[FIC] Avenger's Choice 1/10

[shakstergrrl]

Hi everyone!  So I'm kind of new around here, and a sasunaru fic virgin, but this idea had been bugging me for a while, and like any good writer and yaoi fangirl I decided it was time to get it down, so this it... my first Naruto multi-part fic.  Which I have cross posted at 
sasuxnaru and
narutoyaoi.  Special thanks to 
psyche924 for reading this over for me, and giving me suggestions and letting me bounce off ideas.  And for being a screaming, foaming fangirl when the occasion calls for it.

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: 1/10

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: Sasuke and Naruto are 19 in this story, though the flashbacks present them at younger ages from time to time. The biggest challenge with this fic was working the events of the past into the present storyline. I knew how the present part of the story was going to go from beginning to end, but at least half of the story is told through flashbacks; to understand how we’ve gotten where we are now it’s important to see where it’s all come from. In any case this was the result. Hope you enjoy it.

Oh… my high school yearbook for my junior year is where I got the chapter title.

Chapter 1: The End is the Beginning of....

He wasn’t able to brace himself as he flew back-first into the unyielding tree trunk with enough force to leave an indent in the bark. Seconds later he fell into a bloodied and broken heap on the forest floor. He was lucky to be conscious; there certainly wasn’t any way he would have been able to prevent any further damage now. More did hurt than didn’t, and every time his body took new abuse the pain formed another layer of agony that kept his temples throbbing. At least here, on the ground, he could let his aching muscles ease for a fleeting moment.

He had tried to be smug about it in the beginning; when he hadn’t been able to dodge a kick to his jaw and felt a tooth roll around in his mouth he had spit it out and defiantly announced he had 31 more where that came from, a line he had stolen from Naruto some time ago, he didn’t really remember exactly when. He couldn’t be so cocky now though. He wasn’t a masochist. Now he was being toyed with, a rodent being kept alive simply for the predator’s enjoyment.

He had put up a decent fight, he tried to tell himself, even though he had never been satisfied with anything short of victory. The fact that this ordeal had lasted over two and a half hours and he was still breathing, albeit raggedly, was testament to how much he had grown as a ninja, but failure here had dire consequences so he wouldn’t allow his tattered body to stop until his opponent was dead.

I can’t fail here…I’ve worked too hard for this moment…I won’t falter. I can’t.

“I’m modestly disappointed with you…Little Brother.”

At those words Sasuke forced himself up onto his knees, despite the shooting pain running up his arm from putting pressure on his sprained wrist. “Your arrogance knows no bounds, Itachi.” Sasuke’s chest heaved and he coughed violently, more of his blood painting the ground before him.  “I don’t have much time left, but I’ll be damned if I leave this world without taking you with me.”

“Perhaps that blow to the head made you forget your place, Sasuke. But if you ask nicely I can break your other arm to remind you.”

“I’ll see you dead first.”

“That’s my line. Besides, I don’t want your boyfriend to be late for his big debut.” Sasuke’s eyes instantly moved a short distance away, to where Naruto lay unconscious on the ground. It had happened too fast, he knew he was being tailed, but he wasn’t sure by whom, and before he even realized it was Naruto who had followed him out of the village Itachi had found him, used the Mangekyou Sharingan and rendered Naruto in the state he was in now.

Of course luring Sasuke out here had been a trap to catch Naruto from the beginning. Itachi’s appearance and the way in which he taunted Konoha village intelligence for months had all fed into his plot. He relied on the fact that Sasuke would understand his movements the way no one else would.  He guessed what action his younger brother would take, setting up this ruse knowing Sasuke would see it for what it was and come anyway.

It had never been Sasuke’s intention to put Naruto in any danger. That was why he had done what was necessary to keep Naruto from coming with him. But he had underestimated Naruto’s sheer stupidity. And the only reason Naruto wasn’t in Akatsuki hands right now was because Itachi’s plan’s success relied on him coming to Fire Country alone, knowing Sasuke would seek him out and Naruto would probably go chasing after him. For his part, Itachi’s plan had worked perfectly and both pawns had played their parts well. And obviously Itachi didn’t anticipate Sasuke to put up a real fight before he kidnapped a helpless Naruto and took him to places unknown.

Every time Sasuke’s head felt heavy and his concussion threatened to claim him he glanced at Naruto and found a little more chakra, a bit more strength. But if this didn’t end soon he’d be dead and no one in Konoha would ever see Naruto alive again.   Notwithstanding, this was obviously his last chance to avenge the death of his clan. He’d be dead within the hour, the way things were going, and he hadn’t lived surrounded by darkness, gone through everything that conflicted his whole being, only to fail here. All his sacrifices were not going to be in vain. He wouldn’t allow it… He couldn’t.

