday if I get some feedback.�
Hehehe� no I�m only teasing, I really appreciate everyone who reads
this, even without feedback, over 1400 hits, someone�s reading this fic, and
that�s all an author could ever hope for.�
Thank you very very much for all the encouragement.� Hugs and Kisses and Cookies for
everyone.� ^^
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Avenger's Choice

Avenger�s Choice