Disclaimer: The story of “Naruto” (just like its characters) is not mine.

Main parings: Sasuke x Neji, Itachi x Neji.

Rate: R to NC-17

Summary: (Sequel to “Because of you”) AU. Sasuke has an obsession with Neji, but if he has to fight against the past and his own ghosts to get closer to him, maybe then he would understand how much he’s hurting them both.

Notes: Just let met remain you all that English is not my mother language, I’m sorry about the mistakes.

Warnings: Graphic material and spoilers of Akatsuki stuff.

“A Distant Cry”

By Yersi Fanel

(Beta, TenshiXXX)

Chapter 10: Distortion

Neji’s eyes watched as Kisame preformed the jutsu. He watched the man calling the pool of water from nowhere. Neji jumped and stayed still on the water as Kisame was observing the result of is jutsu, trying to find any kind of details to upgrade. He found none. Satisfied with his actions, Kisame snapped his fingers and then the water began to move and rose, then chose Neji as its target. The younger shinobi jumped and ran to dodge the water; his eyes opened with the power of the byakugan as he took a kunai from his pouch and started to cut the attacking water while moving to dodge.

Kisame had not moved an inch. His arms were folded against his chest as he watched Neji dodge his attacking water. He looked over his shoulder to find Itachi observing near him as well. The Uchiha stepped on the water and walked beside Kisame.

“Don’t go easy on him” he said. Kisame smirked. His hands moved into a fast series of seals and then the water went even wilder. The powerful streams trapped Neji and crushed him against the surface of the pool to, a moment later, pull him under.

Neji gasped in pain but regretted doing so as the little air he had left escaped from his lungs. The water encircled him as a whirlpool while Neji’s attempts to get free were proving useless. He moved his hand and preformed some hand seals. The water around him was collected between his hands forming a water sphere. He located Kisame’s chakra above him and threw it before swimming towards the surface of the water.

When he stood on the water once again, he found that Kisame was holding the water sphere casually. The older man threw it at Neji. The boy dodged his own attack with visible surprise, and Kisame was laughing at him again.

It had been near six months since he arrived to the organization. He had been trained not only by Itachi but Kisame and even other of the Akatsuki members as well, much to his surprise and in some cases, discomfort.

He had asked Itachi why he had to be trained by the other Akatsuki Members, and as an answer he got on of Itachi’s cold glares and then was left alone in the room.

That was the last time he asked the reason behind the orders.

Normally, he was train by Itachi who, being his usual self, drained the boy until he passed out either from exhaustion or injury. This had been the routine until the third month, when Kisame started to train him too and then the other Akatsuki members would teach him at least one jutsu. He could see that most of them were not amused that they had to deal with him and some of them expressed their distress very clear.

When he was assigned to train under Hidan’s instructions, he was unconscious for two days and unable to move for another two. The religion fanatic man had showed him a jutsu, yes, but after that he practiced his own link ritual using Neji as his doll.

Hidan was inside his ritual seal, making sure his technique worked at perfection. He could link himself with his opponent with this, by consuming some blood of his opponent and then, standing in the circle using his grim riper transformation, he linked himself with Neji. Every injury he received would be the same for Neji and vise versa.

But Hidan didn’t mind the pain; on the contrary, he looked like if he was enjoying it. He stabbed himself several times, injuring Neji as result. The Hyuuga refused to scream, and that was why Hidan kept his little game, until the boy finally screamed.

He stopped when Deidara kicked him out of the ritual seal. Neji felt onto the floor, watching as Deidara was having a discussion whit Hidan. He couldn’t hear the words they were saying. When Hidan left the room, Deidara was still screaming at him but he was ignored by the other shinobi. After a moment the blonde had walked over to Neji and kneeled beside him, muttering something about Neji needing more resistance. The brunette lost conscious short after that.

Once he recovered from his injures, Itachi resumed his training with him until he got a mission, and now Deidara was the one training the boy. Neji wondered more than once why the other Akatsuki members did not leaved him alone, yet he was unsure whether or not he should ask. The last time he had asked an “improper” question, Itachi had been almost mad at him and showed his anger during their training sessions.

He disliked it when Itachi was mad at him,as it was normally very unpleasant.

Deidara, having an obsession with bombs, taught Neji about explosives. The Hyuuga found Deidara’s birds interesting, and Deidara seemed to like that. The blonde shinobi even gave him a set of the kamikaze birds for Neji to use. The Hyuuga learned how to infuse the immobile bird figure with his own chakra to awake them and summon them to battle.

