Jiraiya was a curious person, which had both its advantages and disadvantages. He had become a master spy due to his keen interest in various topics. When his training-obsessed apprentice decided they needed to be apart for the day, Jiraiya had to know why. The apprentice had done well to give him the slip, but Jiraiya's experience soon helped him find his charge. To his surprise, the teenager was with a slightly older woman who looked a lot like Shizune. Jiraiya wondered if Naruto secretly harbored an interest in Tsunade's apprentice. This would explain why he was disinterested in all other women until he found one that resembled his heart's desire. Jiraiya respected his apprentice's privacy and went about his own activities for the day, expecting to see Naruto later that evening. It was the next morning before Naruto returned, and Jiraiya had a great time mocking him. Naruto refused to give any details, likely assuming it would stop Jiraiya's remarks, but it only made it worse as Jiraiya spun tale after tale about Naruto's late-night exploits. Naruto took his master's insufferable behavior with a smile. He never spoke about his encounter with the mystery lady, only ever saying it was private. Jiraiya may not have been able to turn his student into a general pervert, but he could be a focused pervert like Minato. It was his duty as Master and Godfather, after all.
Sasuke had never been angrier. Killing the two advisors had done nothing to curb his bloodlust or reduce his rage. The words of Madara rang in his head, alleging that Itachi had been ordered to kill his entire clan by Danzo Shimura and supported by the Hokage's two advisors. She had done it to protect the village but couldn't harm her precious little brother. It sent Sasuke into emotional overload. But it was the next piece of information that sent his confusion into blind fury. Itachi had been in contact with Naruto. In fact, Naruto was the last person Itachi spoke to before leaving the village, and Madara alleged that she had met him several times since then. The two had some sort of relationship, and Itachi had betrayed Madara for Naruto. Sasuke remembered the last confrontation with Itachi and realized that Naruto had intervened on Itachi's behalf and denied Sasuke his revenge. A part of him was thankful, the part that saw his sister as innocent and forced into a bad position. Another part of him was infuriated. Even if her clan was planning a coup, she should have ignored her orders and chosen family. She certainly shouldn't have been so close to Naruto.
So many lies, so much betrayal. The man offered Sasuke a place with him but he turned the man down, finding him to be inherently untrustworthy. The man accepted but said Sasuke would soon see things his way and left without further word. It was ten minutes later that the village was under attack and hysteria insued. Sasuke ignored his duty as a Konoha Nin, no longer caring about the people his sister sacrificed his family for. His only goal was to find Danzo and the advisors. He had no luck with Danzo but found the advisors readily enough. They died slowly and confessed it all. How they suspected an Uchiha was behind the Kyuubi attack, how there had been growing distrust between the clan and the village and how the Sandaime tried to reach a peaceful resolution. They weren't even sorry, he could see it in their eyes. He stabbed them both through the heart with his chokuto. By the time he was finished he watched as Naruto, his best friend, was welcomed to the village as a hero He seethed but chose not to make a scene just yet. He'd wait until the perfect time before he confronted Naruto and got the answers he desired.
It hadn't taken long, as the dobe made haste toward a medical tent. One Sasuke overheard contained Tsunade. She had apparently stressed her reserves trying to heal as many of these worthless ingrates as possible. Seeing the two were alone, Sasuke assumed it was the perfect time to corner Naruto and moved quickly to do just that. What he hadn't expected was for Naruto to speak before Sasuke had even gotten a chance to announce his presence.
"You need to ease up on that killing intent, Sasuke. Some might think you mean to do Tsunade harm and that wouldn't be good." he said, never turning to look at his teammate.
Sasuke chose to ignore Naruto's words, too angry at the potential traitor in front of him. "What is your relationship with Itachi? Tell me, NOW!?" Sasuke barked.
"Tsk." Naruto uttered before running a hand through his hair. He then turned to look at Sasuke and it sent a shiver down Sasuke's spine. Enraged or not, his sanity splintering by the second Sasuke couldn't forget that sequence. It's the same thing that happened when Sasuke tried to defect, when he missed hitting naruto with a chidori. The blond made the same sound, ran a hand through his hair and then looked at Sasuke with cold eyes. No trace of amusement or joy could be found. His eyes only contained a promise of pain and suffering to whomever met their gaze. It was as if there was a switch that flipped and a more ruthless and aggressive Naruto took hold. To this day, it was the worst beating and most humiliating defeat of his life and now he was gazing into those same eyes.
"You don't ever demand things from me." Naruto said neutrally, voice as dry as Kakashi's normally is.
"You will answer me Naruto."
"Will I, now?"
"Yes, or else."
"Be careful, Sasuke. You haven't crossed a line yet but you are nearing it."
"Don't act cocky, dobe. You look exhausted, there's no way you could fight me but I'm still fresh." Sasuke said but truthfully the calm the dobe was exuding was throwing him off.
"And yet, I'm the only one of us not concerned. Go away, Sasuke. I'll discuss this with you later."
"You will not ignore me, Naruto. What is your relationship with Itachi?"
"That's the second time you've made a demand of me, Sasuke. Don't let there be a third."
Sasuke couldn't believe this insufferable, arrogant second rate shinobi. How dare he dismiss him? How dare he keep information about Itachi from him? How dare he?! Sasuke needed answers. He needed to know if Naruto had been lying to him this entire time, if he was just some plant by Itachi to make sure he could never kill her.
