Disclaimer: For the last time, I don't own Naruto or any other wonderful animes *sniff*
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Author's notes: I'm sorry for the delay, this chapter wasn't coming together the way I wanted. This chapter is also a bit longer than my others, but I couldn't cut anything out and still have it feel the same for me. Anyways I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for everyone who has been reading and reviewing my story. Please enjoy this last chapter. If you don't figure out my inspiration by the end, I'll tell you after ^_~
Translation tips for the needy:
Dobe-dead-last
owari-the end
Soul Unsheathed
Chapter IV: Redemption Shrouded
Sasuke's eyes widened as the silhouettes took shape before his eyes. They were still too undefined to make out, but…A tall figure standing over two fallen bodies.
Why, aniki?
The kunai cut sharply through his line of sight, breaking him from his reverie. The blade refused to be ignored. It knew its power and was determined to have Sasuke acknowledge it.
Darting quickly to his left forearm, it tried to prove its power by reminding him of the wounds it had inflicted. Sasuke watched the blade showing off its sharp edge and couldn't quite hold in a taunting chuckle. At the sound of his laugh, the blade turned angrily and bit into his flesh.
Blood sprang quickly up from the wound and raced down his arm trying to beat the red tears already raining down on the pool below. Despite its efforts, the new blood fell behind the rain.
Didn't quite make it, did you. Dobe.
Sasuke had never thought much of Naruto. Literally. Before they became team mates, Sasuke had never really seen him. He saw his classmates either as potential rivals to fight and gain strength from or as irritations to avoid. Naruto was neither of these, so Sasuke had never paid attention to him. All his concentration had been spent on becoming stronger. Strong enough to…
Unlike the others he went to school with, Sasuke did not hold the same dislike for Naruto that everyone else did. He had not had parents to teach him that Naruto deserved hatred and contempt. Naruto was too pitiful a ninja to spend any effort on. Despite Naruto's constant loud declarations that he would become the next Hokage, Sasuke never put any faith in Naruto becoming that strong. He couldn't even perform a simple transformation technique. I didn't think he would ever get stronger.
Their first day of training with Kakashi had seemed to predict a very sad future for Naruto as a ninja. The loud blond had fallen into their new teacher's trap. In fact, he had fallen for the same trap twice. Sasuke had let Naruto act as a decoy for their sensei while he had searched for an opening. Sasuke's lips twitched upwards in a ghost of a smile. Of course, he didn't know he was a decoy.
And there didn't seem to be much improvement on their first real mission. When faced with the sudden apparent death of their sensei by the mist ninja brothers, Naruto had frozen completely. Without Sasuke's and Kakashi's interference, he would have been killed easily. Sasuke still remembered Naruto's face after the fight. It was so pale, his eyes so wide with fear.
Maybe it was because I understand what it's like to grow up without parents. Or maybe because I too had a single need pushing me on. I thought that maybe I could anger him enough to see his fire return.
"Hey. Are you hurt? Mr. Scaredy-Cat."
Sasuke had watched as Naruto's face changed swiftly from fear to anger. He had seen the small ninja's features resolve into a look full of determination. I didn't notice him get stronger right away, but I never saw him lose his determination again.
Time and again Sasuke fought with and beside the small blond. Naruto had found himself in trouble constantly in their missions. Why did I risk my ambition for him.
Sasuke felt the pain from his wounds traveling up his arm and spreading throughout his body. The sensation seemed to warm his entire body, feeling like electricity racing along his nerves. He closed his eyes to concentrate on the pain. Pins and needles.
***flashback***
Sasuke was trapped in the prison of ice mirrors fighting for his life. His loud team mate had ignorantly entered the cage to 'help' and like always had become a burden. Sasuke fought desperately, wounded over and over again by the enemy's deadly needles. Naruto had fought as well, tirelessly. But one can only use so much chakra. Naruto had finally fallen to the enemy's onslaught, collapsing beside his team mate. Damn, at this rate, we're in huge trouble. I have to… I have to do something.
Sasuke was determined to defeat his opponent, he focused more chakra into his eyes. It seemed to be working, he could see the masked ninja's moves more clearly. Using one of his enemy's own needles, he deflected the new onslaught coming from the ice mirrors. Sasuke dodged the needles, but was unable to avoid them all because he had to divide his attention between defending himself and defending his team mate.
The ice shinobi saw his attacks blocked and decided to attempt a surprise attack. He quickly vanished from the current mirror he occupied. Despite Sasuke's searching eyes, he could not spot his enemy.
