for: loika
From: gonrie
Title: Zensekai Sharingan
Rating: NC-17
Summary: He remembers it was raining that day too, in that steep valley where it all began, where it all ended.
Warnings: Sex, swearing.
A/N: I want to say ‘thank you so much!’ to X and Y for betaing this. They did a wonderful job at transforming this fiction into something better. And, loika, I hope I managed to fulfill your request adequately.
Mod note: Reminder for the author/artist of this submission, please do not reply to comments signed in, if you want to reply anon commenting is enabled.
“-to...”
Vacillating between dream and reality, he feels his body being shaken. “Would you wake up already!”
Naruto blinks slowly, his eyes adjusting to the gentle sunlight that streams through the trees. Sakura is at his side, sitting on her knees, eyes expressing equal parts worry and annoyance.
“Sakura?” he asks hoarsely, rubbing a hand over his face. “What happened?”
The look she gives him is contemplative, as if she is studying him. He moves to sit up and his muscles ache in protest. Ugh.
He cranes his neck backward, slowly rolling his shoulders and looking around for the first time.
He’s seated on the forest floor, rocks digging uncomfortably into his thighs. Trees encircle him, and the air is so warm that Naruto can feel sweat slowly dripping down his back. It feels peaceful.
Too peaceful.
“Where are we?” Naruto says. His head feels like a goddamn train hit it at full speed. “Sa-“
But Sakura is nowhere in sight. “...Sakura-chan?”
He immediately uses his Sage chakra, searching for her presence.
But there’s nothing. Even when he tries to stretch it out for miles and miles, there’s nothing at all.
His head throbs again and everything is suddenly too much.
And then there is black.
---------
When he awakes, Naruto’s nose is itching and his head still hurts.
Tic. Shikamaru is beside him, attention focused on a shogi board. He doesn’t glance up at Naruto and remains silent.
Naruto frowns.
“Hey lazy ass. I’m awake,” he groans, looking at his bandaged arms and legs. “What happened?”
Shikamaru just moves another piece, Naruto’s stomach clenches. Shikamaru might find him annoying from time to time, but he would never under normal circumstances ignore Naruto.
Naruto swiftly gets out of the hospital bed, noticing that the pain from earlier is gone and god Sakura-chan-
“Hey, Shikamaru!” Naruto yells in an attempt to quell the irrational panic rising in his chest.
Shikamaru shoots him a glance and there’s something in his eyes, something de-
Something’s not right. He can feel it.
Shikamaru, or what should be Shikamaru, moves his queen one block ahead on the shogi board.
“Who are you?” Naruto asks. He doesn’t know why he asks, but he knows that person in front of him isn’t really Shikamaru.
Fake-Shikamaru deigns not to answer, only hums a bit in response.
And suddenly, the sheer strangeness of the situation is too much and in his panic, he sweeps the shogi board away. Fake-Shikamaru finally looks up.
“Tell me! Who the hell are-”
“Is that really the question you should be asking?”
What? The word is on Naruto’s tongue but it doesn’t pass his lips because everything is suddenly black and white and there’s a whirlwind inside the room and-
--------
Dots flutter before his vision, fading, as he blinks, drowsily, and suddenly, all he sees is a blue spark, growing brighter and brighter with each passing second.
It is only by instinct, and muscle memory, that Naruto manages leap away and when he’s on his feet again, his mind registers Sasuke -Sasuke! - had nearly stabbed him with a Chidori.
What the hell?
“S-Sasuke!?” Naruto shouts, and blocks a punch with his left arm.
Punch-punch-elbow- kick- dodge- punch-
Naruto’s mind is blank, focused only on Sasuke’s attacks. He manages a solid punch to Sasuke’s face before finding himself flat on his back, Sasuke’s blade an inch away from his throat.
When did this happen? How did this even begin!?
“...Ngh.” Naruto grinds his teeth together, shoving Sasuke’s weight back with all his power before gathering chakra at his feet and kicking Sasuke in the side. The other boy twists to avoid the attack, but in doing so is forced to let go of Naruto.
Naruto’s gathering Sage chakra, readying himself for the next assault. He sees Sasuke smirk and disappear from sight.
He can’t feel Sasuke’s chakra. He can’t feel anyone or anything else, not the birds in the trees that surround him, nor the rustle of the leaves.
Sasuke’s coming! Naruto’s mind reminds him, and his body moves on instinct to avoid Sasuke’s Chidori Nagashi. The blade briefly brushes Naruto’s stomach, just enough to leave a shallow cut. He counters a kick and uses Kage Bunshin to distract Sasuke, before activating his wind chakra in order to divert the shuriken flung right at him.
They’re stuck in this dangerous dance and it’s as if they can predict what the other’s next move will be. As if their minds are connected.
Kick- punch- dodge- elbow- counter- punch- punch
When Naruto sees Sasuke gather chakra in his right foot, he immediately tries to retaliate but his limbs are suddenly frozen. He feels his heart skip a beat and thinks this is going to hurt, before black dots cloud in his vision and he closes his eyes against the pain.
----------
When Naruto wakes up again, he has his head on his kitchen table and nobody is with him. His headache has come back and he curses loudly.
There’s something wrong with me. He puts a hand in his hair and - pauses. He quickly unzips his own jacket and raises his shirt. The cut isn’t there anymore.
Is it Kyuubi? Is Naruto dreaming?
But it felt so real. Naruto can remember the punches, the brief moments of warm skin brushing against his. He can still feel the adrenaline in his blood. That’s no dream.
So Naruto does the only thing he can think of: he goes to Tsunade.
She’s in her office, sipping on sake and doing paperwork. Shizune is nowhere in sight.
Naruto slams his palms down on her desk. “Tsunade-bachaan! I think Kyuubi is doing something to my body!”
Like Shikamaru, she pays no attention to him and alarm bells start going off loudly in his head. The headache only gets worse. “Hey! I’m talking to you!!”