The blonde Akatsuki shinobi also show him some Earth Typu Jutsus. The Rock nin genius showed the former Konoha nin why he was so famous, and why the great Tower of the Earth country’s Capital now was just a pile of dirt.

Deidara was strict too, but at least he did not take out his frustration on the former Konoha nin, which was a good, since the blonde’s explosives were highly dangerous.

Sasori was other story; he was plain strange. The missing-nin known as Sasori of the red sand was a genius puppeteer in his own right. After one training season, Neji was told to be present at the moment Sasori was making a living puppet and helping him. He did as he was ordered and the impression of the moment was burned into his mind.

That day he walked back to the room Itachi and he shared, with blood in his face and hands. The blood was not his own, but of the victim now puppet property of Sasori.

Itachi made no comments about it.

Training with Zetsu was exhausting as well. The tracking shinobi showed very well why he was in charge of mission reports. Every member of the Akatsuki normally had to report to him if not to the Leader, as in some specific cases. When the Grass Shinobi couldn’t attend the training seasons, Tobi would spar with Neji instead, so there was not a minute of his preparation wasted.

At present time, the boy watched the exit of the training area and blinked slowly. He couldn’t say when has been the last time he went outside the hideout; he looked at he dark corridor that lead to the exit the hideout almost dizzily.

Mentally singing, the boy walked to his mentor. Itachi nodded to acknowledge him and both took their way to Itachi’s chamber. Touching the rock walls wit his fingertips, Neji walked behind Itachi. He lifted his head to see the Uchiha’s back moving is his steady pace, Neji narrowed his eyes.

‘What is going on, Itachi-san?’ the boy closed his eyes ‘Whatever it is, I don’t know if I’m ready…’

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He was hurting.

Every second he remembered his face, it hurt. Every single second his eyes close and his angel's bright silver-white eyes showed in his mind it was as if he was stabbing himself. The image of his older bother taking him away make it worse. The memories of when he hurt him make all of it almost impossible to stand.

‘My fault’

Sasuke traced the mirror with his fingertips, not particularly looking at it. He punched the glass and stared at his now bleeding and with apathy. The mirror shards were all over the drawer and floor.

‘But I won’t leave it that way’

For the past few months, the Uchiha had been training under Orochimaru’s instructions, forcing himself to reach power fast, reaching his limits, to overcome them and reach beyond.

‘Wait for me, Neji. I’ll reach you soon; I’ll arrive and defeat Itachi and them we are going to talk…’

From the door frame, the snake Sannin watched very seriously how his pupil destroyed the mirror in front of him and now was playing with the crystal shards. In a couple of minutes he would stop the young shinobi and take him to Kabuto to heal his injuries, but for now he was there, just watching.

Orochimaru folded his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes as Sasuke let himself fall on his knees to the floor. He took a shard of the broken mirror and ran his finger over it, tracing the edge, making a cut and letting the blood ran.

“What is making you enter in such a stupid mood, Sasuke-kun?” questioned Orochimaru as he walked to the boy and made him stand up to take him to Kabuto.

Sasuke ignored him. He just let himself been dragged along the corridors into Kabuto’s laboratory. There, he sat on a chair and Kabuto looked at him. The medic-nin singed and went over him to treat his minor injuries.

“He’s still with him” he whispered. Orochimaru heard him even then “Walking in hell” Kabuto could hear Sasuke’s soft demented laugh “Walking in hell, walking in hell, waiting while walking in hell”

The Sannin had an idea of what Sasuke was talking about, yet he wasn’t quiet sure. He decided to do something about it. After all, Orochimaru hated to ignore the important facts and details of every single piece of his side of the game.

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Hanabi ran to the Hyuuga estates after her classes at the Academy. Today she had an extra class and therefore wasn't coming to see her sister train. She had been watching Hinata and her team train after school for a month now. The Hyuuga heiress’ improvement had been very clear and notable not only for her Sensei, Kurenai, but her father and the rest of the Hyuuga Clan.

Hiashi had been training both of his daughters more often; Hinata now was practicing her Hakkeshou Kaiten with her team to make it better and also some other new techniques. Hanabi enjoyed training and spending more time with Hinata. She had some friends at the Academy and spent time with them too, but lately she had wanted to be with her sister more often.