"Where, where did he go? Naruto! You better not pass out! I can't watch over you any longer!"
Despite acknowledging Sasuke's words, Naruto had been unable to remain conscious. His limp body fell heavily to the ground.
Moving swiftly from mirror to mirror the enemy attempted to distract and unsettle the young ninja. Time slowed for Sasuke, he saw the action before the enemy even let go of his weapons. With ease he reached down and grabbed his fallen team mate, moving quickly away from the attack. The needles embedded themselves harmlessly in the ground where he and Naruto had been moments before. When he looked up to meet the eyes of his opponent, his eyes had become blood red revealing the Sharingan.
The masked fighter knew that his time, and his chakra, were being used up swiftly. With a final desperate act, he targeted the fallen blond. He had seen the dark haired boy protect his team mate despite stating otherwise. He believed that this attack would force the boy to leave himself open in order to protect his companion. He had been right.
Sasuke pushed chakra into his feet in an effort to boost his speed. He knew it would be close, but he pushed his limits to reach the undefended body of his team mate. I'm not going to make it.
But he did. He managed to get between Naruto and the masked ninja, taking the brunt of the attack himself. Even as the needles embedded themselves in him, he managed to grab hold of his opponent and hurl him into the distant ice mirror, knocking the wind from him.
Sasuke felt the pain of the needles like wildfire in his body. His lungs struggled for air, as he fought to remain standing. He could sense his fallen team mate stirring behind him.
"Geez…you…always just get in the way…"
Naruto's loud voiced congratulations died out as he saw the blood pooling at Sasuke's feet. His blue eyes opened wider as he started to understand what had happened while he was unconscious. Sasuke saw that shocked face and those fearful eyes and tried to banish them again with another insult.
"What's…with that face…you total moron…"
"Why did… you save me?" The blond ninja didn't seem to hear the insult, he was so intent on the pale face in front of him.
"How should I know…"
You have always been so determined, fighting and training to reach your goal of becoming the next Hokage. You pushed yourself so hard. And you pushed me. I couldn't let you become stronger than me. I saw your determination and hope and let myself use it to become stronger. I envied you that hope,
"I…hated you…"
Naruto demanded a reason for Sasuke's actions, he could not understand why his rival had protected him. "But why! Why? Why for me?!?"
Sasuka allowed a small smile to grace his lips.
Unable to respond to Naruto's questions, he let
silence be his answer. Naruto did not accept his silence,
his fist clenched as he let his anger rise, "I never asked for your help!"
Sasuke had buried his emotions too deeply to let them out, even now. He couldn't allow them to see the light or be seen by another. The pain spread through his body, he felt the heat rise to his eyes. He gave the only answer he could to his team mate.
"I don't know…my body just moved on its own…baka…"
I'm an idiot. First I jump in front of Sakura, and now Naruto. I wasn't prepared for either attack, it was a stupid move. Why do I move instinctively to protect them. Why….
Sasuke felt the darkness claiming him. His eyes closed against his conflicting thoughts, and he felt the ground rushing up to greet him. But he never hit the ground, instead he felt the warm arms of his team mate catch him, holding him tightly. The anguished cry of his rival sounded distant in his ears. He felt like the darkness was pulling him farther away. He struggled to bring his vision into focus, his eyes looking into the past.
"That man…my brother… I told myself…I wouldn't die…until I killed him…"
He fought to escape the pain of his past and brought his focus to the anguished face above him. My future never held hope. My goal is vengeance, happiness does not matter. He still has hope. He can find his path and accomplish his dream.
"…you…don't die…"
Live to find happiness.
Sasuke felt his strength fade. The darkness claimed his sight. As his eyes slowly shut, he felt the world go silent. Then…nothing.
***end flashback***
The blade moved across his arm cutting across the other paths without hesitation. The new pain allowed Sasuke to focus his thoughts.
I didn't get to see your strength then.
Sasuke had never been able to find out exactly what happened after he had fallen to the enemy's needles. He had asked Sakura about it, but she hadn't seen much. All she could tell him was that Naruto had somehow shattered the cage of ice mirrors and defeated the enemy ninja. She told him that she had asked Naruto, but he had been uncharacteristically quiet about the whole incident. Sasuke had not broached the subject with Naruto himself, because he wasn't sure where the conversation would go and he still had no answers to give to Naruto about what had happened in the ice prison.