No answer. She doesn’t even shift. Naruto bites his lower lip and walks around her desk to shake her. Her shoulders are solid under his hands but he can’t still feel her presence; like she was there but not there.
“What is wrong with you people? Avoiding me and telling me crazy shit and why the hell can’t I feel your chakra, Granny!?”
Tsunade grips one of his arms and looks at him. “Why are you here Naruto?”
“Wha-,” Naruto’s voice is unusually quiet. “I just told you...”
There’s desperation in her eyes and she repeats “What is your purpose here, Naruto?”
It’s risky-
He doesn’t know where the voice comes from but it’s echoing loudly in his head. He lets go of Tsunade and puts his hands against his temples, willing the pain to just go away.
I said I want to, damnit!
His stomach churns so badly that Naruto’s sure he’s going to hurl right here but the pain in his head is so atrocious that he sinks to his knees and curls in on himself.
---------
This time, when he wakes up with Sai at his side, Naruto doesn’t even start. He simply stares at Sai, unsurprised, but still unsure.
What the hell was he supposed to do now?
Sai acts as he normally does; smiles creepily and closes his eyes, saying nothing.
That’s fine with Naruto. “Why am I here?” Wherever ‘here’ might be. “Is this a genjutsu?”
Sai tilts his head and frowns at him, almost thoughtfully. And then he smiles cryptically and answers, “Perhaps.”
It’s no surprise when Sai disappears the moment Naruto blinks. So, Naruto was trapped in a genjutsu. At least, that explains why he can’t feel anyone’s chakra.
But why was he under a genjutsu? Did he get into a fight? And if so, with who?
The more he tries to remember, the more pain he feels in his head. It doesn’t want me to remember.
“Alright,” Naruto says, sitting up and glancing around. He’s in the middle of a lavender field this time, and the strong smell makes his nose twitch. He tries to clear his mind, like Jiraiya taught him, but it has no effect. He clenches his fists together and slams them against the ground. “Damnit!”
There is no way of telling who cast the genjutsu. What if it was Madara? In any case, he needed to escape from the illusion as quickly as possible.
Well, if his mind didn’t want to remember, maybe forcing it to do so would release him from this illusion. Naruto takes a deep breath and grits his teeth together as he forces himself to recall something, anything.
The ache in his head feels like it’s splitting his brain open but he continues the search because he wants out more than anything else.
Unpredencented....consequences will be-
-Do this!
The metallic taste in his mouth tells him that he’s cut his lower lip open. His skin is on fire and his muscles throb.
-....you hear me!?
Naruto takes one last breath and faints.
-----------
It was the sensation of being stared at - that’s what woke him, Naruto thinks as he slowly open his eyes. His headache is still as alive as ever and he holds back a groan. When he turns his head, Sasuke is sitting beside him.
For a minute he can’t breathe, but then he remembers their initial encounter and fights back a bitter laugh. “What, no Chidori this time?”
Sasuke raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything. Not that it had been expected.
“Yeah, well, not like I was expecting you to answer or anything. You’d probably just babble me some nonsense like the others anyway.”
Sasuke’s eye twitches at the word ‘babble’. “Why are you here?”
Okay...that was unexpected.
“Duh...I’m trapped in a genjutsu, remember?”
Sasuke pauses at that, then hums under his breath but doesn’t say anything else. Naruto snorts at him before massaging his head again. Somehow, the pain has subdued but the throb is still present.
There are holes in the roof above him and the wood seems old. Nails stick out from the wood and the shack smells terrible.
Rain softly hits the covering. Some of it manages to sneak in through the hair-line cracks in the roof and hit the floor. The silence isn’t unwelcome but Naruto doesn’t care either way because what he’d like to talk to isn’t an illusion anyway.
But Naruto’ll take what he can. “So why I am meeting with you again?”
There’s rain dripping on his calves now. Shesh.
“Again?”
The answer is quiet but Naruto hears it. “Yeah, I mean I saw you like ...forty minutes ago? Or maybe it’s been a week,” Naruto says, an overly cheerful smile plastered on his face. It’s hard to believe that Sasuke is here, beside him and it’s all just an illusion. “It’s kinda difficult to keep track of time in genjutsu, you know?”
There’s no answer. Naruto sighs. “I think this is the most awful place I landed up ‘til now.”
His stomach growls and his feels like it’s stuffed with cotton. Naruto puts a hand on his face and rubs his cheeks. “Why did I get stuck here?”
The floor creaks as Sasuke gets up and heads for the door. “...I don’t know.”
Somehow, this only worsens his headache.
---------
He’s caught off guard when he wakes up again because he’s in the same place. And Sasuke is still beside him.
“Oh...,” Naruto says, as he feels sweat drip down the back of his neck. “You’re still here.”
Sasuke’s hand is only centimetres away from his face and the sleeve of his shirt brushes Naruto’s cheek. It’s damp.
“Is it still raining?” Naruto asks, liking the proximity. His headache seems to lighten when he leans toward Sasuke’s hand. It feels fantastic.
“It is,” Sasuke says. He doesn’t move away and tentatively brushes Naruto’s hair away from his face. The hand doesn’t linger but Naruto’s headache lightens so suddenly that he can’t help but sigh in relief. Sasuke’s gaze is on his face for a second, taking him in.
“You’re warm.”
“And you’re cold.” Naruto laughs, a short huff of breath. Sasuke’s hand is now tracing his jaw with the tip of its fingers, unreadable eyes scrutinizing every detail on his body, as if searching for something, and Naruto’s muscles tense. He suppresses a gulp and feels his Adam’s apple slide against Sasuke’s thumb. When Sasuke brushes his collarbone, Naruto unclenches his fists and grabs Sasuke’s hand.
Sasuke’s eyes open slightly and look back at him.
“I need to wake up.” Naruto chokes out, heart beating fast and breathing slightly irregular.