“It’s a pity though,” Itachi continued; he almost sounded wistful, even as he spoke in his regular deadpan tone. “If taking the others was as easy as bringing back the Kyuubi we would have captured them all by now.”

“They’re gonna find two dead bodies here, Itachi, I don’t know what makes you think you’re getting out of Fire Country alive.”

I’m at my limit. I was at my limit an hour ago. I wanted to save some chakra to put up some sort of genjutsu to keep Naruto concealed until someone found him out here. Now it’s going to take everything I have to stay alive long enough to kill Itachi. Damn it…I can form seals with a sprained wrist, if I can mange to find enough chakra to power a jutsu. I don’t know how much longer I can keep the Sharingan powered either….my eyes hurt from using it this long without a break…and I can feel there’s something wrong with it.

“I suppose the least I could do is be honest with you, Little Brother.” Itachi’s voice had gotten closer; he had taken a step towards him. Sasuke was afraid to stand, he was dizzy from blood loss and if he fell down again he wouldn’t be getting back up.   “I told you all those years ago I kept you alive because you had the potential to verify my container. But there’s something you don’t quite get.”

“I don’t want to hear any more nonsense from you. I don’t want to listen to your patronizing bullshit big brother speeches. You stopped being my brother the day you killed everyone.”

“I never believed you’d defeat me, Sasuke. Keeping you alive all those years ago wasn’t because I expected you to avenge anyone.” Sasuke bristled and looked squarely at the man his bloodlust cried out for all these years. “You hated me, you let that hate control your pathetic existence. Your hate for me became infused into everything you did, even getting tangled up with your feelings for the Kyuubi vessel over there. And despite all of that you’ll never be able to kill me. You weren’t worthy enough to kill then, Sasuke. You’re not now, but it’s about time I put you out of your misery.”

“Fuck you! I’m not going to be another measuring stick!”

Sasuke felt his body trembling as he tried desperately to get up on his feet. He attempted to look, to see where Itachi was, but whatever was wrong with the Sharingan was getting worse. He knew if he deactivated it that it wouldn’t start again, so he shut his eyes, squeezing the lids tight, trying to give them a little rest. He could feel Itachi closing in on him, even with his eyes closed. His brother was advancing slowly, taking each step with calculated ease, fucking with him, the way he always did.

Get up… damn it all… get up. It hurts… it hurts… it all hurts too much. Naruto… damn it…Dobe-kun. Open your fucking eyes…and get up.

“I’ll grant you a quick death, Sasuke.” Sasuke opened his eyes abruptly. Itachi was a lot closer than he had been a moment ago, and he had to see just how close he was for himself. “There’s no need to draw this out any longer. I want to get back to River Country with the Kyuubi by tonight.”

“Naruto,” Sasuke forced out, wiping blood from his mouth. He managed to get up on a set of shaky legs.

Itachi paused in mid-step. “Hn?”

“His name is “Naruto”.” Sasuke braced his hand against the tree to keep himself steady. “He’s Uzumaki Naruto. He’s not your precious kyuubi, and he’s not going anywhere with you.”

Itachi narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’ve already failed him, Sasuke.”

“I’ll never let you take him. You took everything from me once, I won’t let you do it again.” Sasuke blinked a few times, and suddenly Itachi was coming into very sharp focus, clearer than he had been in quite some time. I understand now.

“My patience has worn thin, Sasuke, you…” Itachi stopped speaking and his eyes narrowed even further. “You…your Sharingan it…impossible…”

Sasuke let go of the tree and took a step forward. He wasn’t completely balanced but he wanted to look Itachi directly in his eyes before he killed him, and he had to get closer to him to do so. “It’s over, Itachi.”

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Three Weeks Ago

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“The ANBU squad wasn’t able to positively identify him, but if they’re right Uchiha Itachi was spotted about three hours from the village.” Tsunade allowed the jounin sitting in the meeting to absorb this information, talking amongst themselves in obvious shock. Sasuke didn’t move. He wasn’t sitting next to Naruto, the only jounin in the room he expected to say anything to him, so he sat straight ahead, his eyes meeting the Fifth Hokage’s.

She cleared her throat, wanting order again.

“Was he alone?” Asuma asked when it got quiet enough.

