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Starting Over	By : ladyvaltaya Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1114 -:- 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
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Chapter 3

�I didn�t come this
far just to die before this asshole. I�m stronger than this� He must have a
weakness.� Itachi�d managed to pin him to the wall, cupped his fingers around
his right eye, and� Sasuke shivered, he still couldn�t bear to think too
deeply about that moment.

Up to then, he thought
he�d fought well. It had been one of the toughest battles he�d ever faced
because of the brutal pace. Itachi was indeed a genius with the skill to match
his sadistic nature, who had long been known for his incredible talent in
genjutsu. Three long years of hard training had certainly paid off though. With
his Sharingan, Sasuke�d been able to match his brother illusion for illusion
and yet even that almost hadn�t been enough.

His enormous growth in
power in such a short time had impressed Itachi more than he would�ve admitted
otherwise. It wasn�t every day that someone managed to stand up to Itachi. That
was why his brother had told him about the bloody history of Uchiha Madara and
his younger brother. It was too horrible to imagine, but now it made sense in
his brother�s typical mode of insanity. All that time, he�d kept Sasuke alive
because he wanted to reenact it and then surpass Madara, their mysterious
ancestor.

The Mangekyou�s only
weakness was Itachi�s overconfidence when he used it- he�d certainly proved
he�d gotten stronger, but almost lost his eyes by accepting the bastard�s
challenge. As in the fight with Deidara, Orochimaru had saved him. Without the
dark Sannin�s power, Sasuke knew he would�ve been beaten yet again by his
brother- only this time he would have died- blind and alone, a disgrace to their
clan.

�I�m sorry, Sasuke.�

Sasuke couldn�t
control his breathing at first when he sat up- suddenly wide awake. The memories
were still too fresh- too painful. He tried to pull his thoughts away from that
terrible moment, but he still couldn�t forget and the waking nightmare
continued�

Itachi had him pinned
and he knew it, so he�d started to gloat as he reached for Sasuke�s right eye� �THIS
is my reality. The light will not leave my world.�

His summon tattoos
were neutralized; but he didn�t need to form any seals to use Orochimaru�s
lesser snake powers since absorbing him. Three venomous Hidden Snakes had shot
out of Sasuke�s arms and latched onto Itachi�s left arm- an easy target since
the asshole was only watching his other
hand, after all.

He was forced to back
off, but Itachi killed the serpents easily enough, Sasuke got away from the
wall, with a tumbler�s roll. He also used that movement to hide his hands and
formed the seals to create a shadow clone which he instructed to hide.

Itachi looked more
insane than ever as he advanced on him, his face twisted in pain and fury as
the deadly venom seeped into his blood. Itachi pulled a kunai whose blade
glittered with a strange green sheen, from the folds of his cloak. Sasuke drew his
sword, but he couldn�t get it in position to block in such close quarters-
creating that shadow clone had cost him too much chakra and time. Itachi�s
kunai bit deep into his shoulder and searing agony crept from that wound into
the cursed seal.

The irony that they were both poisoned wasn�t
lost on Sasuke, but he knew he couldn�t loose focus now. The last three years and
all the sacrifices he�d made- his whole life would mean nothing if he didn�t
see Itachi dead before the poison killed him.

The shadow clone attacked
silently, lifting Itachi as it impaled him in the back with its katana. Sasuke
smirked coldly as Itachi started to turn toward the clone, absolute shock evident
in his normally cruel eyes. Sasuke wasted no words, he growled as he lunged and
his katana lashed out one last time. Itachi�s body staggered and fell as his
head rolled off of his shoulders.

Their battle ended
before Sasuke was able to share his final thoughts, with his brother but all
that mattered was that this murderer was finally dead.

�You�re right. You were stronger than me, traitor- but no
enemy is invincible; not as long as the assassin is ready to die for the
mission.� He�d whispered into the darkness.

The victory speech always changed a little every time he
rehearsed it in his mind, but a lifetime of pain and self doubt had prepared
him for that battle. At the end, just as he predicted, he was the one left
standing.

He just hadn�t counted on was being found by Naruto while he
was still alive though. He�d held on longer because he wanted to say goodbye but
now instead, he would soon be a Leaf again� strange that fate seemed so
determined to keep drawing them back together.

He wasn�t allowed any visitors but the ANBU, Ibiki and
Tsunade now that his poison was cured and that was fine with him. He wasn�t
really looking forward to speaking with Naruto- not just yet.

��Now that you�re here
it�s too late to be angry that you aren�t dead yet, Sasuke. Part of you knows
that�� Tsunade�s words from the interrogation room kept coming back to him.

He was angry
though- angry that no matter what he�d told everyone- even himself for so long;
he still cared what Naruto thought of him. They were supposed to be just rivals�
now- but it was their friendship that he really missed.

