[ Naruto scarcely feels the Hitomi slip through his fingers. He's panting, trembling from the experience -- her experience. When at last he swallows the lump in his throat, he reaches for his neck, for the origin of the madness that overtook them. The Curse Seal, Sasuke, Orochimaru...
Orochimaru-sensei?!
His eyes widen, then sink into a half-lidded state. Orochimaru-sensei... that was what Anko had thought, had called him. That man... that man who stole Sasuke-kun away... Anko had been his --
Then why? Why didn't she do anything? When Orochimaru attacked Konoha, why didn't she -- why was she even in Konohagakure if she had --
It doesn't make any sense. None of it makes any sense. And as he leans over and picks up the Hitomi, he isn't sure he wants to speak. He isn't sure what to say. Part of him is angry, but that anger is mingled, saddled with pain and confusion from having felt Anko's experience. That experience... whether Sasuke did or did not go through it, she did. She did. ]
[ He's surprised to see a smile on her face, a smile that further complicates his grasp on his anger because he knows that smile. He knows it well because it had been his shield when he was younger.
And he can't seem to muster it, faltering when he first tries to speak. ]
I -- are you okay?
[ So much for his anger. The question is asked with nothing short of sincerity, his voice between its regular volume and one that's slightly quieter. In retrospect, it's a stupid question, but it's the first to make sense, so he doesn't regret it. He really wants to know because he knows.
Comments 71
Orochimaru-sensei?!
His eyes widen, then sink into a half-lidded state. Orochimaru-sensei... that was what Anko had thought, had called him. That man... that man who stole Sasuke-kun away... Anko had been his --
Then why? Why didn't she do anything? When Orochimaru attacked Konoha, why didn't she -- why was she even in Konohagakure if she had --
It doesn't make any sense. None of it makes any sense. And as he leans over and picks up the Hitomi, he isn't sure he wants to speak. He isn't sure what to say. Part of him is angry, but that anger is mingled, saddled with pain and confusion from having felt Anko's experience. That experience... whether Sasuke did or did not go through it, she did. She did. ]
Anko-san...
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Hey, Naruto-kun! What's up?
[ Yup. Toooooo-tally natural. ]
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And he can't seem to muster it, faltering when he first tries to speak. ]
I -- are you okay?
[ So much for his anger. The question is asked with nothing short of sincerity, his voice between its regular volume and one that's slightly quieter. In retrospect, it's a stupid question, but it's the first to make sense, so he doesn't regret it. He really wants to know because he knows.
He remembers.
Orochimaru, Sasuke, and now Anko... ]
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[ There is a hint of "run-along-and-play-now" in her voice. ]
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