“Yes, alone. Just like he was apparently alone the last time he was allegedly seen in the country.” Tsunade paused for a moment and took a deep breath. “A ninja fitting his description was spotted in a town about two hours from the border. The ANBU officers tried to pursue him but they lost him.”

“What about the hunter-nin that were sent last month?” That question came from Raido.

“There are no signs of them. Even if they turned up nothing they should have reported back by now, intelligence sources believe all five of them are dead.” There was more talk but Tsunade got everyone settled quickly. “There isn’t anyone in this room that isn’t aware that Uchiha Itachi is an S-class criminal who’s been wanted for several years. This is obviously the fourth report in three months that Konoha ninja have seen Itachi roaming around Fire Country without any other member of the criminal organization Akatsuki.” Tsunade stood up then. “Ibiki, if you would.”

The special jounin pulled a map down from the ceiling in the front of the room. “These X’s show where Uchiha Itachi was reportedly spotted.” Ibiki pointed to each X in turn. Next to the X’s were dates of when Itachi had been spotted. “There isn’t any indication that he’s heading towards the village, but his aim is obviously unknown, so at the moment why he was seen in these various locations is a mystery.”

“The latest place, isn’t that a resort town?” Gai asked. He stood up and checked to see if he was right by getting close to the map. “I’ve taken many of my students there; bathing in the hot springs with companions and rivals is definitely a fun and stylish activity one should partake in during the Springtime of Youth.”

“I somehow doubt Uchiha Itachi went there for the bathhouses, Gai-sensei,” Shizune decided, shaking her head. TonTon nodded in agreement in her arms.

But at least Gai had managed to lighten the mood a bit, though Sasuke was sure it hadn’t been intentional. The last thing he needed was for the other jounin of Konoha to spend too much time thinking about this. It would make it more difficult to handle this alone when the time was right.

As it was with the report that the hunter-nin Tsunade dispatched were feared dead it made it less likely that she would be sending any other teams to apprehend him, not until Itachi’s motives were more clear, or at the very least he tried something stupid. So far he hadn’t attacked anyone from Konoha, with the exception of the hunter-nin team, and Sasuke was confident that would remain the case.

“Gai does bring up a good point, even if he did so in a roundabout fashion,” Kurenai decided. “Why would Itachi be in a resort town, it doesn’t make much sense, there would hardly be anything there that would interest Akatsuki.”

“How do we know he wasn’t exiled from Akatsuki?” Ebisu asked, raising his hand.

“We have to assume that his presence in this country and the fact that he continues to allow himself to be seen is all part of some kind of master plan,” Kakashi pointed out. “It’s doubtful he would enter this village alone, but there’s no telling if this is a distraction to mask other members of the organization’s whereabouts and movements.”

“Which means Naruto could be in danger.” Sasuke narrowed his eyes as he glanced over at Hyuuga Neji. It didn’t surprise him that he would be the one to bring up Naruto’s safety.

“I’m not scared of Itachi or anyone else,” Naruto insisted standing up.

“Sit down, Naruto,” Tsunade demanded in a no-nonsense voice, and if Sasuke wasn’t mistaken her eyebrow was twitching ever so slightly.

“I know what you’re going to say, that I shouldn’t go on any missions until we know what’s going on, but I’m not about to sit around this village like a scared little kid or something. If it’s a fight they want I’ll give it to them.”

“That’s enough, Naruto. I didn’t say anything about not letting you go on any missions. But if you continue to interrupt this meeting we’re going to have a repeat of last Tuesday.” Tsunade narrowed her eyes and Naruto sat down, arms across his chest, pouting. He looked all of twelve like that.

Sasuke tuned out the rest of the briefing, activating the Sharingan and taking a mental picture of the map Ibiki and the Hokage were standing next to. The Sharingan’s copy abilities were seemingly endless, and Sasuke could use it to power a photographic memory. As for the four X’s in front of him, even though Itachi wasn’t getting any closer to the village it did look like he was circling it, or wanting to appear like he was circling it. In any case, the reports of Itachi floating around Fire Country would continue until he got what he wanted, and what he obviously wanted was Naruto.

What Sasuke wanted was Itachi. And once he figured out Itachi’s movements he was leaving the village and exterminating him.

Alone.

“Sasuke, hey, I was talking to you.” Sasuke turned. The briefing was over and Naruto was next to him, arms still crossed. What do you want, Dobe-kun?   “Tsunade-baba wants to see me in her office, I guess I’m going to get yelled at.” The blond shivered. “I just hope she doesn’t do what she did last Tuesday when I taught some academy students sexy no jutsu.” Why does he ramble like this, he knows I hate it. “Are you gonna cook something, or should I bring home take-out for dinner?”

