The Right Choice

This story is completely finished. I am just going through and doing some final proofreading, but I will attempt uploading at least once daily. There are over ten chapters and the story is a little over 45,000 words.

Sorry for the wait. Yesterday was unexpectedly crazy. We are almost to the end though, just a few more chapters.

Chapter 10

He tried to keep up as best he could, but whatever had a hold of Naruto was pulling him so fast through the woods it was a miracle that he wasn’t hitting everything in his path, but the jutsu pulling him seemed to sense the surroundings. He was getting further and further behind, but he knew it would have to stop soon. Madara had utilized the element of surprise, but it wouldn’t happen again. If Madara gave Naruto enough time to think he’d be in trouble.

The cliffs were coming into view and Sasuke saw Madara standing there in the distance. His hands flew through the signs that seemed to make Naruto slow and then stop, but wasted no time talking when he started the attack. Naruto was off balance and still too much in shock to be prepared for it, but Sasuke would do whatever was necessary to take his Naruto back from Madara.

ooOOoo

Sasuke had to work hard to control his breathing and slow down his body functions while keeping pace. Not only was he injured but he was furious. He had been bait. All this time he’d waited for answers that weren’t ever going to come, and now Naruto was dying in his arms. He’d managed to get Naruto back from Madara but at a price. He’d lost a lot of blood and his right eye was completely gone along with a large portion of his face. His depth perception was thrown off and he was moving with a comatose, very heavy, fully grown Naruto in his arms. He was heading back to Konoha; at least he hoped he was. The Hokage could fix this. He’d make damn sure of it. Naruto wasn’t going to suffer any more because of his mistakes. He’d go back and face whatever was waiting for him if that’s what it took to make sure that Naruto lived. He was the most important person in his life, and the only one that had ever cared enough to fight for him. Even if he died doing it he would succeed in this.

The forest seemed to go on forever. The sun had risen at least twice. He kept moving even though his body was giving out. He would make it. He had too.

Madara had been ruthless in his attack, he’d been ready. The only problem with his plan was that he underestimated how much Sasuke actually cared for Naruto. Once Naruto was free of the ninjutsu he’d had just a moment to prepare himself for the attack. If Sasuke hadn’t distracted Madara he was certain that Naruto would have lost, but that slight moment of distraction let him enter Sage mode just long enough to cage Madara so they could escape. What neither of them had known at the time was that when they turned to leave, the ninjutsu snapped tight again, but this time it didn’t pull, it tore. It ripped the seal that held the Kyuubi inside Naruto.

The scream that he’d made as the seal tore was horrifying but it only got worse. When the Kyuubi broke loose Sasuke realized he’d have to fight his best friend. He couldn’t bring himself to kill Naruto, and had ended up taking several damaging blows. The last hit he took before he contained the Kyuubi with his Sharingan was the one to his face. The eye was completely ripped out, but he’d done it. The Kyuubi was sealed away with his genjutsu until he could get Naruto back. He was sure that someone in the village could repair the seal he just had to get there first.

Sasuke could see the seal with his one eye. It was in shreds, but it was all still there, and part of it was even still in place. It was fixable. Up ahead Sasuke could hear sounds of life. Konoha was so close now. He could make it. Just a little further and he’d break through the trees and there it would be. He heard a sudden sound from his right but it was too late. Being blind on that side had left him at a serious disadvantage. He stopped on the next limb as he felt them surround him. Seven Anbu all wearing masks and poised to strike.

“I’m Uchiha Sasuke. I have Uzumaki Naruto, and he’s in need of the Hokage’s care immediately. Let me pass and I give you my word that I will be no trouble, but I warn you. If you try to take him from me I will make you kill me.”

One of them stepped toward him on a higher branch, and Sasuke pulled Naruto’s dead weight tighter to his body. He would not back down.

“You may pass, but you will allow us to escort you.”

Sasuke knew that voice. It was Yamato, Kakashi’s replacement years ago when he’d met Naruto again. He was reasonable from what Sasuke had seen, and he cared for Naruto so Sasuke would trust this man’s word. He nodded sharply in ascent and then he was moving again. When he entered the village everyone that saw him seemed to stop and stare. He couldn’t tell if it was because of his injuries or if it was because of who he was, and he didn’t really care either way. All he cared about was getting Naruto to the Hokage.

