V; ( The Snake Sheds It's Skin ) Shippuden - Blog Posts

He could hear it in his voice -- The way it hardened immediately, giving no yield to Sasuke's push. Per usual, he thinks to himself, a mute beat of irritation fluttering in his chest for a brief moment before it fades away just as swiftly. He's spent ages wondering why Naruto would bother with him, and while the question bubbles behind his lips once more, he doesn't dare ask. He knows what the response will be.

Leave it to Naruto to still be there holding out his hand when so many had rescinded theirs.

But his next words do illicit a more notable response; Sasuke's brows furrowing faintly underneath his sealed blindfold; turning his head again to 'face' him. "Get him out of here"? It suggested something impulsive, something so Naruto that it pulls a frown at the corners of his lips. The Uchiha knew that anyone in charge of his imprisonment wouldn't budge on letting him go, even with begging or yelling or promises on rehabilitation.

He couldn't be talking about trying to --

" -- Don't be stupid." His voice is still tired, still twinged with a sense of being done, but he tries to harden it just for him. Leave it to Naruto to always bring forth some sort of response, even when he's now content to let himself fade from existence. "If you're suggesting some sort of jail break, you'll have every Anbu on you before you've even gotten this door open. Assuming that you're able."

Everything about his cell was sealed, precaution on top of precaution to keep him in and harmless. He wouldn't be surprised if it sucked chakra the moment unauthorized hands grasped the bars.

" -- How many times are you going to make a fool out of yourself for my sake, Naruto?"

Maybe Naruto can convince the guards to let Sasuke out or maybe he can sneak him out somehow. It wouldn't be too difficult, Naruto thinks, and maybe it's a terrible idea but despite everything, he trusts Sasuke. After everything, he knows Sasuke was hurting. He is still the same person that Naruto once knew.

"I'm not leaving." This time Naruto's voice is firmer - sharper. He's grown up since the time they been apart, he's not some pushover, and he's not going to run with his tail tucked in between his legs.

No, he's getting Sasuke out of here, he decides.

"I'm going to get you out of here, Sasuke." He'll be in a lot of trouble for it but Naruto doesn't really care. He's got some sway here and he intends on using it. "Okay?"

@historias-multorum liked for a thing! ( for Karin )

"We're stopping for the night." Sasuke's voice cuts through the almost silence of travel, slowing his gait until he had stopped walking. They were still a while away from the next time they could comfortably rest in, but the moon was high in the sky and it was making him itch all over in discomfort. So setting up camp would be the best scenario.

"Set yourselves up and get ready to rest. You'll need it." He takes a small step back, inhaling softly before releasing it through his nose, turning away from them. " -- I'll take first watch."

"And now you saw me."

Sasuke had stopped trying to take inventory on where people were exactly whenever anyone came nearby his cell. Not many did -- aside from those at the usual intervals to make sure he was fed, relieved, and that his confines were still active. If it wasn't for keeping him alive, he was half sure they would simply leave him here to rot.

.... Or maybe not.

Not so long as Naruto was still around, he supposed.

His mind wandered lazily, wondering the other's life outside of here now. Did he voice going to see him to anyone else? Did they try to talk him out of it? He probably would.

" ... I'm still alive. If that's what you wanted to know." Sasuke brushed his tongue over slightly chapped lips, exhaling gently. He shifts his body with a small grunt, 'staring' straight ahead, not bothering to look back to the other. "You can go now."

It makes Naruto's heart ache to see his friend like this. Imprisoned and blindfolded, caged up like a dog. Naruto understands that people see him as a threat, that this is what they feel like needs to be done, but they had once seen him as a threat too.

Naruto wishes he could reach through, pull the blindfold off, give Sasuke the trust that Naruto knows he can earn.

Truthfully, Naruto doesn't know what exactly he's doing here. He just wants to make sure Sasuke knows he isn't alone, that not everyone has turned their back on him. That Naruto has never turned his back on him.

"I wanted to see you. I wanted to make sure you were okay.....or as okay as you can be right now."

@taleswritten asked: i saw your face everywhere i went. from Naruto

Sasuke tilted his face towards Naruto's voice a bit belatedly, the sealed blindfold making it impossible to see anything else; even the smallest hint of light. He'd lost track of time following their last battle, could barely even focus on anything inside of the cell he was kept in.

Although really, should he be so surprised that Naruto would visit him yet again? Even like this?

Lips purse, body leaning against the wall behind him; a de-fanged snake. Useless Harmless. It takes several long moments, the silence almost suggesting that he hadn't heard him before he snorts slightly, the corners of his lips quirking just barely.

" ... Yeah? ... Sounds like a nightmare." His voice was a slight croak from disuse; voice void of any humor or droplets of emotion. There's another prolonged silence before he moves his head again, 'looking' away from him. " ... What are you doing here, Naruto?"