“Do whatever you want, I’m going for a walk.” The dark-haired jounin turned and started leaving the room but he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. “What?”

“Sasuke…”

He turned back and looked at his blue-eyed companion. “Take-out’s fine, you can go to Ichiraku’s if you want.”

“Really? You don’t mind, even though we had ramen two nights ago?”

“It’s fine.”

Naruto was grinning but then his eyebrows furrowed just as suddenly. No matter how old Naruto got, how his features sharpened and matured, his expressions remained the same. “Oi, Sasuke, I saw the way you glared at Neji before, I thought we were past all that with him.”

“Does he know that?” Sasuke replied, eyes fixed on the larger teen.

“He’s just a friend, Teme.”

“Whatever.”

“Sasuke, there…” Naruto paused as one of their comrades said a goodbye to them. Most of the jounin simply transported out of the room whenever these meetings were over but some preferred to walk to wherever they decided to go afterwards. Naruto waited until the number of people in the briefing room had dwindled some more before he continued in a lower voice. “Sasuke, about this Itachi thing…ano…”

“You should go find Tsunade before she does do what she did on Tuesday. I’m not going to bandage you up this time.”

“Sasuke, don’t change the subject…you’ve been acting funny since all this Itachi business started…I’m…I’m worried about you, Teme…I…”

“Just what are you so worried about?” Sasuke interrupted sharply. He knew Naruto would never admit what he was thinking, he was afraid of Sasuke’s response. Sasuke had never lied to Naruto, if Naruto asked him something he gave it to him straight, and blunt. So it was better for both of them if Naruto didn’t ask the tough questions. And he didn’t. Hadn’t.

Sasuke had been distant, as much as he could be living under the same roof as the loudmouth allowed him too. They had both been in and out of their apartment on missions so that cut down on the actual time that was left to spend in each other’s presence. And Naruto, with Jiraiya’s bad influence, was something of a horny little bastard where Sasuke was concerned, and when you added up sexual contact, training, sleeping, and eating the actual time that was left to tackle the real issues surrounding their involvement with each other was actually minimal.

But it was better that way. If they really had to deal with all the problems they had Sasuke saw himself moving out and things ending. They were shinobi, they were used to deception and manipulation, and false security, and certainly Naruto knew the score long before things got intimate and intense between them. But that was just his lover’s personality, Naruto accepted it, he dealt with it, and for all his effort he was closer to Sasuke than anyone had ever been, or would ever be again. Naruto knew the answer to his silent questions without needing to ask them. And this was why they were where they were now.

“I guess I should get going to Tsunade’s office.” Sasuke didn’t respond. “When will you be home?”

“An hour or so.” Naruto nodded, then looked at his toes. Damn blond idiot. It’s impossible to really push him away. I try, but I fail every time, I still don’t understand this hold he has over me after three years of this. It’s better if I don’t push him away, really. If I alienate him he’ll do something stupid. “Dobe-kun.” The blond met his eyes.

It was rare for Sasuke to call him that in public, but they were the only two left in the room so he did it. He admitted to himself that “Dobe-kun” was something like a pet name, or as close to a pet name as he’d ever use on Naruto. But Naruto being the idiot he usually was always responded positively to the nickname, and Sasuke also conceded that at the very least there was a hint of affection in the inflection he used when he called him that.

“Sasuke?”

“Here.” Sasuke pulled out enough money to cover both of their meals. “There should be enough left over to get some dessert too.”

“I’m touched, Teme,” Naruto decided, a bit of playful sarcasm in his tone. “I won’t even do you the disservice of counting it.”

“Shut up.” Naruto grinned cheekily.

“Don’t expect any change either, Sasuke.” Sasuke moved to swat him in the back of the head but the blond ninja thwarted the attack. “Just go on your walk already. I’ll see you when you get home.”

“Yeah.” Sasuke offered Naruto a rare smile, the kind of smile he only ever gave to Naruto, even if it wasn’t all that often. Naruto grinned back, that playful childlike grin that took up his whole face. Only Naruto could manage to smile with his whole body like that.

“Oi, Sasuke, don’t think because you’re buying you’re being seme tonight either,” Naruto decided as an after thought. Sasuke smirked. “I mean it.”

“You say that every time, and then you go begging for it.”

