Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

Insomnia	By : MisatosPenPen Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Kakashi/Sasuke Views: 6380 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or its characters. I make no profit from this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Kakashi needed to see Sasuke as soon as possible. Once the fights were over, he hurried out to see him.
Kakashi saw the door to Sasuke’s hospital room was ajar. He slipped in to see Kabuto at Sasuke’s bedside. He made two clones who kept hidden. Kabuto threw a scalpel at him as he was positioning himself, but Kakashi caught it easily.
“Just what I’d expect of you, Kakashi-san, foiling my attack by striking from my blind spot. But are you ready to take me on? Next time, you should station at least ten guards.”
The ANBU guards were all dead. Slaughtered quickly and quietly.
“You, you aren’t an ordinary genin, are you? You caught a whiff of me and immediately readied your weapon. Quite impressive.”
“No, not really. You overestimate me.”
“So, what do you want with Sasuke? Depending on your intent, I might have to capture and interrogate you.”
“What? Just you?” Kabuto turned around to face him. “I wonder if you could.”
“You want to try me? I know who you are. You’re the Konoha medical corps chief’s son. Your name, what was it? Yakashi Kabuto? A bottom-feeding, no-good ninja? What are you? One of Orochimaru’s puppets?”
“Even if you did take me into custody, you’d never be able to prove I have any connection to him.”
“Just answer my question.”
“And if I say ‘no’?”
“I’m the one asking the questions. Just answer the question.”
“If you capture me here and now, you might be able to prove my connection with Orochimaru. I won’t talk no matter what sort of torture of illusions you try on me, and I don’t really like to fight. If you let me swim away, you’ll find out the truth anyway. So, won’t you let me go this time?”
“You smart-alecky little brat. I’ll teach you to mess around with grownups.” Kakashi raised his kunai. “You know the laws of the village, what happens to spies?”
Kabuto raised a curved kunai. “Come on, give me a break; don’t be so arrogant. The cards are clearly in my favor here.” He held his kunai over Sasuke’s throat.
Kakashi’s heart skipped. Kabuto tensed and Kakashi ran in, startling Kabuto. Kabuto prepared to strike, but Kakashi knocked his arm away and his leg whipped out to kick him in the side, sending the kunai flying and putting Kabuto down.
One of the ANBU corpses got up to run away, but nearly ran into one of Kakashi’s clones leaning against the door. The ANBU turned to see Kakashi approaching and another clone coming from opposite him.
Another of the corpses on the floor broke the window and jumped out. The standing ANBU sank to the ground. Kakashi went to the window and looked out to see Kabuto removing the ANBU mask, smirking.
The Dead Soul Jutsu. Kakashi let his clones disappear and sighed. He looked at the boy in the bed. Sasuke was still unconscious. He gritted his teeth. He’d grown complacent since he left ANBU. No longer.
He summoned Uhei. “I need another team of ANBU to protect Sasuke. Tell them the previous team was killed. Hurry. I’ll guard him until they arrive.”
Uhei didn’t hesitate; he leapt from the window to fulfil his task.
Kakashi looked down at the corpses around him. He knew two of these men. He looked at Sasuke. His breath was fogging the mask in a near pant, but his heartrate was a more sedate beat. His body was struggling to recover. At least he didn’t wake up during the confrontation.
He summoned Pakkun. “Naruto will need personal training for the last part of the Chunin Exam. I want you to ask Ebisu to meet me in the hospital reception area. I’d like him to tutor one of my students for me.”
“Got it.” Pakkun looked around. “Are you training Sasuke or guarding him?”
“Both. Orochimaru has his eye on him.”
“Right.” Pakkun leapt out the window to find Ebisu.
Uhei was quick; ANBU didn’t take long to arrive.
Kakashi knew most of these men too. One he knew very well. He suppressed a smile. Tenzou would not fail him.
“An agent of Orochimaru, a Konoha shinobi, Yakashi Kabuto, murdered the pervious team. Orochimaru is targeting Sasuke because he’s an Uchiha. Kabuto used the Dead Soul jutsu. He’s far more skilled than a genin. Take no chances. Even if I come to visit him.” Kakashi looked directly into Tenzou’s eyes. At least Tenzou would know the real him.
Kakashi looked into each man’s eyes. “I’m entrusting my student to you.” He’d been well respected in ANBU, and they all straightened at that. They would protect him with their lives.
“Hai!” they all responded.
Kakashi left with a final look at Sasuke’s sleeping form. He sought out Sasuke’s doctor and was directed to the first floor. Sasuke was injured by his time in the Forest and the fight against Yoroi, but nothing serious. The curse mark and Kakashi’s seal had drained nearly all his chakra. He was drugged to make sure he recouped his chakra before he woke up again.
Kakashi was just explaining the security measures when he heard Naruto yelling at the receptionist.
“What?! No visitors?! Are you kidding me?!”
Kakashi sighed and excused himself.
“Those are the rules,” the nurse said.
“Come on, lady!”
Kakashi came closer. “Naruto, this is a hospital, keep it down.”
“Huh? Oh, Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto ran up to him. “Boy, am I glad to see you! I got to ask you a favor!”
“Stop right there. I already know what you’re going to ask. So, I’ve been looking for someone who can oversee your training for the final rounds.”
“Hold on, why can’t you train me, sensei?”
