How To Break a Mask (Sasunaru)

The Training Grounds

How to Break a Mask

Author: Kinomi Akai

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto...I would probably pay a lot more attention to the plot developments...

Summary: An incident at the festival on Oct. 10th reveals that there is a lot that everyone doesn't know about Naruto. Smart!Naruto, Sasunaru/Narusasu, Rated M to be safe

Pairings: Sasunaru/Narusasu, mentions of KakaIru.

Warnings: Shonen-ai, yaoi, boy x boy, whatever to want to call it. Any Sakura bashing will end starting now.

"Blah" - talking

'blah' - thinking

'blah' - Kyuubi talking

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Last time:

'Right, kit?'

'You're right.' He replied, and with another sigh, he lifted himself from the couch. He ran his hand through his hair and with one final push off of the dirty fabric, he went to make some tea for his last remaining cup.

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Chapter 9: The Training Grounds

Sasuke had immediately headed to the training grounds to blow off some steam. No matter what Naruto said, Sasuke couldn't understand his reasons. He was furious at Naruto, and furious at himself for being furious at Naruto. He didn't even understand his own reasons for being so angry. He didn't like caring about other people. Hadn't he made sure he wouldn't care about anyone else? Didn't he go out of his way to not make friends?

Villagers quickly moved out of the way as the steaming Uchiha stomped past. He barely noticed his surroundings until he reached his destination. Showing no mercy, Sasuke began mercilessly beating the wooden post in front of him. He payed no mind to the pain in his fists; his thoughts had fully consumed him.

'But you do care about Naruto.' A traitorous voice interrupted his internal rantings.

Sasuke paused, and let his tired body lean against the mangled pole. His balled up fists fell to his sides in exhaustion as his adrenaline finally ran out. He may be stubborn, but he wasn't an idiot. Taking a deep breath in and letting it out through clenched teeth, he slowly realized what he needed to do.

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"Sakura..." Kakashi started, as they walked side by side. "Both Sasuke and Naruto have serious reasons for why they act like they do. They are both...difficult situations."

Kakashi paused. Sakura was quiet.

"But I wonder, if you had started to act differently...more maturely, if you could have pushed them in the right direction."

Sakura made a pained noise.

"But I am just as much to blame," Kakashi's gaze was on the ground.

"N-no," Sakura said. "No, you're right. The way I act with them isn't even how I feel. I don't even like Sasuke that much anymore." She shook her head. "Not that way, anyway. I just...really wanted to be part of the team. And that's the only way I knew how," she finished quietly.

Kakashi glanced at her.

"Hm. Then I guess we both have a lot of work to do," he gave her a kind smile.