He reached the Hokage tower, and was met at the gate by distraught and frightened Blonde woman. She screamed at him to hand Naruto over, but Sasuke was wary. He knew it was the Hokage, but at that moment giving Naruto up seemed an impossible task.

“Lead me to where you want him, but I’ll not leave him until I know he will be alright.”

She glared at him, but turned and led him to the hospital. As they entered all hell broke loose. She was barking orders at everyone that passed, and suddenly Sakura was there. She screamed Naruto’s name and rushed forward, but when she noticed who was carrying him she stopped and just stared. He must really look bad to get that reaction from her.

They came to a room that smelled of antiseptic and Tsunade bade him lay Naruto down on the table in the center. He did, and was immediately apprehended, by three of the Anbu that had never left his back. “Let him go. He’ll only cause himself more damage by trying to fight you off. Let Sakura treat him. Sakura, take him over there and see about his eye. I will take care of Naruto.”

Sasuke felt the grip on him disappear and he fell instantly to his knees. His job was done. He was then picked up and placed in a chair on the far side of the room. Sakura was gathering supplies from the cabinet when the Hokage started demanding answers. “What happened? He hasn’t got a scratch on him, but he’s in a coma. His chakra is out of control and his temperature is spiking.”

Sasuke was trying to stay conscious enough to answer, but he was drifting. “Sakura give him a stimulant. He can’t pass out before I get what I need.”

Sakura looked ready to argue, but she was looking at Naruto lying on the table, and she relented. Sasuke felt pain in every inch of his body as the stimulant entered his blood, but he was thankful. He could think clearly now. “It was all a trick. Madara used me as bait to lure Naruto away from Konoha. He tried to take him, but I caught up. Naruto was able to imprison him long enough for us to escape, but somehow Madara tore the seal. Naruto turned into Kyuubi instantly and I had to get close to him to contain it. I can only contain the damn thing if I’m conscious though so I need to stay awake until you repair the seal.”

Tsunade went to work then and called for Yamato to come forward. They worked together to repair the seal as best they could, but it wasn’t working. Sakura was cleaning and mending Sasuke’s wounds with chakra, and shoved a blood replenishing pill down his throat before he could protest. She was weeping silently as she worked, but her concentration was unaffected.

“I can’t fix it. Damn it! Sakura what does Sasuke’s chakra look like?”

“It’s depleted seriously, but I can give him a soldier pill if you need me too.”

“Do it. Sasuke, I need you to repair the seal I will tell you how, and then I will open his eyes long enough for you to use your Sharingan. Is one eye going to be enough?”

Sasuke nodded. It would be more than enough, but he was so exhausted he couldn’t see how it could work. When he swallowed the soldier pill though, he understood. He was painfully alive suddenly and he felt like he would jump out of his skin if he wasn’t careful. This was no simple soldier pill it was something much more potent and dangerous. He stepped up cautiously to the side of the table, and Tsunade opened Naruto’s eyes. For a moment he was drowning in blue oceans, and then he was in.

Naruto was behind the gate lying unconscious. Kyuubi was wrapped around him protectively and Sasuke could hear a soft purr rumbling from its chest.

“Why did you stop me from killing Madara, Uchiha Sasuke. I could have destroyed him and all of this would be over. You would still have both your eyes.” Large red eyes lifted to look on Sasuke’s ravaged face. Sasuke was shocked. There was anger and revenge in those eyes. He recognized it because he’d seen it every time he’d looked in the mirror for half his life, but what surprised him was what else he saw. Fear and worry and under that what he thought might be love.

“I was afraid if we stayed that Madara would kill Naruto. I couldn’t let that happen. You were right all those years ago. I would have regretted it if I’d killed him that day.”

“I am always right young one and I understand why. That doesn’t make what you did right. We were ready for him. It makes no difference now. We will kill him next time.”

Sasuke was relieved. Naruto seemed to have won over the affections of the demon inside him. Naruto was such an amazing person. Sasuke only hoped that he’d be able to know him again. For now though he had to finish what he started. “I have to move him. If I don’t then I can’t repair the seal, and he’ll die.”

“I know that young one. I didn’t bring him in here, he came here himself. He is stubborn and not to be deterred even by me. I will move him. Just step back. I will not harm him, he is my kit.”