“I have other matters to handle. I don’t have time to deal with you, Naruto.”
“Hey! Ahha! You’re going to train Sasuke, aren’t you, Kakashi-sensei?!”
“Now, now, don’t complain. Listen, I found you an even better teacher than me.”
“Well, who is it?”
“It is I,” a voice said from behind him.
Naruto turned. And cried out. “You?! You closet pervert!
“Such insolence,” Ebisu said.
“Not that guy,” Naruto stuttered.
“He’s a what?” Kakashi asked confused. “What did you call him?” For a heartbeat he wondered if Ebisu had molested a student or something. Kakashi was glad for his mask.
“You’re kidding me! Of all the guys you could have picked, you pick this guy to train me?! What a joke! He’s weaker than I am!”
“What makes you say that?” When would they have met?
“I’m serious! You should have seen him! He saw my harem jutsu once and he fell to pieces!”
Ebisu panicked to the point he put his hand over Naruto’s mouth.
“Harem jutsu?” Kakashi asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Ebisu said, “just a little joke we shared.” He laughed in a very suspiciously fake way. Then he whispered to Naruto who stopped struggling.
“Well, well, I had no idea you two were acquainted,” Kakashi said.
“Yes, we go way back.”
“I still don’t get why it has to be him,” Naruto whined. “I mean, anybody else.”
“Look, you idiot, if hadn’t been for Kakashi, who asked me this favor, I would never consider training you.”
“Yeah, well, then don’t.”
“Hey, hey, come on you two, let’s calm down.” Kakashi squatted down and whispered to Naruto. “Listen, you’re wrong about Ebisu-sensei. He’s a special jounin. A private tutor who only trains the elite. Frankly, he’s a better teach than I am.” Kakashi stood. “Anyway, Naruto, I’ve got to say of the three genin in squad seven, you’re the one whose basic skills need work. That’s what I want you to focus on this time around.”
“Wait! Hold on a second! Are you honestly saying I’m not as good as Sasuke or Sakura?!”
“Naruto, no matter how many skills you master, the fundamentals are, well, fundamental. And yours could be improved. So, if you really want to become strong, then just be quiet and pay attention. Alright, Ebisu-sensei, I leave him in your capable hands.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Kakashi walked away. He needed to think about how to train Sasuke.
He’d chided Gai for teaching Lee about the Inner Gates. “I don’t know what this boy means to you, Gai, but I shouldn’t have to tell you we never bring our personal feelings into play.” How hypocritical of him to say. His personal feelings were ruling him more and more. He admitted to Gai that he was out of line. “If I had been in your shoes, I probably couldn’t have stopped him either.”
So, if was going to be as reckless as Gai, what should he do? Easy. Teach him Chidori. Orochimaru said that Sasuke would seek him out pursuing power. Maybe if he gave Sasuke the power of the Chidori, he wouldn’t seek out the old snake.
-----
The next morning, Kakashi was summoned into a meeting with the other high ranking jounin.
“Some of you may not have yet heard the news, the body of Gekko Hayate was found near Kikyou Castle this morning.”
The news shook Kakashi, but he refused to let it show. He knew him well. Hayate was Yuugao’s boyfriend even when Kakashi was still on an ANBU team with her. He was the best swordsman Kakashi knew.
“Was the killer Orochimaru?” Anko asked.
“As likely as that may be, we can’t make that assumption,” Kakashi said. “Hayate was most likely tailing the Sound spy, Kabuto. It’s clear Orochimaru is up to something though.”
“Then we must cancel the Chunin Exam,” Raido said. “With Orochimaru—”
“No,” the Hokage interrupted, “he revealed himself to Anko and urged us not to cancel the Exams. These Exams have brought together ninja from every allied nation.”
“What are you saying?” Mitokado asked.
“Orochimaru has the power to destroy a small country by himself. Since escaping this village, many countries must have set their eyes on him. Plus, he coincidently has a grudge against our village. Any country would prefer him on their side rather than against them.”
“Then . . .” Raido started to put it together. “No way. No village in the alliance would betray another and join forces with that fiend.”
“Well,” Kakashi said, “the alliance treaty is only as binding as any verbal agreement. As we found out during the last Great Ninja War.”
“In any case, until we are able to find out more, this is all just idle speculation,” the Hokage said.
“We’ve dispatched ANBU to every village to collect information,” Utatane said. “We would be fools to act too hastily. That might be just what our enemy is aiming for.”
“And besides, I have complete trust in all of you,” the Hokage said. “When and if the time comes we will gather the strength of Konoha and fight if we must.”
None of that put Kakashi at ease. If anything, he felt like a storm was beginning to swirl around him. Around Sasuke. He’d thought Naruto would be a nucleus of trouble with the Kyuubi within him. Instead, it was the Uchiha heir. Sakura didn’t seem to be on anybody’s radar thankfully. If she ended up being a princess or something, Kakashi was going to retire.
As he was leaving the Hokage tower, Ebisu approached him.
“Ahh, Ebisu-sensei,” Kakashi greeted. “How is Naruto doing?”
“Well, actually, Jiraiya-sama is back, and he’s taken Naruto under his wing.”
“Really? That’s unexpected.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, no. It’s fine. Thank you for your time, Ebisu-sensei. I appreciate you agreeing to train him even if you two don’t get along. I can understand Jiraiya taking an interest in him. Thank you.”