Sasuke’s other hand pushes Naruto’s away and he stands up. He doesn’t glance back. Naruto tries not to let the gesture disturb him.
But it’s hard.
“Yes. You should.”
The headache comes back gradually as Sasuke steps away from him. Naruto ignores it, curling his arms around his chest instead.
It takes him a long time to get back to sleep.
-------
By the third time he wakes up in the shabby shack, Naruto is panicking. The rain still hasn’t let up and he’s starving. There is a wet cloth on his forehead, and while it’s still a bit damp Naruto can tell it’s been a long time since it was wet. He sniffs it tentatively.
It smells like the forest, mixed with something else - his own sweat and-
Sasuke.
His hand come up to his throat out of its own volition, fingers following the path Sasuke’s had traced earlier.
This time, Sasuke is not around at all.
Naruto feels foolish at his disappointment because he has to keep reminding himself, Sasuke’s isn’t real - he’s just an illusion. This is all an illusion.
He tries to ignore his never ending headache and wills his muscles to move. They’re sore and Naruto aches all over but he manages to stand. Blue eyes blearily blink and rove over his surroundings.
The wood looks so worn that it’s a wonder it hasn’t crumbled yet. The floorboards creak under his steps, and when Naruto touches the surface it feels flaky and damp against his palm.
Naruto would bet a single punch could break an entire wall.
Vines creep up the walls in the room. There is no furniture and the only source of light in the room seems to come from the fissure in the roof. Either it has never been lived in or it’s clearly been abandoned for years. There is something akin to nostalgia floating in the humid air.
What caught Naruto’s attention, however, is the single door at the end of the room. It’s painted in an ugly red and the door handle seems handmade, carved from wood.
Something tells him to head for the door and Naruto has never been one to ignore his instincts, so he does.
When he opens it, the room he finds himself in is identical to the first one.
He continues, his pace beginning to speed up as he keeps opening every door he can find, not a single exit in view. He even smashes one wall with Rasengan, only to find himself in another room with another goddamn door. He lets out a cry of frustration and the panicked feeling doesn’t subside until he opens the fifteenth door- god, fifteen of the same damn ugly rooms- and finds Sasuke. Asleep. On the floor.
Naruto can’t help the way his eyes widen. Sasuke looks so peaceful that Naruto is unable to move away. He notices the way his headache is slowly fading as he takes careful steps toward the other boy. He wants to know why, he wants to understand and he wants so many things...
...and he wants to touch Sasuke’s face suddenly, on an impulse, the same way Sasuke had touched his yesterday.
The floorboards creak as he kneels just beside Sasuke’s head. His head feels clear yet his hands feel numb as he gently touches a fringe of Sasuke’s hair.
It’s soft. He twists it experimentally against his fingers. It feels so real but he knows it isn’t and that makes his heart ache.
I want him to be real, Naruto thinks. I want him here.
When his eyes travel down to Sasuke’s face, Sasuke’s eyes meet his, and Naruto starts. Sasuke does nothing more than lay there and look at him. Calmly, and utterly without tension.
It hurts and it’s beautiful. There’s wetness on his cheeks and he stubbornly scrubs at them with his jacket sleeve. His heart skips when he feels his arm being pushed away and Sasuke sits up, leaning on his elbow, while his other hand brushes away Naruto’s tears. His skin feels warm and alive and Naruto exhales sharply.
Then he catches Sasuke in a kiss, because he needs this. Just lips against lips and Naruto can’t believe how incredibly warm Sasuke feel against him. His tongue brushed Sasuke’s and the strange sensation takes him aback for a second, because he’s imagined a lot of things he’d like to do with Sasuke - like spar or go on missions or eat at Ichiraku - but he’s never imagined doing this.
Sasuke’s hands are tentative again when they touch Naruto’s hips. Naruto’s whole body feels like it’s on edge, and he’s sick and angry and curious all at the same time.
Sasuke’s hands are warm and familiar, bolder than Naruto would ever have expected. Naruto drops his head against Sasuke’s shoulder and breathes in; it smells like mountains, and trees, and it’s warm and it’s home.
He drops a kiss against Sasuke’s neck, feeling the pulse under his lips. There a tug on his zipper and Naruto lets his jacket fall down beside them. The tips of Sasuke’s fingers are cold against his skin but it doesn’t matter; they stroke down his stomach and rubs small circles over his hips.
Naruto’s breathing is getting faster and he turns to face directly Sasuke again.
This time, it’s Sasuke who yanks him down, mouth hot against his. It isn’t Naruto’s best kiss by far, but it still makes his stomach clench with pure want. His own hands comb Sasuke’s hair and he feels himself getting weaker as Sasuke ravages every inch of his mouth. He lets his weight fall against Sasuke, his pelvis hitting one of Sasuke’s calves.
There are hands drawing circles on Naruto’s back and it shouldn’t feel so erotic. He lets go of Sasuke’s mouth and places soft kisses along his jaw, wanting more and more. Sasuke pushes his hips up and heat flares in their groins when they meet.
He pushes away Sasuke’s uniform, his heart beating like a hammer. His hands are tan against Sasuke’s paler skin, and Naruto finds it endearing. His chest is as broad as Naruto’s; muscles well toned and his hips are a bit narrower. When Sasuke begins to mouth at his throat, Naruto moans against his hair. He doesn’t protest when Sasuke flips their positions, just clings to his back and neck.
Sasuke’s tongue feels cold on his neck, and he’s moved on to attack Naruto’s collarbone. His teeth are digging softly into Naruto’s skin and it’s painful but pleasant. Naruto leans up and bites at that full lower lip, drawing back to whispers, “Missed you, I...fuck Sasuke, I just-“
His voice is hoarse with desire and he feels Sasuke groan against his skin, telling him to “Shut up! Don’t say it,”and then Sasuke sucks on his nipples. Naruto’s hands become even bolder as they push down Sasuke’s pants, feeling the muscles of Sasuke’s calves tense when he does so. Of course, Sasuke counters by tugging tactlessly at Naruto’s own pant, which makes Naruto chuckle.