“Shut up, Teme! I do not!” Sasuke’s smirk broadened as Naruto blushed. They both knew it was true, and teasing Naruto about it had become one of Sasuke’s favorite hobbies over the past three years. They did take turns, he doubted Naruto would ever really give in and be uke permanently. However everything with Naruto was always over the top and hyperactive and their sex life was no exception.

Sasuke gave Naruto a little push. “Go already.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

Naruto looked at Sasuke for a moment longer, and even though he was trying to look angry and firm he was still blushing a little and smiling in spite of himself. Sasuke never allowed any public displays of affection between them, and actually Naruto was affectionate enough for the both of them, always initiating any petting, or snuggling or any other unnecessary thing Sasuke had to put up with. But when they were alone in a public place like this and Sasuke was in a decent mood, like he was now, despite all that Itachi stuff, grinning and teasing Naruto like this was close enough to being a normal couple.

Naruto left, doing the transport jutsu without bothering to cover the movement, a lazy move that both Kakashi and Sasuke often scolded him about. With the blond gone Sasuke headed out of the room the traditional way, through the door. He had always enjoyed taking walks, one of the only things he liked doing that didn’t involve actively trying to get stronger or faster.

This walk he knew would be focused on Itachi entirely and where he was likely to end up next. Once he figured that part out he’d have to devise a plan that would guarantee Naruto wouldn’t be able to follow him. Naruto would try to help, Sasuke knew, but Itachi’s fight was with him and him alone. Plus there was the added inherent risk of Naruto falling into enemy hands. There was also always the possibility that Sasuke wouldn’t be returning from this self-selected mission and it didn’t serve his purposes to see anyone else end up a fatality for their trouble.  Besides, Sasuke wouldn’t hesitate the way Naruto would to leave the village without permission.

Sasuke had played the part of renegade before, and he’d gladly do it again to see Uchiha Itachi dead.

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Now

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Naruto was slowly regretting suppressing the kyuubi’s chakra. As his mind was coming back to clarity he could see the orange aura that meant once again the demon within him had acted on its own accord. Instinctively the blond jounin began containing the chakra the moment he was coherent enough to realize it was active, but of course the sting from his injuries quickly intensified from a dull ache to real pain as he did so.

His right foot was winning at the moment; he could feel the steady throb and knew it had to be pretty bad if even the kyuubi hadn’t been able to do much yet. He idly wondered if he had broken it, which would explain the kyuubi’s lack of action, after all healing cuts and fading bruises was nothing compared to mending broken bones. He still had to have them set like everyone else so it could heal properly, though of course he didn’t need to stay in a cast or a sling for anywhere near the same time as other people did.

Foot aside, a quick check of injuries didn’t turn up anything serious. The cut over his eyebrow had finally closed. He did hate how that area of the body bled so much. He didn’t feel any lasting dizziness either, and it seemed any other side effects of suffering the infamous Mangekyou Sharingan had worn off, even if it did leave the acrid taste of bile in his mouth from when he had thrown up.

He was quite upset he had been overtaken by Itachi that easily. He’d been following Sasuke, but he didn’t notice Itachi had found him first until it was too late to do anything about it. He had been privy to a genjutsu image of Sasuke being tortured, and by the time he figured out what was really going on he was already on day two of the mind fucking. He had tried to reach the Kyuubi, tried to pull himself out of it. He wasn’t sure what happened next, if Sasuke had gotten to Itachi or if the Kyuubi had begun breaking him out of the mental torture.

Maybe it had been a combination of both.

He had vomited violently, but by then his mind was in no state to fight. He fell from the branches and landed several meters to the ground, presumably how he broke his foot. He remembered he could hear clashing above him and was thankful he was losing consciousness. He could feel the kyuubi being forced back as well, he wasn’t sure if it was his doing (training from Jiraiya to keep the demon contained) or if it simply couldn’t handle what had just happened.

Still, the kyuubi was quite remarkable if it had allowed him to regain consciousness on his own. He recalled vividly that no one in Konoha had been able to wake Kakashi or Sasuke from their coma-like states until Jiraiya and he had returned to the village with Tsunade, the intended Fifth Hokage. From his own internal clock he couldn’t imagine he had been out cold for more than a few hours at most. From the way the shadows were falling between the trees it had to be late afternoon by now, and he knew he was still pursuing Sasuke some time after one.

Naruto sat up then. It was much too quiet, and he knew that something had to have happened if he was lying here alone like this. He closed his eyes and tried to sense any surrounding chakra. But there was none. That could mean one of two things. Either there wasn’t anyone out here at the moment or anyone who was out here wasn’t admitting any chakra signals; which could mean that person wasn’t a ninja or if it was a ninja the shinobi was probably in a pretty bad state.