That was a relief. Jiraiya knew who and what Naruto really was and would look after him. Not even Orochimaru would try to touch him while Jiraiya was watching him.
For now, ANBU was guarding Sasuke and then he would personally take charge of him. He felt more at ease now.
-----
Two days later, Sasuke was given a normal room and taken off oxygen. He wouldn’t be cleared for visitors until the next day. Of course, Kakashi didn’t need permission.
Tenzou was there to stop Kakashi, only letting him in the room when Kakashi gave him his rainbow eyed smile.
Kakashi walked in to find Sasuke still drugged to the gills but awake.
“I guess the drugs and exhaustion have been helping you sleep,” Kakashi said.
Sasuke pouted.
“As soon as you feel ready to begin training, meet me out on the southern training field, on the highest mesa. But don’t come out there until you’re ready for serious training.”
“Hn.”
Kakashi smiled. “I’ll see you soon. Rest well. You’ll need it.”
Kakashi stopped in the hall. “Tenzou, don’t let Sasuke leave until he seems strong enough. When he is, let him go. Anyone demands to know why you let him go, just tell them it was on my orders. I will look after him.”
“Understood.”
-----
Kakashi didn’t think Sasuke would be there early, so he took his time, tying one hand behind his back and climbing the mesa like he often did as a kid. It was harder than it used to be.
Right before he made to the top, he looked up to see Sasuke. He looked fine, in fresh clothes.
“Hey.”
Kakashi smiled. “So, you finally showed up.”
“That’s my line.” He stepped aside so Kakashi could jump up to the top.
“So, are you really recovered?”
“My chakra has replenished, and I’m rested.”
Kakashi sighed. That was about as good as Kakashi could get with him. Sasuke would insist he was fine even if he was missing an arm.
“Well, let’s begin by testing a feeling I’ve had.” He took out a few pieces of paper. “These litmus papers react to chakra. Just hold one and it will reveal what chakra nature you’re predisposed to. Fire nature will cause the paper to burn, water nature makes it soggy, wind cuts it, earth makes it crumble, and lightning makes it wrinkle.
“You’re an Uchiha so you are predisposed to fire, but I have a hunch that isn’t your primary chakra nature. Tell me, when you learned the Grand Fireball jutsu, did you get it right away or did you have to work at it?”
Sasuke pouted. “I had to work at it.”
“And I suppose your brother got it immediately.”
His pout turned to a frown. “Yeah.”
“I worked with Itachi briefly and I know his nature was fire. Fire jutsu would come to him far more easily than for you if your chakra nature isn’t fire. Fire is probably your secondary nature just from your Uchiha blood. Here, take this paper and activate your chakra.”
Sasuke took a small square of paper. He held it between his fingers and the paper crinkled.
“I was right. I thought you were like me.” Kakashi held one sheet of paper and it also crinkled. “Lightning.”
“How did you know mine was lightning?”
“Sometimes when you use a lot of raw chakra, there’s a scent of ozone about you, like with mine. I have a keen sense of smell so I can detect it by scent whereas others can’t.”
“What about Naruto and Sakura?”
“Naruto’s doesn’t really have a scent to his chakra,” Kakashi lied. When he could smell Naruto’s chakra, it held a whiff of the Kyuubi. “Sakura is a bit earthy, so I assume hers is earth.”
“So, I assume the training will revolve around lightning style.”
“Why don’t I show you what I want to teach you. Since you have the same lightning as me, you can use my signature jutsu. The one and only jutsu The Man Who Copied a Thousand Jutsu developed himself.” He faced one of the large stones. He saw Sasuke had activated his Sharingan. He smiled and then made the hand signs slower than he normally would. Sasuke had a Sharingan, but he was still new to it. The Chidori blossomed around his hand. He had the satisfaction of seeing Sasuke’s shocked expression. Sasuke hadn’t seen the Chidori yet, unconscious the last two times he used it.
He let Sasuke see it for a few seconds, then Kakashi ran at the rock and pretty much destroyed it with the jab.
Sasuke was standing there with his mouth open.
“So, I’m sure you got the hand signs, but before you try it, you need to increase your speed and stamina. So, taijutsu training.”
Sasuke slumped a bit.
“You need similar speed to Lee. You copied his Primary Lotus, so I want you visualize Lee’s style. I fight Gai quite often, so I can train you somewhat in Gai’s style.”
Sasuke thought about his brief fight with Lee. He straightened his back, put one arm behind his back, and turned a bit to the side and extended his arm with his hand turned upward in a ready pose. Kakashi smiled. Perfect.
Kakashi took up the same stance. “Begin.”
-----
After three hours of brutal taijutsu training, Kakashi sat against the rock he practically destroyed and waved Sasuke to sit next him. Kakashi was a bit winded, but Sasuke was panting. He nearly collapsed next to him. Kakashi opened his pack, took out a bottle of water, and handed it to Sasuke who drank it all. Kakashi huffed—he’d expected to drink from it too—and took out a second bottle for himself.
Sasuke leaned sideways into Kakashi’s shoulder.
“You okay?” Kakashi asked.
“I’ve been immobile for days. I’m exhausted.”
“We’ll call it day. Come over to my place tonight. Everyone’s probably looking for you since you left the hospital early.”