He ignores Sasuke’s glare and feels himself smirk as he rubs Sasuke’s cock through his boxers. Encouraged by the sounds that Sasuke makes, he tugs down the black cloth and brushes the tip uncertainly. Naruto curls his left leg around Sasuke’s middle and brings them together. His own boxers create a barrier between skin and he tries to shove them off and Sasuke growls - actually growls - and pulls Naruto’s boxer off in one swift movement.
Then they are both naked, clinging at each other and curling their limbs together. But Naruto still wants more and it seems Sasuke follows his line of thought.
There is silence for a moment, as they stare at each other and rain mercilessly pelts the soft earth outside.
Naruto feels the force of their impact resonate through the floor and is sure that the rain will wash away the house from its root. He can picture the roof crumbling above them and a torrent of cold rain drenching them to the bone.
He remembers it was raining that day too, in that steep valley where it all began, where it all ended. When words were spoken and went unspoken.
Then Naruto breaks the silence.
“...Can you still read my mind, Sasuke?”
Sasuke doesn’t say anything but his own eyes reflect surprise which turns into sadness and regret and Naruto’s heart clenches. This time, the brush of lips is gentle, feels like something akin to an apology, and Naruto sighs because he knows this is Sasuke’s way of showing he regrets what he has done, before opening up to him.
“What do you think, Naruto?”
Sasuke’s voice is rough, the words sharp and Naruto’s eyes meet Sasuke’s at that moment. Naruto opens his mouth, and then closes it as abruptly. He wants to say “I think, yes”, but what comes out is entirely different.
“How would I know?” Naruto says, fingers digging into Sasuke’s skin painfully. He shoots Sasuke a defensive glare and growls out, “How could I know?”
The unspoken accusation, you weren’t there, rang loudly.
Sasuke’s eyes are hard, angry at Naruto for not understanding why he couldn’t be there. “You never did understand, Naruto.”
Naruto wants to ask him what he means, because Sasuke’s right, he doesn’t understand but the words choke in his throat when he feels the other boy shove his hips between his legs. Naruto’s irritation fades gradually and he eventually curls his legs around Sasuke’s waist, not letting go.
Never letting go.
It’s then, in this precise instant, that he realise how much he wants to share a moment like this with the real Sasuke, seek this connection so much it hurts. Badly.
“I...I can feel you,” Naruto says, voice ringing with disbelief. Sasuke hums against his shoulders and continues his administrations. There’s a world of things he should ask right now, but the only thing he can think of is that he can feel Sasuke - not Fake-Sasuke but real Sasuke.
Something unravels in him as Sasuke’s hips moves into him and he barely manages to not let out the embarrassing moans he can feel building in his throat. He tugs on Sasuke’s hair, twist his hands in Sasuke’s - real Sasuke- hair and feel satisfied when the other snarls back at him.
Sasuke hits something in him again and he muffles the feral growl that claws out of his throat into Sasuke’s shoulder, twisting his hips and pushing back to feel it deeper. His entire spine feels tense and the chill that ascends his back is, is unbelievably-
He closes his eyes. He’ll cut off his own tongue before admitting this feels good. This shouldn’t be happening in the first place but still is and it’s with Sasuke of all people.
For some reason, his last thought only makes his length harder. Sasuke’s hand is on his cock and he rubs Naruto’s precum over the tips, moving his hand just the way Naruto likes it.
Naruto mouth is hot and wet against Sasuke’s shoulder. He hears Sasuke’s husky voice whisper “Naruto,” against his skin and that’s all it takes for Naruto to come. Sasuke’s follows, coming with a muffled moan.
Naruto winces as Sasuke pulls himself out. His ear is on Sasuke’s chest and he closes his eyes as Sasuke’s heartbeat echoes loudly in his mind.
His biggest problem, Naruto knows now, is time. His eyelids feel heavy and his mind is shutting down. He can feel Sasuke’s palms slide up his arms and Naruto desperately conjures up some Sage chakra to confirm his hunch - because he is sure the chakra presence is new but without a doubt Sasuke.
“You have to wake up now,” Sasuke whispers, as he begins to untangle himself from Naruto. Naruto is having none of it and he fights back to capture the limbs. Sasuke is here, right now, and he’s not going anywhere, Naruto thinks, digging his fingers into skin.
Sasuke looks at Naruto’s hands and sighs. Then, Naruto’s headache comes back and he brings his hands to his forehead, realising his mistake briefly after as Sasuke uses this to make his escape and-
------
Tsunade and Kakashi are looking worriedly at him when he wakes up. Naruto just feels spent.
“I...” Naruto croaks. His whole body feels numb; his breaths come out in short puffs. “He was there.”
He hears Tsunade sighs, before gently taking his hand in hers. Naruto hears Kakashi whisper, “So it really did work,” but pays no attention to it.
“At least you woke up,” Tsunade says. She sounds relieved.
Naruto feels horrible, because what he wants to say now isn’t, “Of course I did!” but “I didn’t want to.”
------
“Are you sure?” Kakashi asks, putting both of his hands on Naruto’s shoulders. His voice is dead serious. “This is unprecedented. Even I can’t say what the consequences will be.”
Naruto’s face doesn’t change, eyes burning with determination. “Let’s do it.”
Kakashi nods at Tsunade, who sighs resignedly. “Alright, brat. But don’t push yourself, you hear me?”
Naruto’s grin doesn’t make the worry disappear from Tsunade’s eyes but it’s enough to make her shoulders relax. “Yeah, yeah.”
Kakashi pushes up his hitai-ate. “Zensekai Sharingan.”
END
Note: Zensekai means “the world of”.