"Were you ever really my friend, Naruto?"
"The question you should be asking yourself is if you were ever really mine."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's an exercise to help you shift perception. Clearly someone has told you something. I can smell the blood on you, Sasuke and yet none of the Paths of Pein bled. Whose blood is that? I'd guess you've done something stupid, once again. Whatever set you off has clearly made you crawl up your own ass so once again, Naruto must help the Uchiha as the Uchiha can't help himself. We passed Kakashi's bullshit genin test because of me. I beat Haku when he made you a pincushion. I fought when Orochimaru had you ready to piss yourself. I beat Gaara when you were tapped out. I saved you from becoming a traitor and even wrote to have you paroled. I train with you everyday to help you improve. I even give you advice when you fuck up with Sakura and she wants to cave your skull in. All that I do for you and you ask me if I were your friend?"
"Just because you do those things doesn't mean you do it out of friendship."
"And yet, what have you ever done for me?"
"..." Sasuke was left speechless. How did this become a referendum on him? He's the one that's been betrayed, the one that has been delayed from his justice, that had his village order the genocide of his clan! Why is Naruto bringing this up now?
"But you charge in here, demanding things of me why the closest person I've ever had to a mother lies here comatose."
"I need to know, Naruto. Did you stop me from killing Itachi?" Sasuke asked, his mental state dissolving by the minute.
"Of course you need to know. And because you need to know the world should make it so. But, I am not. Leave, Sasuke."
"Why won't you just tell me?" he whisper shouted. Why won't Naruto just answer his question? Why the game? It must be true, he was never his friend and has been working for Itachi this entire time.
"Because it isn't important right now. The village is in shambles. Our leader is down. That's more important than your quest for vengeance."
"Not to me, it isn't. Nothing is more important than getting justice for my clan and if you stand in my way-"
"If I stand in your way, what?"
"I'll kill you."
"Tsk. I'm going to break both your arms and legs this time, Sasuke. However if you try to do anything near Tsunade I'll remove your eyes as well. I promise." Naruto spoke with absolute confidence. Sasuke reluctantly agreed to move their conversation elsewhere and the two relocated to training ground 7.
"Last time, Naruto, what is your relationship with Itachi?" 'Please Naruto, just tell me it isn't true'
Naruto simply shrugged. His patience had worn thin and he'd forgiven one enemy today, that was apparently his limit. If the Uchiha wanted a redo of their last serious fight then he'd get it. Before the two could even enter their fighting stances they were surrounded by ANBU.
"By Orders of Jonin Commander Shikaku, Sasuke Uchiha you are under arrest for the murders of Advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado." spoke Neko.
"Those fossils ordered the death of my clan! I had every right!" Sasuke said, snapping at being denied information from Naruto and being accused of a crime as if he'd done something wrong. Naruto could only shake his head, there was no way he could get the fool out of this one, not even leveraging his newfound status as the village's hero will stop it. He promised Itachi he'd protect her precious person but has clearly failed in that regard. The thought burned Naruto in the pit of his stomach. He went back on his nindo, through no fault of his own, because this fool couldn't be bothered to wait. Or act like a shinobi and actually get away with his activities. Feeling an overwhelming need to hurt Sasuke, Naruto wished the ANBU weren't here. Oh the seals he could use for this occasion. Naruto was broken from his line of thinking when an ANBU spoke.
"Stand down, Uchiha. We have been cleared to use force as you have violated the conditions of your parole."
"I will not!" Sasuke said, drawing his chokuto.
"Naruto, you have one last chance to tell me what you know about Itachi or their blood will be on your hands."
"Tsk."
"STOP SAYING THAT!" Sasuke yelled before dashing toward Naruto, only to be stopped by a last minute visitor in an orange mask who promptly warped Sasuke away.
"Oh my, it seems he's quite upset with you Naruto. Imagine how mad he'll be when I tell him you banged his sister."
"Tsk. If you've only come to run your mouth then flee back into your little rat hole, coward. I'll be around to settle all accounts with you soon enough." said the jinchuuriki.
"Oh, you've become interesting. I'm almost tempted to see if you could back it up. True, you may have defeated Nagato but I'm on an entirely different level."
"Only because you're above ground. Go tend to your bitch boy before I change that. Besides, the only Uchiha with any nuts was the one born without them. Little chickenship Uchiha hiding behind a mask. Can become intangible and still couldn't beat the Yondaime. How useless you are, little failure."
"Watch your mouth, boy." spoked the masked Uchiha.
"Or what? Attack anyone here and I'll kill you."
"Ah but what of Tsunade. She's all alone."
"Pfft, you actually think I'm not a shadow clone. Such poor deduction skills but you think you're a threat to me. Flee, little failure. I've decided you get to live another day. But know this, whatever monumental fuck up you did that caused you to seek this path and hide your face… nothing you do will make up for it."
"I'll enjoy killing you, boy just like I killed that loudmouth mother of yours."
"Oh you killed a woman right after she gave birth, truly you are a god among men." The masked man simply vanished, saying nothing else in response.
"We need to get to Tsunade, I am not a shadow clone and I can't let that asshole call my bluff." The entire ANBU party obeyed and left via shunshin to their vulnerable leader.