“Naruto and Sakura especially.”
“Naruto was screaming to see you, but you were under the highest security.”
“Hn.”
“He was so loud, I worried he’d wake you from sedation.”
Sasuke chuckled.
Kakashi hesitated to make sure they were still alone, then he curled his arm around Sasuke’s head to put his hand on it. Sasuke relaxed more into his touch.
“Henge on the way. I’ll pick up something for dinner. Tomorrow we’ll be increasing your speed, so you’ll need your rest. I should pick up some ice too. You’ll be sore.”
Sasuke sighed. “You’re going to tell me about the fights, right?”
“Of course. I won’t let you go in blind.” Kakashi stood up. “No detours, come straight to my apartment.”
“Yeah.”
-----
Kakashi arrived home with a bag of takeout and a bag of ice.
Sasuke was ravenous. He hadn’t really eaten while unconscious and only had two meager hospital meals since. Kakashi smiled in amusement as he witnessed Sasuke eat like Naruto. Since Kakashi’s mouth wasn’t as nearly occupied eating, he started explaining the fights Sasuke missed, except for Shino’s fight since he hadn’t returned to the arena by then, but he did know about the Aburame clan.
Sasuke laid back on the floor with a bloated belly.
“The last part is a tournament and they’ve already drawn up the matchups. You’re fighting Gaara first. After that, you’ll fight either Naruto or Neji.”
“Hn. If Lee couldn’t defeat Gaara, how is training me to be as fast as him going to help?”
“You know about how the different chakra elements work with and against each other, right?”
“Yeah, sort of.”
Kakashi sighed. “What are they teaching you in the academy? Not that I would know, I was graduated out of there pretty quick. What you need to know for this is that lightning is superior to earth. You can overpower Gaara’s sand with Chidori. You’re going to need Lee’s speed to get around Gaara’s sand and attack his sand encased real body. And you need the speed just to use the Chidori properly.”
Sasuke’s silence indicated he saw the wisdom of Kakashi’s plan.
“Now, tell me what happened in the Forest of Death.”
Sasuke didn’t move or speak.
“All I know is that Orochimaru gave you that curse mark.”
Sasuke still wouldn’t speak.
“I’ve face Orochimaru before. He was discovered performing illegal and immoral experiments,” Kakashi said. “Sandaime took a team of ANBU with him into Orochimaru’s lair. I was left outside in case he made it out. He did. I never had much interaction with the man, but I knew his reputation. He was fast enough to evade my Chidori. He even cut my ANBU mask in half. He was always fascinated by the Sharingan but called mine a fake. Not very accurate.
“Sandaime had prepared a snake with a paper bomb in its mouth that I was able to set off. It wounded Orochimaru. I got up to stop him from fleeing, but the look in his eye left me frozen. He is truly the only man I feared.
“He is one of the Sanin, three of the greatest shinobi this village ever produced. He and his teammates were heroes, the only survivors of a battle against Hanzo the Salamander of Ame. He granted them the name of Sanin. Orochimaru may be evil, but no one can deny his skill.”
Sasuke sorted his thoughts and then said, “Naruto went off to take a piss, but an imposer came back. The guy was an idiot. Naruto got a cut on the cheek before the test; this idiot didn’t have it. He also had his holster on his left leg and used his left hand. I wounded him and drove him off.
“After that, I devised a passphrase. The second imposer Naruto got the transformation right, but also got the passphrase right. So, I knew it wasn’t Naruto. Naruto’s too much of an idiot to remember a long phrase. He’d been swallowed by a snake. The person impersonating Naruto this time was Orochimaru in disguise as a female Kusa-nin.”
Sasuke’s eyes were wide open, looking up at the ceiling as he remembered.
“Looking into his eyes, I saw my own death. A kunai in my forehead. I lost my lunch. The bloodlust was worse than you and Zabuza. That bloodlust had me paralyzed. I had to stab myself in the leg to break his spell. I grabbed Sakura and got out of the way of his kunai. I’ve never felt fear like that. Not even the night everyone died.”
Sasuke took some time to breathe.
“I was panicking. I just needed to get away. I was so freaked out I didn’t notice a snake was about to attack us. Sakura warned me just in time. I killed it but Orochimaru came out of the corpse. He came after me, but Naruto threw a bunch of kunai and shuriken in his path to stop him.
“Naruto was too stupid to be scared. He didn’t see what we did. I was going to give up the scroll in exchange for our lives. I was that scared. I just wanted the three of us to live. I threw the scroll toward Orochimaru. Naruto intercepted it and slugged me.” Sasuke hummed with amusement. “He scolded me. He said I wasn’t a coward. He said I choked. Then he attacked Orochimaru.
“Of course, it didn’t work. Orochimaru summoned another giant snake. He batted Naruto into a tree, but Naruto got this crazed look. He attacked the snake and did some damage. I was shocked.”
Kakashi figured that the crazed look must have been from the kyuubi’s power.
“Then Orochimaru came for me. I still couldn’t move. Naruto blocked the snake. He looked at me with red eyes and came back at me with the same words I used when we were attacked on the way to the Land of Waves.
“Orochimaru grabbed him and did . . . something to him. Naruto passed out. Sakura was able to stop him from falling. I was still frozen. Then Sakura called me a coward. Then I remembered my brother. It was that that broke me out of it.