Or dead.

All right, don’t start that now. You heard fighting. It had to be Sasuke and Itachi. You just have to figure out what happened. Itachi wouldn’t have left without bringing me along. Unless he was badly injured. I don’t see Sasuke leaving me out here either. We’re too far from the village to go for help and come back. It could be Sasuke went after Itachi and left me here. But would he have done that?

Naruto didn’t want an answer to that question. He had tried to pretend he didn’t know what was going on. But from the first report that Itachi had been spotted in Fire Country Naruto knew Sasuke planned on tracking him down. Didn’t Sasuke’s actions from last night prove just how much killing Itachi really meant to him?

But he did that because he didn’t want Akatsuki to get to me. Naruto frowned. But if that was the case why leave me here unconscious just to chase after Itachi? Sasuke was close to falling into darkness again. Naruto had seen those avenger eyes a few days ago. The same eyes he sported before their battle in the Valley of the End. Did Sasuke’s vengeance really go that far that he would leave him here?

No. He wouldn’t. Not willingly. Now get up. I have to find him. If Itachi…if he…

Naruto shook his head. He wouldn’t go there. He stood carefully, reminding himself not to put any pressure on his right foot, then he started looking around a little. The shadows concealed a lot, but he could see battle damage on surrounding trees. Itachi was a close range fighter, so it figured most of the battle would take place down here. It seemed easier than trying to get close to someone who was jumping around in tree branches.

It only took a few minutes before he found Itachi. Or what was left of him. Naruto forced himself to approach slowly, in case this was a genjutsu trap. He did a quick “dispel” but nothing changed so he edged closer. The jounin couldn’t help it though; he had to put his arm over his mouth to stop any more bile from leaving as he took in the sight before him.

Sasuke’s chidori had done a number on the older Uchiha brother, cutting a hole through his shoulder, and leaving other severe lacerations. The unnatural angle at which his head was positioned in contrast with his body made it clear the ninja was dead. Naruto hardly thought he could get any closer. He had thoughts of being an ANBU someday, a necessary step in fulfilling his dream to be Hokage. He had killed before; he knew that he would need to get comfortable with killing if he ever wanted to get stronger. But it still didn’t make this any easier.

He rolled his shoulders back and knelt down, and felt the body hesitantly. It was still warm so he hadn’t died all that long ago. Which meant wherever Sasuke was, he couldn’t have gotten far. It also meant that most likely Sasuke, wherever he was, was alone. He hadn’t been found by Akatsuki, Naruto reasoned, because certainly if any other members of the organization had arrived they would have found him too.

The same went for any other shinobi from Konoha who might have been sent after them. By now Sasuke’s and his disappearance would have been discovered, and Naruto was sure Tsunade would have sent out some kind of search for them. It could be a while before any rescue team did reach here though. It had taken several hours for Sasuke and him to find Itachi, despite Sasuke seeming confident he knew where Itachi would turn up next.

I need to find Sasuke…I still don’t sense his chakra…that can’t be good.

He decided using clones wasn’t the best way to look. He didn’t know what dangers lay between here and the village and he couldn’t afford to use any chakra he didn’t need to. As it was, he wasn’t even sure he knew how to get back to the village because he didn’t know where he had been going in the first place. Tailing someone was a lot different than going to a set destination, and Naruto had never been too good at finding his way around anyway.

Sasuke’s not by Itachi. If Sasuke managed to kill him and had lost consciousness or died instantly his body would be right near his. And it’s not. There’s a lot of blood, an awful lot of it. If Sasuke was still able to move where would he have gone? Unless it was Itachi that moved away from him. In which case…no… it wouldn’t matter who moved from who…if I follow the blood I should find where Sasuke ended up…be okay Sasuke…damn it.

Naruto couldn’t move very fast. He knew he could channel the kyuubi’s chakra to his foot to dull the pain, but he decided he’d save that for when he had to start running. There was also the fact that he was afraid to move much faster…afraid of what he was going to find if he did.

The trail continued…he was backtracking. He was heading back to where he had been lying unconscious. Could that mean… Sasuke was trying to get back to me… back to where I was. Naruto forgot all about his foot and broke out in a desperate sprint. I can feel it…it’s faint…but it’s chakra…it has to be Sasuke. Itachi didn’t have any because he was already dead…does that mean Sasuke’s…

“SASUKE!”

Alright, go read part 2... I know you want to

Part 2!  Part 3