Every once in a while, Hanabi and her friends would come to see Team 8 train and pick some advice to their own. At the Hyuuga estates, Hinata normally trained with her father and then went to rest and work in her garden. On those occasions, Hanabi would help her. Her big sister had not talked about the incidents of the Sasuke retrieval in a long time but talked about Neji with her during those times, while no other Hyuuga was listening.

Today was once of those days. After getting changed into more comfortable clothes, Hanabi went to the kitchen and took a plate a maid had made for her and Hinata. Smiling at the sight of dangos and tea, thanked the maid to later run to Hinata’s garden.

When the little girl arrived to the garden she found Hinata there, kneeling in front of a set of flowers. The heiress was wearing a set of khaki pants, a white shirt, a brown apron and garden gloves. Hinata was working in a section of her garden that Hanabi knew very well. She walked to her sister and placed the tray next to her.

“Hello, Hanabi-chan”

“Hi Neesan…” she whispered with a tiny smile. Hinata took her cup of tea and drank while Hanabi took another set of gloves that belong to herself and started to dig next to the flowers Hinata was working.

The young girl saw the flowers her sister was treasuring so much, all of them were beautiful, but lately she was been working specially had in the Larkspurs. For some reason, those flowers were having trouble to grow.

Hanabi touched the still weak Blue Larkspur plant and sighed. ‘Neji’s Birth Month Flower...’ she thought. Hinata planted the birth month flowers of the people dear to her in her garden and now more than ever she has been taking care of the Larkspurs, since the flower was showing sing of sickness. The plant could reach the two meters tall if it was properly care. A sign of sickness in the plant was dangerous. Hanabi hoped that the flower didn’t die and wanted to see it grow and become strong. Her sister’s hard work deserve it.

Hinata took her garden tools and continue to work with the other flowers while Hanabi helped her. The little girl saw Hinata walking to the Calendulas patch and couldn’t help but giggle. They were orange Calendulas and it was Naruto’s birth month flower. The shrub was strong and very pretty. Hanabi returned her eyes to the Larkspurs and pouted.

‘Neji-niisan, you better come back and help whit this flowers too!’

The wind flew from nowhere and some petals flew away, going to an unknown place far away from Hinata’s garden. Hanabi saw this with plain confused eyes, wondering if she could keep her hopes up just like her sister, who silently prayed for her cousin’s safety every single day.

Hanabi resumed her work in the garden. The wind keep taking fallen petals from the garden and the birds weren’t singing that day.

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He slowly moved his hands and across the soft skin of his angel’s abdomen and chest. He smiled for him and Sasuke felt happy about it.

He bent over him and kissed his delicate lips, feeling his warm breath. Taking the angel into his embrace, Sasuke closed his eyes and hid his face in the crook of the angel’s neck, playing wit the long silky locks of hair with one hand.

The touches he was giving the beautiful boy beneath him soft and delicate, causing little moans of pleasure to escape from his throat. Sasuke’s finger played near the boy’s crotch, teasing him.

Delicate finger took his hand away from were he was teasing and guide it to the boy’s chest. Sasuke closed his eyes and rested his head in that chest, just listening to the soft breathing and heart beat.

His lover kissed him on the forehead; Sasuke opened his eyes and saw that he was not smiling anymore. If fact, he was almost to the point of crying.

“I’m still here, no matter what, Sasuke...” he closed his eyes and a single tear fell. Before Sasuke could ask what was wrong with him he disappeared into the darkness.

“Neji…” whispered Sasuke, while the wind took his words to the never-ending darkness.

Sasuke opened his eyes. The same dream had been hunting him since some nights ago. The Uchiha sat up and blinked slowly. It was passing midnight, and there was no sound at all in Orochimaru’s hideout.

He looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Neji’s hitai-ate, folded and resting on the desk since the day he arrived wit it hanging from his neck and placed it there. It was his constant reminder of why he had come to Orochimaru, why he had to get stronger.

Every night he wondered how was Neji. The same questions hit him all the time. Where was he? Was he safe? What was Itachi doing with him? Why did Itachi take him in the first place?

He did not have the answers to any of those questions, so he tried to not think of them anymore. He blindly hoped that Neji was safe and, if he could, then he would be able to believe that the rest was fine, because no matter what he would find Neji.

Wit this affirmation once again burned into him mind, Sasuke let the sleep take over, this time in a dreamless state.