For a while, Sasuke had been able to act as if things were the same. Naruto still boasted in his loud voice and acted without thought. Sasuke continued to bail him out of the trouble he fell into during minor missions. I had to bail him out, if he was injured it might cause the mission to fail.
It wasn't until his team had fought against Ochimaru that he found out how different things had become. I didn't see it until…
***flashback***
Sasuke had no time to think. Act and react was all that he was capable of as Ochimaru launched his giant snake at him. He flung his shuriken at the snake pinning it against the tree. His Sharigan was at full strength as he watched the evil ninja arise from the snake's body. He crouched low preparing for the attack when his concentration was broken by his loud team mate's sudden arrival.
The dark haired ninja studied the scene with his enhanced sight. Ochimaru stood before him on the large branch. He could feel the intense chakra flowing through the snake ninja, it felt evil, full of the desire to kill. Sakura had fallen to her knees on a lower branch, fear evident in her eyes. She obviously felt overwhelmed, she was not even in a defensive stance. Sasuke lifted his eyes up to the branch that Naruto was perched on. The small blond was boasting again, exuding overconfidence which Sasuke knew could be a lethal weakness. There has never been a situation where things got better when he came.
If we fight this creature we could all die. Neither Sakura nor Naruto are ready for an enemy this tough. I can't risk it. I can't trust my instincts…I won't risk my ambition again.
Sasuke banished his Sharigan. There's only one way. He tossed their scroll at his enemy, attempting to bargain for the lives of his team. The snake ninja smiled in anticipation, but his grasping hand never touched the scroll. In a flash Naruto had intercepted it and landed next to Sasuke. What does he think he's doing? Baka! We could all die!
The blond ninja had turned on Sasuke, striking out with his fists. Sasuke was so surprised at Naruto's actions that he did not even see the blow until it landed. He was knocked off the branch, landing with instinctive skill on another. Sasuke could only stare at his team mate in shock as the smaller boy let his anger pour out at him. The ink black eyes were wide as he absorbed what Naruto said. In his shock, he couldn't seem to focus on everything the boy was shouting, but some words seemed to echo through him.
"…fake…"
"…idiot…coward…"
"I've lost faith in you, Sasuke!"
Sasuke felt the words like physical blows. He was unable to respond to his team mates accusations. Am I a coward… is that how I survived my clan's slaughter?
His body felt numb and he could only watch as Naruto began a ferocious battle against the enemy and his newly summoned snake. Each time the small ninja was knocked way, he came back stronger, raining blows down on the snake. When did he get so strong?
The snake knocked Naruto away and Ochimaru used that opportunity to set his creature on Sasuke. Sasuke stood frozen, his face betraying the fear and indecision that was churning within him. I have to live. I have to kill my brother. Am I really weak? a coward? Is he stronger than me? I promised myself I wouldn't die.
Seconds before the snake struck, it was forced into the branch in front of him. Naruto had jumped between him and the oncoming snake. With just his small form and his kunai he had stopped it. How? How is he so strong?
"Hey, are you hurt….Mr Scaredy Cat?"
***end flashback***
Sasuke closed his eyes at the memory. The echos of his remembered shame seemed to feed the pain radiating up his arm. I never believed you might get stronger. I thought it would always be me saving you. I never believed that you could have the strength to save me. I never thought I'd be so weak.
The dark blood continued to fall softly from his forearm onto the pool below, enlarging it and enhancing the shadows within it. Sasuke opened his eyes to see the kunai triumphantly finishing its new path. The blade hung over the pool adding its own tears to those already falling. The three figures hidden in the shadows slowly started to become sharper.
Sasuke somehow felt lighter. He watched the blood flowing from his wounds and a slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Blood means life.
His thoughts seemed more focused. He savored the pain radiating through his body. Pain means feelings, emotions.
The faces of his team mates and sensei pushed against his barriers he had built around his soul. He opened himself as much as he could to the emotions that surfaced. Sorrow. Trust. Determination. Peace. Love. Hope. Courage.
A soft smile graced his lips, a quiet sigh escaping as he watched the images waver in the dark pool. Maybe I was wrong. My brother hasn't destroyed me yet. I'm still alive, I can still feel.
As the images in the blood grew more detailed, his smile faltered. Sasuke felt as if he was falling into the pool, as if the darkness was drawing him in. His blood red eyes widened as the tall figure standing over the fallen bodies looked at him. Mismatched eyes stared into his own, a deep scar crossed over the blood red eye that mirrored his. Sasuke watched as his sensei's gentle smile turned sharper, heard the dark laughter that escaped his cruel grin.