I don't want you to see me like this.

towercursed​:

The rejection stings in a way no other wound he’s inflicted on her has. He’s not trying to hurt her here - he’s hurting himself and, whether intentional or not, that makes her heart ache. Especially since she’s almost completely unable to help him. It’s not like she could even try to feed him. She still remembers the last time someone tried to feed him ( she hadn’t been there, but she remembers Sakura’s account of it very clearly ) and it’s not like he’s ever been receptive to help. She can still trace the places on her body he’s physically wounded, though any hint of scarring has long since vanished, from the last times they’ve clashed over supporting him. But it’s a little different now, isn’t it?

“ You’re alone all the time in here. ” Her voice is low as though trying not to disturb the still air, but she’s concentrated all of the affection and concern from her normal voice into those words. Even if he can’t see her worry, she won’t do anything to curb the way it’s twisting her face, making her eyes half-close as her lips press together. “ Are you feeling okay? ” 

She leans forward so she can address the front of his face, looking up  at the seal over his eyes with pity flashing in hers. Her sight darts down to the way he’s being restrained, studying the material and belts carefully. Not for an escape - she’s working out where his hand would be, and she spots it before realising maybe she shouldn’t start there. Something simpler, less intimate, so he doesn’t get overwhelmed. That Infinite Tsukuyomi must have messed with her more than she thought. Still, she inhales carefully and reaches out, letting her hand rest on the shoulder closest to her as she speaks softly, nerves making her thumb twitch. She lets it move to not only calm her own anxiety about the closeness, but to soothe him too.

“ You’ve been in here a while and — well, I guess I’m worried it’s messing with your health. ”

“Isn’t that the point of this? For me to be alone. The point of all of it...?”

Perhaps Rapunzel was right. Maybe spending so much time in this cell alone, barely even grated the sense of sight in fear that he may use his genjutsu on whoever was tasked to guarding him. Sasuke had lost count of the days a short while ago, barely finding much of a reason to keep counting them to himself. What did it matter if he was in here for a week or a couple of months or years? What did any of this matter?

The silence gave him the one thing he wanted the least, time with his own thoughts. Circling through all of his memories and then some, brushing over them as though they were abandoned objects covered in dust inside of an attic. Touching on the memories of childhood, before it all went wrong, and - of course - when it did. Wondering what he could of done different. If maybe if he had noticed the change in Itachi sooner, had pestered him less and tried to be a good brother, maybe things could of been... perhaps they would all still be--

He flinches just slightly at the touch on his shoulder, barely stopping the small intake of breath; so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t sensed Rapunzel moving closer to him. A part of him wished that he could see her -- what type of face was she making at him right now? Perhaps if he could see her, he can figure out just why she kept coming.

“... What does it matter...” His voice, low and careful, cut through the brief silence. “What does it matter if it is...? Maybe if they leave me alone in here long enough, I’ll finally rot away like they want.”

Like I want.

Shoulder shifts, trying to let the gentle touch fall from him; not quite shaking her touch off of him, but trying to let it drop from him as though it was a stray raindrop. Underneath the buckles and cloth, his fingers curl into a fist; nails digging into the palm of his hands the same way he tended to dig them into the flesh of his arms. Unable to do much else, he was sure that scars were probably ugly -- from reopening them and digging deeper over and over again in the same spots.

“... Leave. I don’t want any visitors.”

@foxcurse​ asked: " If only you would let go of that hate for just a little while... maybe things between us could change; maybe we could be like we used to. "

“And this is exactly what pisses me off about you the most.”

There couldn’t of been a string of words stitched together that would piss the Uchiha off more; dark eyes narrowing as teeth seemed to bare in his anger, focusing all of his ire onto his former best friend. Let it go? Let it go --- like he was the problem, like Sasuke’s anger and pain and hatred wasn’t all justified. Why was it that he was the only one who could see that everyone around him was guilty??

Despite the white hot anger searing his chest, Sasuke straightens his back slightly; scoffing the faintest, sharpest mockery of a chuckle. “You believe that -- you really believe that, don’t you?” He asks, voice still calm; barely hiding the anger underneath the surface. “You think things will be okay if I just follow you back to that place and pretend everything is okay. That all I need to do is let it go...”

Fingers twitch slightly, resisting the urge to bury nails into his own palms. “ --- How can you not fucking get it? I refuse to go back to that place and act as though everything is okay. That Konoha wasn’t the ones who lead my clan to it’s demise. You can afford to forgive them for the way they forsake you -- but there’s nothing left for me there.”

Not even you.

towercursed​:

His attack comes as a complete surprise, even with what should have been a verbal warning. She cringes at his words, giving a perfect opportunity for the blow and even though she lifts her arms to protect herself from him, it immediately knocks her backwards. She falls from the force with a high-pitched yelp, hitting the ground with her full back. A small groan escapes her mouth, her head spinning from the force as she lifts it, before he continues his small rampage towards her.

She snaps back into action, frantically scrambling backwards with her hands and heels scraping into the dirt below her just to get away from his silent ( and not so silent ) threat, but she doesn’t get very far before his eyes change. Air catches in her throat as she rests herself on elbows, her heart beating quick enough for her to hear it pounding in her ears. Her eyes are wide but focused entirely on him, even if her attention flickers from his face to the way his hand twitches over his weapon and back.