Title: Zensekai Sharingan
Rating: NC-17
Summary: He remembers it was raining that day too, in that steep valley where it all began, where it all ended.
Warnings: Sex, swearing.
A/N: I want to say ‘thank you so much!’ to X and Y for betaing this. They did a wonderful job at transforming this fiction into something better. And, loika, I hope I managed to fulfill your request adequately.
Mod note: Reminder for the author/artist of this submission, please do not reply to comments signed in, if you want to reply anon commenting is enabled.
“-to...”
Vacillating between dream and reality, he feels his body being shaken. “Would you wake up already!”
Naruto blinks slowly, his eyes adjusting to the gentle sunlight that streams through the trees. Sakura is at his side, sitting on her knees, eyes expressing equal parts worry and annoyance.
“Sakura?” he asks hoarsely, rubbing a hand over his face. “What happened?”
The look she gives him is contemplative, as if she is studying him. He moves to sit up and his muscles ache in protest. Ugh.
He cranes his neck backward, slowly rolling his shoulders and looking around for the first time.
He’s seated on the forest floor, rocks digging uncomfortably into his thighs. Trees encircle him, and the air is so warm that Naruto can feel sweat slowly dripping down his back. It feels peaceful.
Too peaceful.
“Where are we?” Naruto says. His head feels like a goddamn train hit it at full speed. “Sa-“
But Sakura is nowhere in sight. “...Sakura-chan?”
He immediately uses his Sage chakra, searching for her presence.
But there’s nothing. Even when he tries to stretch it out for miles and miles, there’s nothing at all.
His head throbs again and everything is suddenly too much.
And then there is black.
---------
When he awakes, Naruto’s nose is itching and his head still hurts.
Tic. Shikamaru is beside him, attention focused on a shogi board. He doesn’t glance up at Naruto and remains silent.
Naruto frowns.
“Hey lazy ass. I’m awake,” he groans, looking at his bandaged arms and legs. “What happened?”
Shikamaru just moves another piece, Naruto’s stomach clenches. Shikamaru might find him annoying from time to time, but he would never under normal circumstances ignore Naruto.
Naruto swiftly gets out of the hospital bed, noticing that the pain from earlier is gone and god Sakura-chan-
“Hey, Shikamaru!” Naruto yells in an attempt to quell the irrational panic rising in his chest.
Shikamaru shoots him a glance and there’s something in his eyes, something de-
Something’s not right. He can feel it.
Shikamaru, or what should be Shikamaru, moves his queen one block ahead on the shogi board.
“Who are you?” Naruto asks. He doesn’t know why he asks, but he knows that person in front of him isn’t really Shikamaru.
Fake-Shikamaru deigns not to answer, only hums a bit in response.
And suddenly, the sheer strangeness of the situation is too much and in his panic, he sweeps the shogi board away. Fake-Shikamaru finally looks up.
“Tell me! Who the hell are-”
“Is that really the question you should be asking?”
What? The word is on Naruto’s tongue but it doesn’t pass his lips because everything is suddenly black and white and there’s a whirlwind inside the room and-
--------
Dots flutter before his vision, fading, as he blinks, drowsily, and suddenly, all he sees is a blue spark, growing brighter and brighter with each passing second.
It is only by instinct, and muscle memory, that Naruto manages leap away and when he’s on his feet again, his mind registers Sasuke -Sasuke! - had nearly stabbed him with a Chidori.
What the hell?
“S-Sasuke!?” Naruto shouts, and blocks a punch with his left arm.
Punch-punch-elbow- kick- dodge- punch-
Naruto’s mind is blank, focused only on Sasuke’s attacks. He manages a solid punch to Sasuke’s face before finding himself flat on his back, Sasuke’s blade an inch away from his throat.
When did this happen? How did this even begin!?
“...Ngh.” Naruto grinds his teeth together, shoving Sasuke’s weight back with all his power before gathering chakra at his feet and kicking Sasuke in the side. The other boy twists to avoid the attack, but in doing so is forced to let go of Naruto.
Naruto’s gathering Sage chakra, readying himself for the next assault. He sees Sasuke smirk and disappear from sight.
He can’t feel Sasuke’s chakra. He can’t feel anyone or anything else, not the birds in the trees that surround him, nor the rustle of the leaves.
Sasuke’s coming! Naruto’s mind reminds him, and his body moves on instinct to avoid Sasuke’s Chidori Nagashi. The blade briefly brushes Naruto’s stomach, just enough to leave a shallow cut. He counters a kick and uses Kage Bunshin to distract Sasuke, before activating his wind chakra in order to divert the shuriken flung right at him.
They’re stuck in this dangerous dance and it’s as if they can predict what the other’s next move will be. As if their minds are connected.
Kick- punch- dodge- elbow- counter- punch- punch
When Naruto sees Sasuke gather chakra in his right foot, he immediately tries to retaliate but his limbs are suddenly frozen. He feels his heart skip a beat and thinks this is going to hurt, before black dots cloud in his vision and he closes his eyes against the pain.
----------
When Naruto wakes up again, he has his head on his kitchen table and nobody is with him. His headache has come back and he curses loudly.
There’s something wrong with me. He puts a hand in his hair and - pauses. He quickly unzips his own jacket and raises his shirt. The cut isn’t there anymore.
Is it Kyuubi? Is Naruto dreaming?
But it felt so real. Naruto can remember the punches, the brief moments of warm skin brushing against his. He can still feel the adrenaline in his blood. That’s no dream.
So Naruto does the only thing he can think of: he goes to Tsunade.
She’s in her office, sipping on sake and doing paperwork. Shizune is nowhere in sight.
Naruto slams his palms down on her desk. “Tsunade-bachaan! I think Kyuubi is doing something to my body!”
Like Shikamaru, she pays no attention to him and alarm bells start going off loudly in his head. The headache only gets worse. “Hey! I’m talking to you!!”