Tsunade had stood up for him many times at yesterday�s
hearing and he�d accepted the council�s terms- without really understanding
why.

�What changed? Why am
I putting myself through this?�

�Alright, traitor,�
said one of the four ANBU distracting him from his thoughts. �It�s time to get
that smug look off of your pretty face!�

Another masked ninja shoved that one from behind. �Enough! Five
minutes ago Lady Tsunade forbade such talk with this prisoner!�

�What? Don�t tell me you�re one of those stupid chics who still
want to fuck this son of a-�

The kunoichi under the mask was Anko; Sasuke could tell by
her voice and her chakra signature, so he wasn�t surprised when she shoved the loud
mouth hard against the bars and pressed a kunai to his throat. �Your mouth is
going to get you demoted- or killed if you don�t shut it, rookie.�

Sasuke didn�t bother to move from his cot along the wall
until another ANBU sighed and stepped up to the door of his cell. �Uchiha
Sasuke, it�s time. Face the wall and put your hands behind your head, please.�

He sighed, and obeyed. He already hated this procedure even
though he was seldom moved and he�d actually spent most of his stay in this
cell unconscious. He hadn�t given them any trouble at all, but they were
constantly waiting for it- not that he could blame them; he supposed they were
wise to err on the side of caution with all
prisoners. Perhaps they didn�t believe his sincerity, but he had no plans to
try and escape. He had agreed to the sentence so to fight the guards would only
give that asshole Danzou exactly what he still wanted- an excuse to kill him.

�Do you have any questions about your sentence?� The guard
asked, snapping the chakra restraints onto his wrists and then his ankles.

Sasuke shook his head. �No.�

He�d been tortured before; blood
and pain were nothing new for him. Three years in Orochimaru�s possession had
been a very long time indeed. Orochimaru
craved desire and complete obedience from his bedmates. But he liked to hurt
them, tasting their blood while pretending he was trying to be gentle with
them. He wanted complete control; because he thought it was symbolic of his
formidable power in the outside world. Even in the chains, Sasuke hated that
game and fought back bitterly because it reinforced his distrust of authority
to be used like that.

The bright glare of the afternoon sun burned his eyes as he
was lead out of the prison where he�d been kept. His eyes adjusted quickly, and
he saw rain clouds gathering in the distance but he didn�t care where he was
being taken as long as they were going to get on with it.

Kakashi was probably
around someplace, but he couldn�t sense him. He didn�t need to look around to sense
the apprehensive stares of the villagers but he wondered why he couldn�t sense where
Naruto and Sakura were at.

The blond had been at his hearing, he looked scared and desperate
and that made Sasuke feel guilty. He knew he didn�t deserve that kind of
devotion. It was his life to lose but the number one hyperactive ninja still
wasn�t ready to let him go, he sighed. They hadn�t been able to speak to each
other directly since he�d found Juugo, but the formalities were almost over and
soon most of the village would begin trying to pretend he didn�t exist�

He smiled slightly as he remembered kissing Naruto- he wasn�t
usually impulsive like that. He�d hated being forced by Orochimaru for so long,
so Sasuke thought he�d been permanently cured of all his baser instincts since
he�d beaten the snake at his own game. After all, ignoring both Karin and
Suigetsu had been easy enough�

But Naruto was different. He was glad that the Dobe hadn�t
given up on him� The blonde shocked him when he�d kissed him back though. It
was embarrassing to admit it, but Sasuke loved that moment, it felt� safe. That was the first time he�d ever
felt safe since the night Orochimaru first branded him with the cursed seal. He�d
sought out the darkness because of the seal, in the end he knew he didn�t
deserve to feel that way, but he wanted more of it.

Other emotions he tried to hide even from himself were also wrapped
up in that slow, sweet kiss and Sasuke already knew he would kiss Naruto again
if another opportunity presented itself... Naruto was so trusting and pure
though- it wouldn�t be fair to take that from him, infecting him with his
darkness too.

�Get up there, traitor.� One of the masked guards hissed,
jerking the chain to pull him forward. �It�s time to see just how tough you
really are.� He made sure to keep his voice low so that Anko and likely the
others didn�t hear him, but Sasuke just rolled his eyes. Thunder rumbled in the
distance, but he was glad they were going to get it over with.

Sasuke climbed the three short steps up onto the makeshift
platform and stood quietly while his captors chained his arms apart,
effectively dangling him between the two thick posts on either side of him. He
had his back to the villagers and he preferred it that way. Someone ripped his
shirt off.