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The Leader of Akatsuki was a mystery to Neji. When Itachi told him that he was going to be under Sir Leader’s guidance, he stayed silent for the rest of the day and Itachi did not ask for any words at any moment.

The next day Itachi took Neji to Sir Leader and both mentor and pupil followed the man to his chambers. In there, the Leader told Neji about the Bijuus, the legendary tailed beasts and the Jinchuurikis, humans that within them was a sealed tailed beast.

Then was when Neji realized that Naruto is a Jinchuuriki.

“Pay attention of what I am about to say to you, boy” the Leader’s voice was calm. Neji looked directly at him. The table the boy was sitting on held more than sixteen different scrolls and books. Sir Leader took one of the scrolls that had not been open and unsealed it “I’m going to tell you why Itachi brought you here, why I was agree in release you from you family’s curse seal and what you are going to do from now on…”

The scroll was open and the crimson symbols written al over it were more ancient that Neji could tell. Sir Leader smirked when silver-white eyes read the paper.

“From now on I’m going to make sure you mastered this technique, boy…not only to solve your dept towards my organization but because you are now part of it as well. You, Neji, are going to be The Link”

Neji’s eyes moved from the scroll to Itachi’s eyes. The Uchiha’s piercing black orbs were on him all the time. Neji asked a silent question to him and Itachi’s eyes answered him by closing. The Hyuuga then understood that this was the price Itachi had negotiated with the Leader in order to take his cursed seal, and it was not in his hands anymore.

When Neji was still a kid and Itachi took him in soul and body, he made the promise of coming back to destroy the bars of his cage, and he fulfilled his promise. When Neji looked into Itachi’s eyes once again, he found the mangenkyo sharingan in them.

The word of red, black and grey shades was surrounding him, the scenery was the training area were Itachi and Neji met.

“I don’t have an option, do I?” he asked to his mentor. Itachi walked to him and embraced him.

“If you don’t follow this path, you will die Neji; you will die by my hands. Because that was the deal I made for you” Silver-white eyes looked into sharingan and then he understood.

His discovery almost made him faint. It was so strange, almost bizarre. He kept his voice and thoughts to himself. He would think about his recent discovery later.

“I said I’ll fallow you, and I will”

Neji’s mind returned to the present. He was absent just for a mere second, thanks to Itachi’s technique. He folded his hand on his lap and closed his eyes.

“I’ll do what you say, Leader-sama”

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Sometimes Orochimaru wondered why he hadn’t talked to Itachi more often when he was in the Akatsuki. That way maybe he could at least have an idea of why the older Uchiha did what he did, or at least tried to.

When their minions told him that less than two days before Sasuke’s arrival to the Sound, Itachi had attacked the boy and took with him a member of the Hyuuga clan, Orochimaru was not sure why that could effect Sasuke. After all, said member of the Hyuuga clan was not even in his generation of genin much less on his team.

Kabuto collected more information and found the name of the Hyuuga in question. When Neji went with Itachi, it looked like, by his own free will. He left his hitai-ate behind, swearing that he was turned his back at his home village for whatever Itachi told him.

Orochimaru realized that said garment was in his hideout right now. To be more specific, on Sasuke’s desk in the boy’s room.

After getting a little more information, the snake Sannin came to a conclusion and it was almost easy to figure it out. He was a genius after all. Orochimaru chuckled. It was obvious that, whoever Hyuuga Neji was, he happened to be Sasuke's object of affection.

Te sannin almost laughed out loud. Itachi had taken another important thing from Sasuke and left the boy so venerable that, right away he came, taking Orochimaru's offer of power.

Orochimaru wondered how Neji was and why both Uchihas had set their eyes on him. He decided that he needed to see for himself to get the answer. He would do it when he see the more convenient moment to do it. For now he was going to use the simple fact of Itachi having Neji to encourage Sasuke into getting stronger.

He needs his future vessel in top form after all.

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Neji lay on the bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. But the truth was that he was not looking at anything. He could hear the sound of Itachi’s clothes as they were taken off. He closed his eyes when he felt the Uchiha’s cold hand on his abdomen.

Itachi kissed his forehead, his closed eyes, his lips, his neck… the soft touches were placed all over him as the he took Neji's cloths were taken off him. Itachi moved to whisper in his ear.