“I just wanted to survive to face my brother. I realized if I couldn’t face this enemy, how could I face my brother. I attacked with my Sharingan. His movements were incredibly fast, but I could see him. It was a pretty good fight once I got my wits back. I used my clan’s Dragon Flame jutsu. Burned him to a crisp.
“I was exhausted. But it wasn’t enough, he was unharmed except his disguise was coming off. It was then he dropped the female act. He said he was testing my powers. He said that he sensed power in my eyes that surpasses Itachi’s. Then he said he wanted me and introduced himself as Orochimaru.”
Sasuke went quiet again.
“His neck extended, and he bit me on the neck. The pain was incredible, it felt like my blood was on fire. He said in time I would seek him out for his power. Then I passed out from the pain.”
“Hmm,” Kakashi considered. “And when you woke up?”
“I felt overflowing with power. I saw Sakura on the ground, her hair cut, her face bruised. I’d never seen her that hurt before. I asked her who had done it. She asked what happened to me and I noticed the black marks on my skin. One of the sound-nin said he’d beaten Sakura. So . . . I . . . attacked him.”
Sasuke was reluctant to continue. Kakashi let him find his words.
“I grabbed his arms from behind, put my foot on his back . . . and . . . I broke and dislocated both his arms. Sakura grabbed me and prevented me from attacking the last member of the Sound team. The power, the curse mark, receded and I collapsed in pain. The last of the Sound-nin surrendered and fled with his teammates.”
“That’s all?”
“That’s all.”
Kakashi was sure there was something else, something Sasuke would not say.
“What is this mark?” Sasuke asked.
“We’re not certain. There is another in this village who was given the mark. She was one of ten, the only one to survive. Everyone is shocked you survived. You must resist the urge to use that power. The seal I gave you will restrain it, but it’s based on your will. If you give in, even for a moment, the curse seal will take over and will likely kill you.”
“Hn.”
“Sasuke, I understand exactly why you froze. I froze looking in his eyes as well. Also, don’t feel too bad about your attack on the sound-nin. He hurt your teammate and you were under the influence of the curse mark. You made it through the worse part of the exams. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
Kakashi stood and put out a hand to help Sasuke up. “Get ready for bed.”
Sasuke hesitated once he was standing. Kakashi pulled him into a hug. To his surprise Sasuke started to cry. It must have been more traumatizing than Kakashi thought. Sasuke was full on sobbing into his chest. He’d been in the Forest, fighting, asleep, or training since he encountered Orochimaru. This was one of his few chances to think about what happened. He was safe with someone he trusted. This was probably the first time he’d had someone to cry against since his family died. That must have been hard, having no one there for him when he lost his entire clan. Kakashi remembered finding his father. He had no one either.
Sasuke’s crying made him cry. How much trauma had they both endured? How many tears had they suppressed and repressed? He let Sasuke cry until the boy was out of tears. Kakashi kissed his hair as Sasuke started to pull away.
“Clean up for bed. You’ll need a full night’s sleep for training tomorrow.”
-----
Sasuke woke up in the middle of the night. He was incredibly thirsty. He slipped out of Kakashi’s bed and out from Kakashi’s right arm which was draped over him. Kakashi didn’t even twitch.
Sasuke staggered into the kitchen. He found a glass, filled it from the tap, and drank nearly all of it in one go. He put it down on the counter and leaned forward.
It felt good to talk about The Forest of Death to Kakashi and crying was cathartic, but there were things he couldn’t tell him.
While Sasuke was unconscious, he had a vision. He saw himself as he was the day his clan was killed. He was crying.
“Mom and dad didn’t have to die.” He was back in his home. Between himself and his younger self lay his parents. Dead. Blood splattered on the floor. “They’re all dead because I wasn’t strong enough. In the end, if you don’t have strength, you can’t do anything. Because I didn’t have strength, the clan was wiped out. Everyone was killed. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t save them. If only I had been stronger. If only I had more power.” His younger self looked up at him, looked him dead in the eye with a sinister expression. “No. You . . . you let them die.” The younger version of himself scratched at his eye, beginning to peal his skin away. “All you did was watch. If only you were stronger. If only you had more power.” The face being revealed was that of Orochimaru.
He woke up then, the power flowing around him. He was filled with malice. It felt good. He understood he was an avenger. Even if it meant being consumed by evil, he needed power.
The first step on the path before him was avenging what those Sound-nin did to Sakura. He remembered smiling before he destroyed that guy’s arms. Like pulling wings off an insect.
But after Sakura grabbed him, he felt the power recede and malice drain away. That feeling of evil left him. He remembered being willing to let evil take him to gain power, but he didn’t feel that now. Now, he wanted to stay with Kakashi and learn from him. But there was a whisper of Orochimaru in his soul promising him power.
Sasuke added more water to the glass, finished it off, cleaned it, then set it aside to dry. He laid back in his place in Kakashi’s small bed. Kakashi woke up briefly enough to put his arm around him again, then they both fell back to sleep.
-----
The next day, they didn’t go up to mesa, but went a large field.
“Speed training,” Kakashi announced. “I want to know how fast you are. I’m going to go to the beginning of that group of trees. I’ll drop my hand to signal you to start.”