�Citizens of Konoha, as you all know, Uchiha Sasuke left our
village three years ago in search of revenge,� Tsunade said. �Despite the
difficulty of that mission, he was successful and now he wishes to peacefully return
to the Leaf. To prove his sincerity, the Council of Elders has seen fit to
sentence him to fifty lashes immediately. If he survives, he will be forgiven
his transgressions and reinstated after he has fully recovered.�

She walked around in front of him and held up a stick. �Here.
You should bite down on this, it�ll help.�

He shook his head and she managed a slight grin. �I admire
your resolve but... I can�t believe those two brats aren�t here yet��

�Who?�

�Your two cheerleaders, Sakura went to find Naruto and I
haven�t seen either of them since.�

�It�s better this way.�

�How can you say that?�

�He can�t stop this��

She nodded. �So you�re ready then?�

Sasuke nodded and Tsunade looked away as she moved away from
him. �You may begin, Karek, but if he does not ask for quarter, you will stop
at fifty, is that understood?�

�Of course, Hokage-sama.� The man
who answered her had a smooth, deep voice and seemed to be in a very good mood
considering what he�d been assigned to do. �Great,
a sadist like Orochimaru and my asshole brother.�

Sasuke didn�t care to know anything else about his torturer;
he was busy concentrating on controlling his breathing to focus his mind. He�d
acquired remarkable pain tolerance from Orochimaru, but he didn�t enjoy
withstanding the pain he knew was coming.

His torturer would have earth- fire�s natural enemy. The
whip was a special weapon- a rare heirloom meant solely for this kind of
purpose. It would combine the element of its wielder with the elemental force
of its target together with intensity that increased every time it touched him
to draw from his chakra. Meaning in this case, the whip would get progressively
heavier and probably manifest tiny metal blades or sharp chips from earth and
it would get hotter and hotter from his fire�

The first strike he heard more than he felt it, a tribute to
his concentration. The whip cracked loudly as it struck him across the back, leaving
a long red welt between his shoulders that would be the first of many.

Sasuke focused on trying to keep his muscles relaxed, and his
breathing even. The long pause the torturer gave him helped him do that, though
the man was not waiting out of kindness. He just wanted him to feel each strike
separately from those before it.

He could already feel the white snake�s natural mystic
abilities were trying to heal the pain, but the next strike connected with his
skin and he was forced to steady himself through the haze of pain.

The whip might have been heavier this time, but the warmth
in it still wasn�t as uncomfortable as he�d anticipated yet.

Sasuke held very still, sensing another movement behind him.
He ignored the way his chains were forcing his body to stretch, making it sting
even more because the muscles were constantly being pulled tight.

The whip snaked out again, striking him very close to the
first one. Sasuke closed his eyes and focused again on his breathing, blocking
out the pain.

The next time the whip touched him, it broke his skin. He
could feel blood seeping from the long line across his upper back and more heat
seemed to linger with the biting pain.

A few of the villagers started to whisper amongst themselves,
but Sasuke ignored them and the pain as the lash struck him again.

He felt the whip strike him in his lower back for the first
time, and noticed that it was indeed getting warmer; the heavy tail had also
drawn blood again.

He steadied himself as the whip struck him again, in the
middle of his back. He closed his eyes and took another long breath, ignoring
the pain.

The tenth was punctuated by a sharp, hot pain above a line
where he was already bleeding. He knew
the whip was definitely getting hotter- but he wasn�t about to let that affect
him either.

Naruto and Sakura were walking side by side through the
streets of Konoha, but they were both lost in their own thoughts.

Naruto couldn�t stand to want to watch anyone get hurt-
especially Sasuke� It made him sick to his stomach and he�d never been so glad
that he hadn�t eaten breakfast. This whole situation seemed wrong. It reminded
him too much of those stupid needles on that bridge when Haku�d
let him think his only true friend was really dead.

�N-Naruto?� Sakura asked suddenly.
�Did we really do the right thing?�

He was startled and he scowled at her. �You mean when we
brought him back?�

�Yes. I just- I don�t think I even love him anymore- it�s
just too hard to hold on when he�s never cared about me the way I always loved
him.�

�S-Sakura-chan��

�I mean it; it really hurt me when I couldn�t make him stay
or go with him. That day by the gate after he left me, I knew only you could bring
him back because the two of you have always had a deeper bond than the rest of
the team� I�ve always been jealous of you for that, Naruto.�

�What?�

�He was always obsessed with getting stronger, so the
competition kept you both motivated. I think he liked you because you always
stood up to him. Even when he was busy insulting you, he never hesitated to
protect you. I loved him, but his passion burns and he wouldn�t stay for me
because I just can�t challenge him like you always have��

�W-What do you mean?� He blushed uncomfortably trying not to
let his mind wander back to that kiss.