“Please me, Neji”

The younger shinobi got up as Itachi sat comfortable on the bed wit his back against the headboard while Neji moved between Itachi’s legs.

As he took the older shinobi into his mouth, his mind was screaming that what he was doing was wrong and yet another voice was telling him to remember the conclusion he had come to about his mentor hours ago.

Itachi played with the dark brown locks of Neji’s hair while the Hyuuga was doing as he was told. Itachi closed his eyes and moaned in pleasure, taking a full hold of Neji’s head and pushing the boy, making him took him completely.

Neji’s shaking knees gave in and he felt onto the mattress as Itachi let go of his head, letting him regain his breath. Strong arms embrace him, moving him forward to finally lay on his back beneath Itachi.

The pale red flush covering his cheeks was something the Uchiha enjoyed to see. He kissed Neji while touching him all over. The Hyuuga moved his hands in a vain attempt to stop Itachi. Itachi was stronger and he took Neji’s wrists, pinning his arms over his head.

Itachi almost laughed at every single time Neji tried to resist. The younger boy knew it was no use and yet remained stubborn. It amused Itachi, who always ended up getting what he wanted.

It was fine that way. No matter what happened, Neji was still beneath him at night and behind him during the day, as he had pictured it since the day he left Konoha. Even if the Hyuuga failed to see that this was what was best for him, Itachi would keep the young man inside the path, with him.

Itachi moved slowly, rubbing his erection against Neji's, making the light red flush of the young shinobi’s cheeks spread across his pale body, increasing the heat between him and Neji’s arousal. Itachi saw the pale orbs closing. He used one hand to keep Neji’s hands out of the way while his other moved to trace the boy’s lips.

The older shinobi let go of Neji but he only moved a little to take a little tube and coat his fingers with its product. Itachi took on of Neji’s legs and hooked it over his shoulder and his hand traced the boy’s entrance.

Neji suppressed a whimper as Itachi’s fingers entered him, stretching passage in almost a delicate touch, but it only lasts for a second. Another finger is pushed inside and all three of them moved in scissor motion.

Itachi bents over him and licks his jawbone and suck on his neck as his fingers left Neji and were replaced with his member. The older shinobi pushed himself into Neji in just one simple motion, then pulled out almost completely, before thrusting in forcefully.

Neji did not notice Itachi move his legs from his shoulder but noticed when he took himself out of him without reaching his peak. Neji opened his eyes and looked at him, blinking in confusion.

“I see you don’t understand Neji…” he whispered. The Hyuuga was about to ask what he meant when Itachi roughly enter him, provoking a scream from him “…It doesn’t matter. You will, some day”

Itachi moved Neji’s legs so they were encircle his waist and moved his arms under the boy to lift him up, taking him into his lap without stopping his thrusts.

Neji unconsciously embraced Itachi for support and hid his face in crook of the man’s neck, thinking of Itachi’s words. It took him just a couple of second to remember.

He did know what he meant.

All of what Itachi had done to him, years ago and at the present time were because he not only wanted Neji to be with him but because he had found love in him.

Everything Itachi did and would do was because his distorted love for Neji.

He had indeed reached the conclusion, but he did not understand, as Itachi had said. It was something difficult to do. It was something almost impossible for him to do. That is, to put his own emotions aside in order was to understand someone else’s better.

He felt like sleeping while awake, as devastating foam covers all he was. All he was and probably all he is going to be.

Neji bit his lip as his climax reached him, and a little while later he felt his insides filled with Itachi’s seed. Both collapsed into the mattress. Itachi moved, laying down on the bed and lifting Neji to place him on his chest.

The younger shinobi rested his head on Itachi’s chest and closed his eyes. Neji tensed his right fist softly and looked at Itachi’s now closed eyes and mentally singed.

‘You are right, I don’t understand’

Neji closed his eyes, thinking of Sasuke. He was here because he did not wanted the other boy to die, to guarantee that Sasuke was going to be safe. He had made the agreement with Itachi years ago and now he had to keep it, or else Sasuke would die.

‘Is this my own distorted love?...’

To be continue…

Hello! I hope you had very good holidays and my best wishes for this New Year.

Anyway. This chapter took my a little longer because I was bumping into a small writers block, you one, one of those when you now exactly how the story will go on after THIS chapter but don’t have enough material for the present… -cough- but it’s done.

Thanks for taking some of your time in reading this story. So, comments and questions, here I am.