No answer. She doesn’t even shift. Naruto bites his lower lip and walks around her desk to shake her. Her shoulders are solid under his hands but he can’t still feel her presence; like she was there but not there.
“What is wrong with you people? Avoiding me and telling me crazy shit and why the hell can’t I feel your chakra, Granny!?”
Tsunade grips one of his arms and looks at him. “Why are you here Naruto?”
“Wha-,” Naruto’s voice is unusually quiet. “I just told you...”
There’s desperation in her eyes and she repeats “What is your purpose here, Naruto?”
It’s risky-
He doesn’t know where the voice comes from but it’s echoing loudly in his head. He lets go of Tsunade and puts his hands against his temples, willing the pain to just go away.
I said I want to, damnit!
His stomach churns so badly that Naruto’s sure he’s going to hurl right here but the pain in his head is so atrocious that he sinks to his knees and curls in on himself.
---------
This time, when he wakes up with Sai at his side, Naruto doesn’t even start. He simply stares at Sai, unsurprised, but still unsure.
What the hell was he supposed to do now?
Sai acts as he normally does; smiles creepily and closes his eyes, saying nothing.
That’s fine with Naruto. “Why am I here?” Wherever ‘here’ might be. “Is this a genjutsu?”
Sai tilts his head and frowns at him, almost thoughtfully. And then he smiles cryptically and answers, “Perhaps.”
It’s no surprise when Sai disappears the moment Naruto blinks. So, Naruto was trapped in a genjutsu. At least, that explains why he can’t feel anyone’s chakra.
But why was he under a genjutsu? Did he get into a fight? And if so, with who?
The more he tries to remember, the more pain he feels in his head. It doesn’t want me to remember.
“Alright,” Naruto says, sitting up and glancing around. He’s in the middle of a lavender field this time, and the strong smell makes his nose twitch. He tries to clear his mind, like Jiraiya taught him, but it has no effect. He clenches his fists together and slams them against the ground. “Damnit!”
There is no way of telling who cast the genjutsu. What if it was Madara? In any case, he needed to escape from the illusion as quickly as possible.
Well, if his mind didn’t want to remember, maybe forcing it to do so would release him from this illusion. Naruto takes a deep breath and grits his teeth together as he forces himself to recall something, anything.
The ache in his head feels like it’s splitting his brain open but he continues the search because he wants out more than anything else.
Unpredencented....consequences will be-
-Do this!
The metallic taste in his mouth tells him that he’s cut his lower lip open. His skin is on fire and his muscles throb.
-....you hear me!?
Naruto takes one last breath and faints.
-----------
It was the sensation of being stared at - that’s what woke him, Naruto thinks as he slowly open his eyes. His headache is still as alive as ever and he holds back a groan. When he turns his head, Sasuke is sitting beside him.
For a minute he can’t breathe, but then he remembers their initial encounter and fights back a bitter laugh. “What, no Chidori this time?”
Sasuke raises an eyebrow but doesn’t say anything. Not that it had been expected.
“Yeah, well, not like I was expecting you to answer or anything. You’d probably just babble me some nonsense like the others anyway.”
Sasuke’s eye twitches at the word ‘babble’. “Why are you here?”
Okay...that was unexpected.
“Duh...I’m trapped in a genjutsu, remember?”
Sasuke pauses at that, then hums under his breath but doesn’t say anything else. Naruto snorts at him before massaging his head again. Somehow, the pain has subdued but the throb is still present.
There are holes in the roof above him and the wood seems old. Nails stick out from the wood and the shack smells terrible.
Rain softly hits the covering. Some of it manages to sneak in through the hair-line cracks in the roof and hit the floor. The silence isn’t unwelcome but Naruto doesn’t care either way because what he’d like to talk to isn’t an illusion anyway.
But Naruto’ll take what he can. “So why I am meeting with you again?”
There’s rain dripping on his calves now. Shesh.
“Again?”
The answer is quiet but Naruto hears it. “Yeah, I mean I saw you like ...forty minutes ago? Or maybe it’s been a week,” Naruto says, an overly cheerful smile plastered on his face. It’s hard to believe that Sasuke is here, beside him and it’s all just an illusion. “It’s kinda difficult to keep track of time in genjutsu, you know?”
There’s no answer. Naruto sighs. “I think this is the most awful place I landed up ‘til now.”
His stomach growls and his feels like it’s stuffed with cotton. Naruto puts a hand on his face and rubs his cheeks. “Why did I get stuck here?”
The floor creaks as Sasuke gets up and heads for the door. “...I don’t know.”
Somehow, this only worsens his headache.
---------
He’s caught off guard when he wakes up again because he’s in the same place. And Sasuke is still beside him.
“Oh...,” Naruto says, as he feels sweat drip down the back of his neck. “You’re still here.”
Sasuke’s hand is only centimetres away from his face and the sleeve of his shirt brushes Naruto’s cheek. It’s damp.
“Is it still raining?” Naruto asks, liking the proximity. His headache seems to lighten when he leans toward Sasuke’s hand. It feels fantastic.
“It is,” Sasuke says. He doesn’t move away and tentatively brushes Naruto’s hair away from his face. The hand doesn’t linger but Naruto’s headache lightens so suddenly that he can’t help but sigh in relief. Sasuke’s gaze is on his face for a second, taking him in.
“You’re warm.”
“And you’re cold.” Naruto laughs, a short huff of breath. Sasuke’s hand is now tracing his jaw with the tip of its fingers, unreadable eyes scrutinizing every detail on his body, as if searching for something, and Naruto’s muscles tense. He suppresses a gulp and feels his Adam’s apple slide against Sasuke’s thumb. When Sasuke brushes his collarbone, Naruto unclenches his fists and grabs Sasuke’s hand.
Sasuke’s eyes open slightly and look back at him.
“I need to wake up.” Naruto chokes out, heart beating fast and breathing slightly irregular.