�I mean, Sasuke came back with us for you, Naruto.�

Luckily she didn�t notice; she was staring at the ground as
they walked. �He cares about all of us- the team, our friends even the village,
Sakura-chan.�

�I know that, but I�m serious, he�s just too proud to say it�
And you know, that day when we met Orochimaru on that bridge- I saw that
strange fire in you too. You two have something together that is so intense
that it really scared that day and on the roof of the hospital too� But when I
saw you holding him- I realized that I was being really selfish and Sasuke will
never be mine.�

�So� you�re giving up on him?�

�I don�t have a choice. Part of being in love is learning to
accept things we can�t change and I can�t change what�s in his heart. I�ll
always love him for being a part of our team and because he�s still the
coolest, smartest, hottest guy ever, but I want him to be happy even if he
isn�t with me. I-I feel the same way about you too, Naruto. I�ll always
treasure the times we went out together, but I think you and I are better off
as friends too.�

Naruto felt his heart freeze in his chest with those words,
but there were tears in her eyes and she smiled hopefully as she took his hand.
�So� are we still friends?�

He nodded, but he didn�t really mean the automatic smile
that came with it. In the last few months, he was just starting to feel like he
had a chance with her- and now this? �I uh� yeah, friends.�

�Naruto-kun! Sakura-chan!�
Hinata�s soft voice startled them. The girl looked
flushed and worried as she ran up the street to join them.

�Hinata-kun?�

�Hurry! The ceremony is almost
over!�

�What?�

�Yes! The Hokage has people looking everywhere for you two,
I volunteered to help because I-I just couldn�t stand to watch... It�s- it�s
too horrible��

�Is he� okay?�

�He�s been totally silent so far, but I don�t see how. Lady
Tsunade wants you two to take him home� She knows the council doesn�t want any
chakra healing done, but she has sent everything you need to the Uchiha
compound to stitch him back together, Sakura-chan.�

�Thanks, Hinata! We had no idea we were that late! I�m sorry
we made you come after us,� Sakura said. Her delicate features set themselves
in a determined expression as the three of them ran the rest of the way to the
site, ignoring the rain as it began to fall.

Even from a distance, the whip looked like an angry, red
snake, the glow brightened as it struck Sasuke across his upper back. He
staggered but the chains caught him, and his breathing was forced, but he
didn�t scream. It was clear how much he was suffering when the rain started
though. The water actually sizzled- creating steam that rolled off of both the
whip and Sasuke�s back. Naruto looked
away and ran to Tsunade.

As the rain came down harder, everyone began to disperse,
all of them seemed glad to have an excuse to get out of there.

�How can you just watch? Can�t you stop this?�

�No. It was his choice to accept this and you two couldn�t
have cut it any closer! There is only one more and then it would have been ANBU
taking him home for the next part of his sentence. If that had happened, the
scars would� just get him out of here. We�ll talk later.�

Naruto heard the final crack of the whip, but he didn�t look-
he couldn�t. He didn�t want to see the scorch marks or the ribbons of pale skin
dangling off of him or watch the layers of exposed muscles shift as he allowed
his weight to rest against the chains. Naruto felt numb and cold as he climbed
the steps with Sakura, but it wasn�t because of the rain.

Two members of ANBU released the chains binding Sasuke, who
fell to his knees, breathing heavily.

�Oh
shit- Sasuke-kun!� Sakura crouched down in front of him. �Can you hear
me? It�s Sakura. Naruto is here with me and we�re going to take you home now,
okay?�

�I�m� fine.� Sasuke growled, already trying to stand up on
his own. He shuddered and ended up back on his knees though when the sky was
lit up by nearby lightning and the thunder sounded unnervingly like the whip
that had just been used on him.

Sasuke shivered again as the cool rain suddenly became a
downpour. Naruto was fully dressed and he felt cold so he took off his jacket,
ready to put it over Sasuke�s shoulders but Sakura stopped him.

�No! The less we touch his wounds, the better. This should
be healed with chakra to keep him from getting infected- but the council
forbade it� I�ll be able to rearrange the pieces so they�ll heal properly, when
we get him to his house, but this will take hours. And for now the cool rain
probably makes it feel a little better anyway.�

�Especially the cooked pieces�� Sasuke grunted as each of
his teammates took one of his arms over their shoulders.

�We are to let you take Sasuke home and attend to his
wounds, but we will be escorting you there and his house arrest begins the
moment you have him inside. Inform us if you need further medical supplies,
Sakura-kun.� One of the ANBU said, none of whom waited for a reply.

It would be a long walk in the rain for the three old
friends, but Sakura and Naruto just grinned at each other over Sasuke�s
shoulder. Stubborn as he was, Sasuke was barely conscious now because of the
pain, forced to trust them. Both already knew this was where each of them
belonged, now they just had to make sure their teammate finally saw it too.
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Starting Over