“ No, no, no, I’m not! ” She protests hotly, leaning forward with desperation shining in her eyes as she clutches a fist tight against her chest. She doesn’t even wobble as she rests her weight on her other elbow, holding his gaze without blinking. “ I go there twice a week! I take some of the children there to teach them about what it means. People want to learn about what happened. ”

Something in her snaps. All this time, chasing after him every time he turned his back on her, doing all she can to give him a safe space, a friend to confide in, and doing all she can to understand him and ease him - it all comes crashing down on her like the Hokage faces have been dropped on her stomach. There’s a deep inhale as she stares at him, her eyebrows creasing together while her eyes narrow, staring to water like she might cry.

“ Everyone who killed your family is gone now, Sasuke! ” She suddenly fires back, much firmer and stronger in her conviction now. Her hands “ Revenge against the village isn’t revenge against the same people who killed them! ”

Her quiet outburst vanishes as quickly as it appeared, fading back into the cool dismay it had come from. Maybe it’s a little more blunt than she intended, she realises with a cringe, but someone has to say it. Someone has to be the one to ask him how far he’s going to go, because if he targets Konoha and destroys it, will he really be satisfied with that? Will he move to the next village with a slight connection to the Akasuki? Will he end everything just for the sake of it? She chews on her lip nervously just imagining it ; revenge isn’t the answer for his grief.

“ We care about you. We care about what happened your family. That’s why we’re doing this. ” Though her words aren’t explicitly a plea, her tone is one of begging as she tries to throw her voice to his heart - hoping she might be able to reach that part of him still. “ Please, listen to me. We’re worried about you - all of us. ”

Risking everything, she pushes herself to her knees. Her hands raise, open and palms towards him, in a gesture of peace as she lifts herself back to her feet. Slow, cautious, and predictable, as though dealing with a wild animal. She can certainly see the similarities - he’s backed into a corner, feeling like he has no option but to lash out. He might be violent, but that’s because he’s scared. He needs to be shown patience and love so he can create a space he can feel safe in.

“ Stop, please. ” One hand reaches for him as she whispers, vaguely aiming at his left eye as though she’s going to cup his cheek, but she stops with a respectful gap between them, waiting for him to bridge it. She hopes he’ll know she’s talking about the appearance of his sharingan - surely he knows there’s little point in wasting it on her. “ You’re gonna hurt yourself. ”

There is barely even a bit of satisfaction at making her fall over; at lashing out in an attempt to get her to shut up her babbling that couldn’t be the truth. His mind is at war, a raging storm with no means to escape aside from destroy and kill and destruction - concepts that had seemed much more complex to him prior to finding out Itachi’s secret. To finding out the truth. Now? --- everyone seemed guilty. There was no innocent when everyone had stood by while the Uchihas had been persecuted.

Death was a mercy to them all at this point.

But Rapunzel’s words were a contrast to it all: residents of the Leaf village wanting to know? Wanting to help them get justice in whatever form it looked like? Learning the truth?

A flinch tears through him before he can stop it at her outburst, crimson eyes widening a fraction before narrowing once more, dangerously as his grip onto his katana’s hilt tightened dangerously. The urge to grip at his chest, at his rapidly beating - and bleeding and aching - heart, was almost consuming him.

‘Everyone who killed your family is gone now, Sasuke!’

“Because I MADE IT so!!” His voice is still loud, a shout, a scream as he took another step closer to Rapunzel, the urge to hurt her creeping back up in the back of his mind. “They made that bastard Hokage, after EVERYTHING he’s done! Justice only came from my hand, and if not me, there would of never been justice at all!

“I am a product of the Leaf Village’s cruelty and arrogance. They took my family from me, and was content on letting me live a lie for their benefit while watching me like a ticking time bomb. Don’t pretend to be more stupid and naive than you are --- that you didn’t notice as well!”

Sasuke had never been able to explain the cautious way that adults watched him as a child; the way they praised him with an air of hesitation. A prodigy, the most promising ninja of his class, the martyr of the Uchiha clan; the clan of savages that needed to be reigned in. Where they wondering if Sasuke could be trusted? If it was truly a good idea to let the last Uchiha live among them?

His vision blurred, the girl’s shape in front of twisted until it was more a mix of colors and shapes than an actual person, and eyes flickered rapidly in a subtle display of panic. He knew he was harming himself, blinding himself and declining rapidly --- at this rate, he had no hope of making it to the village. At least, not without Itachi’s eyes.

There’s movement and he takes a step back, extending his blade in front of him; pointing it at Rapunzel in a swift motion, his eyes still working in overtime to try and pick up any further moves. “Don’t--- Don’t come near me.” His voice is lower, quieter, but still full of fury.

“-- You think I give a shit what happens to me?” Eyes narrow, still bright red with sharingan. “As long as I can get my revenge... the revenge that my family deserves-- then anything can befall me.”

Peace or Death --- those were the only two possible outcomes for his future now.

“I will tell you this once more --- stay out of my way. Or I will kill you. It’d be a grave mistake to think that I’m joking.”