Sasuke’s other hand pushes Naruto’s away and he stands up. He doesn’t glance back. Naruto tries not to let the gesture disturb him.
But it’s hard.
“Yes. You should.”
The headache comes back gradually as Sasuke steps away from him. Naruto ignores it, curling his arms around his chest instead.
It takes him a long time to get back to sleep.
-------
By the third time he wakes up in the shabby shack, Naruto is panicking. The rain still hasn’t let up and he’s starving. There is a wet cloth on his forehead, and while it’s still a bit damp Naruto can tell it’s been a long time since it was wet. He sniffs it tentatively.
It smells like the forest, mixed with something else - his own sweat and-
Sasuke.
His hand come up to his throat out of its own volition, fingers following the path Sasuke’s had traced earlier.
This time, Sasuke is not around at all.
Naruto feels foolish at his disappointment because he has to keep reminding himself, Sasuke’s isn’t real - he’s just an illusion. This is all an illusion.
He tries to ignore his never ending headache and wills his muscles to move. They’re sore and Naruto aches all over but he manages to stand. Blue eyes blearily blink and rove over his surroundings.
The wood looks so worn that it’s a wonder it hasn’t crumbled yet. The floorboards creak under his steps, and when Naruto touches the surface it feels flaky and damp against his palm.
Naruto would bet a single punch could break an entire wall.
Vines creep up the walls in the room. There is no furniture and the only source of light in the room seems to come from the fissure in the roof. Either it has never been lived in or it’s clearly been abandoned for years. There is something akin to nostalgia floating in the humid air.
What caught Naruto’s attention, however, is the single door at the end of the room. It’s painted in an ugly red and the door handle seems handmade, carved from wood.
Something tells him to head for the door and Naruto has never been one to ignore his instincts, so he does.
When he opens it, the room he finds himself in is identical to the first one.
He continues, his pace beginning to speed up as he keeps opening every door he can find, not a single exit in view. He even smashes one wall with Rasengan, only to find himself in another room with another goddamn door. He lets out a cry of frustration and the panicked feeling doesn’t subside until he opens the fifteenth door- god, fifteen of the same damn ugly rooms- and finds Sasuke. Asleep. On the floor.
Naruto can’t help the way his eyes widen. Sasuke looks so peaceful that Naruto is unable to move away. He notices the way his headache is slowly fading as he takes careful steps toward the other boy. He wants to know why, he wants to understand and he wants so many things...
...and he wants to touch Sasuke’s face suddenly, on an impulse, the same way Sasuke had touched his yesterday.
The floorboards creak as he kneels just beside Sasuke’s head. His head feels clear yet his hands feel numb as he gently touches a fringe of Sasuke’s hair.
It’s soft. He twists it experimentally against his fingers. It feels so real but he knows it isn’t and that makes his heart ache.
I want him to be real, Naruto thinks. I want him here.
When his eyes travel down to Sasuke’s face, Sasuke’s eyes meet his, and Naruto starts. Sasuke does nothing more than lay there and look at him. Calmly, and utterly without tension.
It hurts and it’s beautiful. There’s wetness on his cheeks and he stubbornly scrubs at them with his jacket sleeve. His heart skips when he feels his arm being pushed away and Sasuke sits up, leaning on his elbow, while his other hand brushes away Naruto’s tears. His skin feels warm and alive and Naruto exhales sharply.
Then he catches Sasuke in a kiss, because he needs this. Just lips against lips and Naruto can’t believe how incredibly warm Sasuke feel against him. His tongue brushed Sasuke’s and the strange sensation takes him aback for a second, because he’s imagined a lot of things he’d like to do with Sasuke - like spar or go on missions or eat at Ichiraku - but he’s never imagined doing this.
Sasuke’s hands are tentative again when they touch Naruto’s hips. Naruto’s whole body feels like it’s on edge, and he’s sick and angry and curious all at the same time.
Sasuke’s hands are warm and familiar, bolder than Naruto would ever have expected. Naruto drops his head against Sasuke’s shoulder and breathes in; it smells like mountains, and trees, and it’s warm and it’s home.
He drops a kiss against Sasuke’s neck, feeling the pulse under his lips. There a tug on his zipper and Naruto lets his jacket fall down beside them. The tips of Sasuke’s fingers are cold against his skin but it doesn’t matter; they stroke down his stomach and rubs small circles over his hips.
Naruto’s breathing is getting faster and he turns to face directly Sasuke again.
This time, it’s Sasuke who yanks him down, mouth hot against his. It isn’t Naruto’s best kiss by far, but it still makes his stomach clench with pure want. His own hands comb Sasuke’s hair and he feels himself getting weaker as Sasuke ravages every inch of his mouth. He lets his weight fall against Sasuke, his pelvis hitting one of Sasuke’s calves.
There are hands drawing circles on Naruto’s back and it shouldn’t feel so erotic. He lets go of Sasuke’s mouth and places soft kisses along his jaw, wanting more and more. Sasuke pushes his hips up and heat flares in their groins when they meet.
He pushes away Sasuke’s uniform, his heart beating like a hammer. His hands are tan against Sasuke’s paler skin, and Naruto finds it endearing. His chest is as broad as Naruto’s; muscles well toned and his hips are a bit narrower. When Sasuke begins to mouth at his throat, Naruto moans against his hair. He doesn’t protest when Sasuke flips their positions, just clings to his back and neck.
Sasuke’s tongue feels cold on his neck, and he’s moved on to attack Naruto’s collarbone. His teeth are digging softly into Naruto’s skin and it’s painful but pleasant. Naruto leans up and bites at that full lower lip, drawing back to whispers, “Missed you, I...fuck Sasuke, I just-“
His voice is hoarse with desire and he feels Sasuke groan against his skin, telling him to “Shut up! Don’t say it,”and then Sasuke sucks on his nipples. Naruto’s hands become even bolder as they push down Sasuke’s pants, feeling the muscles of Sasuke’s calves tense when he does so. Of course, Sasuke counters by tugging tactlessly at Naruto’s own pant, which makes Naruto chuckle.