Kakashi ran over to his chosen end point. He raised his hand and prepped his stopwatch. He dropped his hand and activated the stopwatch. Sasuke ran as fast as he could. He came in at 87 seconds.
“I want you to time me.”
Sasuke took the stopwatch and Kakashi ran at a slower pace to where he had Sasuke start. Sasuke raised then dropped his hand. Kakashi used his Chidori speed. 73 seconds. Sasuke frowned.
“You need to match my speed. Lee is even faster. He could probably cover that distance in about 70 seconds, maybe less. Of course, none of us can sustain that speed for long, but the Chidori is a jab. You just need a running start to put the greatest power behind it. You’ll need that to destroy Gaara’s sand armor. We’ll work on your leg muscles and stamina, but also taijutsu training. You need to learn how to move like Lee, how to use that speed. It’s too little time to make you Lee’s equal, but I want you to at least be able to hold your own against him.”
Sasuke resigned himself. This was going to be a long month. But by the end, he would be stronger.
The next week was focused on speed training. Every day, Sasuke shaved off at least one second from his time. Kakashi even shaved a second or two from his own. Then, in the afternoon, they sparred, Kakashi teaching him everything he knew of Gai’s style and, of course, his own style.
At night, they were too tired to do anything but have a light meal and sleep. At least Kakashi let them sleep in a bed and not on the training grounds.
Finally, Sasuke hit 73 seconds.
“Well done! We’ll continue to work on your speed; it won’t hurt to raise your speed even more. But now we can start on chakra manipulation as well.”
-----
Speed training, taijutsu, and chakra manipulation training was exhausting. Every day. It took a week before Kakashi finally announced he was ready to try producing a Chidori.
“Tomorrow. You’ll need all your chakra to try it. We’ll quit early today, have a good meal, and turn in early. Do you think you have enough chakra to sustain a henge throughout dinner? We can have a proper meal rather than takeout.”
“Yeah. Good training in chakra stamina.”
“Indeed. Why don’t you go to your place, clean up, dress in fresh clothes, and I’ll meet you in front of your building.”
“Hn.”
Kakashi took his own advice, dressing in civies and henging before meeting Sasuke. They had an uneventful meal as two unexceptional, ordinary villagers.
Then they returned to Kakashi’s apartment.
Kakashi barely got his shoes off before Sasuke grabbed a hold of his shirt and pulled him down to his level to kiss him.
Bold brat, Kakashi thought. But he wasn’t against it.
His intentions made clear, Sasuke stepped back to shut off the lights and then pushed Kakashi towards the bed.
Kakashi sat down and heard the rustle of clothes. He put out a hand, easily finding Sasuke, and pulled him into a kiss. Sasuke’s chest was bare. Any aloofness Sasuke normally had, melted. He put his arms around Kakashi’s neck and returned the kiss.
Sasuke’s muscles were still hot from their exertions during training. They were swollen and defined under his touch.
The lube was waiting on the shelf under the window and Kakashi readied his fingers then prepped Sasuke, his pants and boxers already gone.
Sasuke’s hands encountered cloth when he sought out Kakashi’s body. He pulled away and grabbed at the shirt. Kakashi chuckled as he pulled it over his head and pushed the rest of his clothes off. Sasuke was right back between his legs. His hand wrapped around Kakashi’s cock immediately. Sasuke certainly wasn’t shy anymore. Kakashi resumed his exploration of Sasuke’s entrance.
Sasuke’s left hand went to the scar near Kakashi’s liver. His abdominal muscles twitched and rippled at the touch. Kakashi noticed Sasuke liked to touch that scar and the one under his left collarbone. He didn’t mind, anything to make Sasuke touch him. Kakashi grabbed his wrist and pressed Sasuke’s hand flush against his stomach. Kakashi grabbed Sasuke’s neck with his other hand to pull him into another kiss.
With Sasuke’s mouth captured by his own, Kakashi’s left hand ventured down the younger’s right arm, feeling the ripple of muscles while Sasuke gently stroked him. He was still a bit scrawny, but he was beginning to fill out. He really didn’t care if Sasuke filled out to a muscular man like Asuma or remain as lean as himself. He didn’t really care about Sasuke’s appearance. Even if Sasuke’s face was slashed or his body lost all definition, he would never leave him. He loved him deeply.
When he moved his lips in the kiss, he was mouthing a silent ‘I love you.’ Sasuke had forbidden only one thing, a confession of love. But Kakashi did love him. He repeated in constantly in his thoughts. He wondered when Sasuke would allow him to say it. When would he say it back?
Kakashi pulled Sasuke onto his lap, his legs around him and held him tightly against his chest. After a good few minutes of making out, he stood up with Sasuke securely wrapped around him. He turned and put his knee on the bed and crawled onto the bed as easily as if he’d been alone. He eased Sasuke down to the mattress.
Once Sasuke was on his back, they shared a sloppy kiss. Sasuke grabbed at his shoulders then dragged his hands down Kakashi’s chest.
Kakashi ended the kiss to shift down the bed, kissing and licking a trail down Sasuke’s body. When Kakashi reached Sasuke’s erection, Sasuke tangled his fingers in Kakashi’s hair. Sasuke moaned and raised his hips.
Kakashi rubbed Sasuke thigh as he sucked his cock. Once Sasuke was fully hard and weeping precum, Kakashi moved his hand back to entrance.
