sirenspull | oo6

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[Sasuke is not doing well today.

He's pale, his hands are trembling, and he has to fight down the near-constant burning tightness in his throat, stinging at his eyes.

So close. He was so close-- and now it's gone, an imprint of smoke.

So he keeps the video turned off, takes a sip of water and smooths his voice as best he can before speaking.]

Obito, my cousin, is gone. His NV has been disconnected. Ino Yamanaka is also gone, but her NV seems to be functional.

I want to know what happened to them. Both of them.

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You're forgetting is how strong Ino is. [ A beat. Another. And considering Sasuke's just called him stupid, again-- ] Jerk.

Ino's tough. She's been through a lot. I believe in her. You can think whatever the hell you want, go ahead and think the worst but she'll always get back up and I'll be there to help when she does. So will the rest of her friends.

[ He eyes the screen for a protracted moment. ] Just like we'll be there to pick you back up. [ The shrug that follows is deceptively careless. ]

I'm keeping the place warm until she gets back but I'm gonna head out and do another sweep in a while. You can help if you wanna.

And you don't realize how weak she is, if you put faith in her so easily.

[He doesn't understand why Naruto is so relentlessly optimistic. He should hate Konoha too, but for some reason, he doesn't. Won't.

It's puzzling. Blue eyes flick up at him and away, and although the shrug is careless the words aren't. They're heavy with the bond that Naruto refuses to sever.]

She keeps getting up even when she knows she's lost, which is going to be what gets her killed.

[He thinks back to their spar. Her weakness, the implications behind it--she shared top in class with him; is that what he could have become if he'd stayed, soft and stubborn and--

He stops himself, exhaling. A look at the clock.]

I have work at six.

Heh. Who said anything about easily? She's earned it. [ Maybe it was before Asuma's death but it was probably after that Naruto really took note. Death unfortunately does that. ]

You're wrong. We succeed when we get back up, Sasuke. What kinda person would she be if she gave in like that? Where would you be if you gave in so easily, huh?

[ Work. A bizarrely mundane concept unless it's a mission. He almost asks about it but instead-- ]

S'alright, I'll just come around when you're done!

[He snorts. Whatever she's done to 'earn' it hasn't shown--at least not if their fight was anything to go by. If he'd been trying to kill her, she wouldn't have lasted a minute.]

You have to know when you've lost and when to accept defeat. You're going to fail anyway. Better to back out and work on improving for next time than go at it like a battering ram.

I am where I am because of years of training.

[Ugh. Naruto is nothing if not consistent.]

I get out of work at midnight.

Except you fell down sometimes. I saw ya'. You just got back up after. And sometimes you wouldn't give up, even though it almost killed you. [ Sasuke's record isn't exactly spotless. He might be a genius at certain things but that never made him infallible. If he really believes he did it all without a hitch then Naruto feels bad for him...

He also reminds himself to ask Ino about training if-- when they find her. ]

Accepting defeat is the dumbest thing I've heard all week.

[ But at least he has a time to show up. It does occur to him that Sasuke might be lying about the time he finishes but he's more willing to trust his word than not. Midnight means it'll be tricky, but Naruto's been learning fast about how to operate at night. ]

I'll see you then.

Because I knew I could. I'm stronger than Ino is. I weigh my risks and act accordingly.

[He's glaring at the screen now, even though Naruto can't see it. Fuck him and his bullheadedness, his inability to accept reality, his--

Argh.]

Don't. I have susano'o if I get into trouble. Stay inside after the sirens.

Edited 2012-10-21 17:29 (UTC)

Oh. So that's what happened that time with Haku. [ It doesn't even sound sarcastic. Just vaguely amused. Yeah, he's not buying it. Sasuke can be as impulsive as Naruto sometimes, depending. And if Sasuke did think things through back then, well, it implies a whole lot more.

He isn't sure what Susano'o is. It's not that creepy black fire but eitherway, Naruto has Kurama. So he just grins. ]

I've been doin' this for the last week. Don't go thinking I'm that easy to take out.

I'll see ya' later. [ He doesn't need to ask Sasuke's location, so he just gives the camera a wave and ends the feed. ]

I was twelve, you--

[But the screen is blank.

Sasuke clenches his jaw, unclenches, clenches again. He carefully sets the NV next to him so he doesn't succumb to the impulse to throw it at the wall, stalks into his living space, and conjures a clone to beat up.]

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