He tore his eyes away for his teacher only to find himself looking down on the two fallen figures. He could not see the face, but he knew it was her. Sakura had fallen first, her head protector was lying next to her. Her face was covered by her shorn hair. Hair that normally was the soft pink of the cherry blossoms she was named after, but was now a deep blood red.
Naruto's small body had fallen over Sakura's. He had made a vain attempt to save her, but had failed. Sasuke was unable to determine which blow had killed him. Naruto's body was so injured, so torn. There was blood everywhere. Two delicate trails of blood traced their way down Naruto's cheeks like tears.
The fire that had burned in him radiating out with the pain was slowly being consumed by a deep cold. His blood seemed to turn to ice. He couldn't keep the anguished cry from escaping as the image was shattered by the dark blade. No!! I can't go through that again. I don't ever want to feel that pain again!!!
Sasuke fell to his knees next to the pool of his own blood, his head bowed. He let his left arm fall lax at his side, but his right hand remained clenched around the kunai buried in the middle of the darkness.
Seconds, minutes, hours, lifetimes passed as Sasuke remained unmoving. With his head bowed, his eyes were hidden by his black hair. When he finally lifted his head, his eyes had returned to their normally inky depths. His face had returned to its impassive mask.
Sasuke swiftly rose to his feet and moved to the sink. With the skill that comes from much practice, he cleaned and dressed the wounds on his left arm. Retrieving his kunai, he wiped his blood off and returned it to his leg sheath. A quick swipe of the towel erased the blood from the floor.
Light and shadows warred for the spot where the pool of blood had been. Sasuke glanced at the window as the sun climbed higher in the midmorning sky. Almost time.
Sasuke grabbed his dark blue shirt off his bed. The symbol of the Uchiha clan fell into place on his back as he tugged the shirt on. His forearm sleeves had been lying hidden under his shirt. Each sleeve had two small blue belts that secured it in place, one at his elbow and one at his wrist. Without care for his injured arm, he tugged one sleeve over his left forearm. The sleeve easily covered his bandages.
His right hand swiftly tightened the belt by his elbow. Naruto is only a team mate. I can use his strength to become stronger.
The wrist buckle quickly followed. Sakura has a strong sense of chakra. I can use her knowledge to increase my own.
Sasuke's left hand fumbled slightly as it pulled the other sleeve on over his right forearm. The soft material slide smoothly over the scars, some the palest white and others the softer pink of newly healed skin. The dark blue belt closed easily by his elbow. Kakashi is dangerous, but he is also very skilled. I will train with him until I'm strong enough…
His left hand trembled slightly as it tightened the last belt. …until I'm strong enough to kill my brother.
Darkness met darkness as he looked at himself in his mirror. His dark blue shirt contrasted sharply with his white shorts. His weapons sheath was tied firmly in place on his right leg. Pure white sheaths were belted securely to cover both his forearms. With firm hands he tied his forehead protector in place.
Saske moved silently out of his room, heading towards the bridge where his team was to meet.
It's better this way. I felt like my world was destroyed when my brother betrayed me and killed everyone I loved. If I don't feel, I won't get hurt again. I don't need life, or hope. I am an avenger.
-------owari
*whew* Done ^_^
I wasn't sure if I would ever finish. Please, I beg of you. Read, enjoy, and REVIEW. I'm posting tonight for you guys. I wanted the last chapter done before the hurricane hits. *Got my candles and my bottled water* I figured if I died before I posted you guys would hunt my ghost :P
So please, review, let me know what you think. (If you like angst *it seems to be all I can write right now*, please check my other feeble attempts)
As for my inspiration…..(if you haven't guessed)…
It's his forearm sleeves/sheathes *laughs* (inspired by an outfit, I should be so ashamed)
Well, that and the fact that everyone seems to think that he is cold and emotionless. I wondered if Sasuke also believed himself to have no emotions.
By the way, Sasuke has not been trying to kill himself. This story has never been about death, but about life.
Tragically, there really are people in the real world who have been so emotionally abused that they have learned to suppress their emotions as a defense mechanism. This leaves them wondering if they are really alive, if they are capable of emotions. They cut themselves to see the blood and to feel the pain. It gives them the evidence they need to prove that they are alive and can feel.
*strange thought* Does this make the story lighter or darker?
*bows politely* Thanks for reading. While you review *hint**very non-subtle hint* I'm going to take Sasuke home and hug him until he smiles. Ja ne!