His fingers slipped inside, brushing against Sasuke’s prostate. Sasuke bucked, knocking Kakashi in the head with his hips. Kakashi pulled away to laugh briefly, amused by the idea he might break his nose while performing fellatio.
When Sasuke settled back down, Kakashi licked and kissed his lower abdomen, his cock brushing his cheek. The flat, warm plain of his stomach delighted him. Freshly showered, he had no taste at all, but he happily lapped at the skin between the boy’s cock and navel.
Sasuke was ready, but Kakashi instead sat up and pulled Sasuke to sit up and kissed him passionately, their erections rubbing against the other’s body. Forgetting that his hand was soiled with lubricant, Kakashi’s hand slipped into ebony hair, pressing their mouths more securely together.
Sasuke didn’t seem to care about the greasy substance being rubbed into his scalp. He let Kakashi delve into his mouth and lick every part of his mouth he could reach. Sasuke teased the invading tongue with his own causing Kakashi to growl with desire.
As his tongue tired, Kakashi opened his mouth wider to capture Sasuke’s lower lip to suck. Sasuke licked his upper lip in return. Kakashi felt like he could kiss this boy forever. Addictive poison.
“Turn around,” Kakashi whispered huskily without pulling back.
Sasuke complied and Kakashi stopped him from dropping on to his hands, rather he pulled him close, wrapping his arms around him, back to chest. I love you so much, he thought as he pressed his lips to the raven hair.
One hand rubbed a nipple and the other rubbed Sasuke’s abdomen, feeling the warmth and vitality of it, his breathing and the gentle movement of his muscles. Sasuke sighed with pleasure from having his nipple played with. Kakashi dropped his hand from his stomach to Sasuke’s erection. So very hot and weighty in his hand. He stroked him lightly, letting his hand caressed the underside while his fingertips grazed the top and the head.
Once he had Sasuke moaning, he smirked and rubbed the slit of his cock, smearing the precum around, coxing more from him. Kakashi focused on painting the entire glans with the clear fluid. Sasuke squirmed at the overstimulation of that one spot but didn’t stop him. He put his hand on Kakashi’s wrist but just hung on, not manipulating him at all. His other hand reached back to rub Kakashi’s thigh.
Between them, Kakashi’s cock was in a similar weeping state pressed against Sasuke’s back. Sasuke was rocking at bit into Kakashi’s touch and therefore rocking against his cock as well as Kakashi’s nipples.
Kakashi knew he was already addicted to this. A part of him wished they could do this every night, but he knew that was impossible for several reasons. They shouldn’t even be doing this now. But Sasuke felt so good against him. He had the urge to bite Sasuke’s neck, to mark him, but that would be a bruise that would not be deniable, a risk he couldn’t take. Yet.
He finally had to move away to slick his cock. Sasuke leaned forward so he was now on his hands and knees. Kakashi used his hand to properly aim for Sasuke’s entrance. He had to spread his legs to bring his hips down to Sasuke’s level.
Kakashi groaned as he sunk inside Sasuke. He didn’t move once he was fully inside. “Are you okay?” he whispered.
“Yeah. I’m getting used to it.”
Kakashi put his hands on Sasuke’s back and drew them down to his lower back and around to his hips. Just their breathing and settle movement caused a sweet flicker of pleasurable friction. Kakashi hesitated until Sasuke bucked back onto him, silently insisting he get on with it.
Kakashi figured the subtle motions were more pleasurable to him than to Sasuke. He’d never been on the receiving end, so he wasn’t sure what felt the best to his younger lover. He knew the biology of it to some extent, but it was Sasuke’s reactions that were the most instructive.
Like when he slid out slowly before thrusting in quickly. Sasuke stifled a cry.
And when he angled just so. Sasuke moaned and his neck lost strength, letting it hang like a doll’s.
Kakashi smiled. All he wanted to do right now was explore how to make Sasuke feel good. His own orgasm crept up on him without him being aware of it until it was almost too late. He held it back and leaned over Sasuke’s body. He knew his own weight was a bit much for the smaller body, but he wanted to wrap an arm around him, smell his hair, and jerk him off.
Sasuke made no complaint. Sasuke’s cock was slick with precum and close to orgasm as well, so it only took a few pumps to make him cum. He could feel Sasuke’s muscles clamp, nearly cramp, with pleasure. His protracted groan set Kakashi off. He held Sasuke tightly as he came inside him.
They traded places; Kakashi lay on his back and Sasuke lay comfortably on top of him, slightly to the side. Kakashi mused his hair and smiled with contentment. Sasuke’s breathing smoothed out to the measured rhythm of sleep. It lulled Kakashi to sleep as well.
-----
They didn’t start with running today; Kakashi wanted Sasuke to have all his energy and chakra to try the Chidori.
Sasuke surprised him by using his left hand to try to make the Chidori. Sasuke mainly used his right hand and wore his weapon pouch on his right leg, but he was using his left hand here. Sasuke did always seem comfortable using both hands for throwing his kunai and shuriken. Interesting.
It took Sasuke only three hours to produce his first Chidori. Kakashi couldn’t be prouder.
“Excellent. Now, run up the rock and jab it. Let’s see what kind of destructive power you’ve got.”
