Don't Stare at the Sun or You'll Go Blind

Chapter 17

Sasuke could tell that Itachi had wanted to pull him away for a not so discrete questioning after dinner. He could see it in the slightly pinched look of worry written all over his brother's face. For a second, it looked like Itachi was about to say something to him and Sasuke had braced himself accordingly. But just as quickly, Itachi had deflated, as if metaphorically holding his tongue. Sasuke figured that his brother was still doing his best not to be too intrusive or overstep any boundaries- something he definitely appreciated. So, Sasuke had silently watched his brother shoot him a heavy look while Izumi had bid everyone farewell at the end of dinner.

Despite managing to avoid one potentially catastrophic talk, Sasuke had felt his mood sink when he had finally faced Naruko. Sasuke had truly expected her to do the "Naruko thing" by making a scene outside the Hokage's residence and disturbing the quiet, night air. However, Sasuke was pleasantly surprised when Naruko asked him to spar with her tomorrow morning. He had shot her a curious look, but Naruko had given him one of determination that left him reeling.

It never took him too long to work out what Naruko was thinking. She usually shouted it for the heavens to hear or kept her every emotion splayed out on her face. But the slightly impassive face that had stared up at him had left him stumped and filling with slight dread. She had mentioned that he had changed. Had he neglected to realize that she had changed as well?

~:~

Sasuke usually enjoyed his spars with Naruko. She was the perfect mix of strength, endurance, and unpredictable ingenuity to keep him on his toes. Her vibrant chakra and fiery determination quickly got his heart pounding and excitement rising. He enjoyed the various looks that crossed her face during their spars (particularly the ones of fierce challenge) as if she was mirroring his own, more tightly guarded emotions. The Naruko he faced the next morning had no such expressions or vibrancy.

Naruko had arrived in their clearing shortly after him, her face blank except for a small frown. When he'd attempted to draw out a response from her with some light ribbing, she had responded with a fast punch to his face. Sasuke had activated his Sharingan and dodged the punch at the same time, quickly casting aside any playful notions when he sensed her serious demeanor.

Their spar was far more violent than usual, quickly drawing blood before half an hour had passed. Sasuke could sense a simmering anger within Naruko that was slowly manifesting the longer they fought. Her impassiveness was long gone by mid-day and replaced by a look of frustration. Sasuke had responded in kind, his strikes a bit too brutal for a friendly spar. He'd wanted to ask her what she was hoping to achieve here but hadn't been able to form the words. It was a vicious cycle of taking a harsh blow from her, letting his own frustrations mount, responding with a hard hit of his own, watching her anger build, and starting the cycle all over again.

When Naruko had suddenly activated her sage mode in the middle of an attack, Sasuke'd had barely enough time to gather enough chakra for a quick defense with his Susanoo. It would normally be a bit of an overkill to use his eyes like this in a simple spar with Naruko, but that was when they were pulling their punches. The increase of strength seemed to bring about a shift in Naruko, an unsettling calm settling over her as she stared at him from across the field.

"What do you want from me, Naruko?" Sasuke finally asked, his anger making the words come out harsher than he'd intended. The only response he'd gotten was a subtle tightening of her fists before she closed in on him.

It was probably an immature reaction, but Naruko's unusual behavior brought out an indignant annoyance in him. As if their roles had been reversed, Sasuke's mask had long since cracked and fallen away as he seethed at her level expression. However, underneath the mass of negative emotions clouding his judgement, there was confusion and slight hurt that he was readily ignoring. Sasuke wasn't sure what was worse- being ignored or disregarded by her.