He ignores Sasuke’s glare and feels himself smirk as he rubs Sasuke’s cock through his boxers. Encouraged by the sounds that Sasuke makes, he tugs down the black cloth and brushes the tip uncertainly. Naruto curls his left leg around Sasuke’s middle and brings them together. His own boxers create a barrier between skin and he tries to shove them off and Sasuke growls - actually growls - and pulls Naruto’s boxer off in one swift movement.
Then they are both naked, clinging at each other and curling their limbs together. But Naruto still wants more and it seems Sasuke follows his line of thought.
There is silence for a moment, as they stare at each other and rain mercilessly pelts the soft earth outside.
Naruto feels the force of their impact resonate through the floor and is sure that the rain will wash away the house from its root. He can picture the roof crumbling above them and a torrent of cold rain drenching them to the bone.
He remembers it was raining that day too, in that steep valley where it all began, where it all ended. When words were spoken and went unspoken.
Then Naruto breaks the silence.
“...Can you still read my mind, Sasuke?”
Sasuke doesn’t say anything but his own eyes reflect surprise which turns into sadness and regret and Naruto’s heart clenches. This time, the brush of lips is gentle, feels like something akin to an apology, and Naruto sighs because he knows this is Sasuke’s way of showing he regrets what he has done, before opening up to him.
“What do you think, Naruto?”
Sasuke’s voice is rough, the words sharp and Naruto’s eyes meet Sasuke’s at that moment. Naruto opens his mouth, and then closes it as abruptly. He wants to say “I think, yes”, but what comes out is entirely different.
“How would I know?” Naruto says, fingers digging into Sasuke’s skin painfully. He shoots Sasuke a defensive glare and growls out, “How could I know?”
The unspoken accusation, you weren’t there, rang loudly.
Sasuke’s eyes are hard, angry at Naruto for not understanding why he couldn’t be there. “You never did understand, Naruto.”
Naruto wants to ask him what he means, because Sasuke’s right, he doesn’t understand but the words choke in his throat when he feels the other boy shove his hips between his legs. Naruto’s irritation fades gradually and he eventually curls his legs around Sasuke’s waist, not letting go.
Never letting go.
It’s then, in this precise instant, that he realise how much he wants to share a moment like this with the real Sasuke, seek this connection so much it hurts. Badly.
“I...I can feel you,” Naruto says, voice ringing with disbelief. Sasuke hums against his shoulders and continues his administrations. There’s a world of things he should ask right now, but the only thing he can think of is that he can feel Sasuke - not Fake-Sasuke but real Sasuke.
Something unravels in him as Sasuke’s hips moves into him and he barely manages to not let out the embarrassing moans he can feel building in his throat. He tugs on Sasuke’s hair, twist his hands in Sasuke’s - real Sasuke- hair and feel satisfied when the other snarls back at him.
Sasuke hits something in him again and he muffles the feral growl that claws out of his throat into Sasuke’s shoulder, twisting his hips and pushing back to feel it deeper. His entire spine feels tense and the chill that ascends his back is, is unbelievably-
He closes his eyes. He’ll cut off his own tongue before admitting this feels good. This shouldn’t be happening in the first place but still is and it’s with Sasuke of all people.
For some reason, his last thought only makes his length harder. Sasuke’s hand is on his cock and he rubs Naruto’s precum over the tips, moving his hand just the way Naruto likes it.
Naruto mouth is hot and wet against Sasuke’s shoulder. He hears Sasuke’s husky voice whisper “Naruto,” against his skin and that’s all it takes for Naruto to come. Sasuke’s follows, coming with a muffled moan.
Naruto winces as Sasuke pulls himself out. His ear is on Sasuke’s chest and he closes his eyes as Sasuke’s heartbeat echoes loudly in his mind.
His biggest problem, Naruto knows now, is time. His eyelids feel heavy and his mind is shutting down. He can feel Sasuke’s palms slide up his arms and Naruto desperately conjures up some Sage chakra to confirm his hunch - because he is sure the chakra presence is new but without a doubt Sasuke.
“You have to wake up now,” Sasuke whispers, as he begins to untangle himself from Naruto. Naruto is having none of it and he fights back to capture the limbs. Sasuke is here, right now, and he’s not going anywhere, Naruto thinks, digging his fingers into skin.
Sasuke looks at Naruto’s hands and sighs. Then, Naruto’s headache comes back and he brings his hands to his forehead, realising his mistake briefly after as Sasuke uses this to make his escape and-
------
Tsunade and Kakashi are looking worriedly at him when he wakes up. Naruto just feels spent.
“I...” Naruto croaks. His whole body feels numb; his breaths come out in short puffs. “He was there.”
He hears Tsunade sighs, before gently taking his hand in hers. Naruto hears Kakashi whisper, “So it really did work,” but pays no attention to it.
“At least you woke up,” Tsunade says. She sounds relieved.
Naruto feels horrible, because what he wants to say now isn’t, “Of course I did!” but “I didn’t want to.”
------
“Are you sure?” Kakashi asks, putting both of his hands on Naruto’s shoulders. His voice is dead serious. “This is unprecedented. Even I can’t say what the consequences will be.”
Naruto’s face doesn’t change, eyes burning with determination. “Let’s do it.”
Kakashi nods at Tsunade, who sighs resignedly. “Alright, brat. But don’t push yourself, you hear me?”
Naruto’s grin doesn’t make the worry disappear from Tsunade’s eyes but it’s enough to make her shoulders relax. “Yeah, yeah.”
Kakashi pushes up his hitai-ate. “Zensekai Sharingan.”
END
Note: Zensekai means “the world of”.