Sasuke did as he was told, holding his wrist to stabilize it. He blasted a crater into the rock.
“Very good.”
-----
They were sparring after lunch. Kakashi was upping the difficultly level constantly. Sasuke’s body was bruised and trembling with stress.
“One more time. Come on, what’s wrong? You’re not tried already, are you? Come on, Sasuke.”
The look Sasuke gave him was the clearest silent ‘Fuck you’ since the invention of flipping the bird.
“Sasuke, one more time.” But Kakashi straightened and that made Sasuke hesitate. “Hm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s obvious you’re hiding there thirsting for blood,” Kakashi said to the air. “Save me the trouble and come out.”
Gaara stepped out from behind one of the large boulders.
“So, it’s you,” Kakashi said. He’d felt the bloodlust but hadn’t known who it was.
“Tell me,” Gaara said to Sasuke, completely ignoring Kakashi, “what is your true purpose? Why is it you seek power?”
The two boys stared silently at each other for several moments.
“Like it’s any business of yours,” Sasuke nearly growled. “Beat it. You’re interrupting my training.”
They stared daggers at each other.
“I see it.” Gaara turned to leave. “You have the eyes, eyes that seek power and will do anything to get it, even kill. Eyes full of hate, like mine. We’re the same. Never forget you are my prey.”
“Hold on! Why me? Why are you so fixated on me?”
Gaara half turned to look at Sasuke again. “I see in your eyes you know what loneliness is. True loneliness. You understand that it is the most painful form of suffering that there is in the world. As I said, we have the same eyes. Eyes with the hunger for power, full of hate. Eyes that seek revenge against those who made you so lonely. Eyes that burn to see them all dead. It’s all in your eyes.”
Sasuke saw his brother. He saw the main street that ran through the Uchiha district, filled with blood, bodies, and fallen weapons. Sasuke’s eyes blazed.
“Yes, that look,” Gaara said.
“Okay, hang on a minute here,” Kakashi interrupted. “Be careful, you may not be able to read him as well you think. What is it you’re trying to accomplish coming all this way out here before the match?”
“When we finally fight, it won’t be to advance to the next stage but solely for survival. One seeking to destroy the other. Only the last one standing will feel the full value of his existence.”
“What you’re describing is a deathmatch.”
“Uchiha, in the depths of your soul, it’s what you want too, isn’t it? You want to confirm the value of your existence, don’t you? To know if you are truly as powerful as you think you are. Stronger than the one you are dying to kill.”
Kakashi was silent. Sasuke stared after Gaara as the other boy walked away. Kakashi feared Gaara had struck upon the truth. Kakashi wanted to advise against revenge, but that was motivating Sasuke right now and that was good. If it got out of hand, he would talk to him. He had time.
-----
Sasuke tried to create a third Chidori. It sparked in his hand, but it wouldn’t fully form. It sputtered out and his hand twitched with muscles exhaustion. He was panting and his Sharingan deactivated on its own.
“So, looks like you’re good for two bursts. That’s about your limit. At this stage of your chakra development, you’ve only got two shots of Chidori a day. Sharingan and Chidori are a potent combination but costly, using them simultaneously burns up a lot of chakra and fast. Don’t sweat it. I’m actually very impressed; even for me chidori is a killer. If I had to use it four times in one day I’d be running on empty.”
“What would happen if I tried to use more than twice?”
“Well, for one thing it wouldn’t work. But remember this: if you try force a jutsu, not only will it not work, but the attempt can drain your chakra to absolute zero. Worst case scenario, you die. Even if the worst doesn’t happen, nothing good can come of it. Trust me. Especially in your case.”
“Because of the curse mark?”
“If you let your hate consume you and rely on the power of that curse mark, your development will end right here. If that happens, you’ll never beat Itachi.”
“How do I get to four like you?”
“You’ll need to learn to use your chakra more efficiently and increase your chakra capacity. The latter takes a lot of time: natural growth and training. I’ve raised my ability to four, but the Sharingan drains me more than it should you. Eventually, you should be able to use it five or even six times, but right now, two.”
“Right.”
“Once you get good at it, you won’t need more than one. Hit the heart and it’s an instant kill. Your chakra is depleted. Let’s end it today.”
Sasuke got his breathing under control. Kakashi’s eye soften.
“Your hair’s gotten long,” Kakashi commented.
Sasuke flicked the ends of one of his bangs. It had gotten long quickly.
“We have two more days,” Kakashi said. “We’ll perfect it before the match. I think you may actually make chunin.”
Sasuke pouted. “Did you doubt that?”
“Well, a bit. Up until now, it was a team effort,” Kakashi said with a bit of humor.
“Hn.” Sasuke was lost in thought for a moment. “Naruto is more powerful than I thought he was. Sakura defended us when we were both unconscious. She held her own long enough for me to come to. They surprised me.”
“All three of you surprised me. When I heard Ibiki was heading the first exam, I worried Naruto might be eliminated.”
“You thought Sakura wouldn’t even show up.”
“I guess I should have more confidence in all three of you. Good work today.”
“Thanks for teaching me your technique.”
“You are the only one I’d taught it to. Honestly, you’re the only other person who can wield it. But I wanted to share it with you. Especially once I realized you were like me. Both lightning nature.”
Sasuke gave him a more sincere, “Thank you.”
- 5
- 6
- 7
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