Sasuke moved away from the bars of the gate, and watched with awe as the fox gently grabbed Naruto up in its mouth and walked him to the gate. He nosed the gate open gently and set Naruto down before moving back into his cage. Sasuke closed the gate and performed the hand signs to repair the seal. It slid back into place just as before without even scoring on the paper to show from the damage it had been through. Sasuke stepped back toward Naruto and went to pick him up when the Kyuubi spoke to him again.

“You can leave him there. He will be fine, I will watch over him. To reward your trust I have a gift for you. Naruto was given a portion of Itachi’s power before he died. It was to be used in aid of retrieving you. I will use it now. Go in peace Uchiha Sasuke, and tell my kit that he has no need to worry about me escaping. I will stay with him until my time is done.”

Sasuke nodded and closed his eyes. He returned to the hospital room, and opened them again to look on a very shocked Hokage. “Your eye. It just healed. I’ve never seen anything like it. No one has ever grown an eye back that they have lost before.”

Sasuke reached up to touch the right side of his face. He was healed. He silently thanked the kyuubi and his brother for this gift. It had been worth it to loose the eye in order to bring Naruto back, but he was grateful to have it back. He couldn’t imagine how difficult it would have been to live without it.

“Kyuubi told me it was a gift for giving him my trust.” Sasuke said as he backed away from the table. He was completely healed now, and ready to face his punishment. “Naruto will be fine. Kyuubi said that he would need rest. He called Naruto his kit.” Everyone in the room just looked at him like he was crazy, but they didn’t argue. The Hokage reached down and brushed the hair out of Naruto’s eyes and kissed his cheek. It seemed to Sasuke that no one was immune to Naruto’s specific brand of magic.

“You will not be punished Sasuke. You will be questioned, you will be watched, and you will be confined to the walls of Konoha indefinitely, but if you are here to stay and are willing to prove your devotion, then you are welcome to stay. Naruto has made sure that your home is waiting intact for your return. You may stay with him until he wakes if you would like. I know he will need the reassurance that you are here when he wakes.”

Sasuke nodded. He would stay forever if Naruto wished it. They moved Naruto to a regular room and Sakura and Tsunade took turns tucking him into bed. Sasuke lay down in the other bed and fell asleep to the soothing sound of Naruto breathing.


Shino was furious with Naruto. He’d gone after Sasuke without trusting him enough to tell him first. Shino’s mission was a fail. He’d gotten his letter at the same time his father had gotten his, but it hadn’t mattered. He was restrained before Shibi even opened the envelope. His father had taken him to his room and called for several family members to assist in confining him. He’d been under guard day and night for five days. His father had read both letters to him. He explained how Naruto had promised to return to Shino if Shibi kept his secret and made sure Shino didn’t follow when he left.

The letter to Shino had made him cry. Naruto made promises on paper that he’d been unable to make with words. Shino had longed to hear these things spoken aloud, but for now this would have to be enough. He was angry, but as long as Naruto kept his word he would forgive him.

Shino hadn’t slept hardly at all waiting for news. When it came it was exactly as he’d expected. Naruto was in the hospital, but to Shino’s great relief there was no permanent damage and he would fully recover. Shibi had freed him then, and they went together to the hospital to see for themselves that Naruto was recovering.

The door to his room was open and there were Anbu guards posted outside and inside. He found out why when he stepped through the door. There on the first bed was Sasuke Uchiha. Shino’s hands tightened into fists at his side, but he took a deep breath and walked past him. Naruto cared for him so Shino wouldn’t interfere. He moved quietly to the far side of the room where Naruto lay. The only sound was of his breathing. Sakura was sitting in a chair beside him holding his hand. She looked up with surprise, but didn’t say anything. Shibi asked questions about his condition, but Shino didn’t hear any of it all he could see was Naruto. It was as if the world had stopped turning. He was perfect laying there under white sheets. There weren’t even any bandages. Shino looked over him for only a moment more before he made his way to the window and leapt through it. He didn’t make it far before he turned around.

He sat on the ledge under the window of Naruto’s room all day. Naruto woke up in the late afternoon, and with that the deluge of visitors started. There were so many Shino had lost count. He could hear them talking, and the sound of Naruto’s voice left him breathless. He’d asked Sakura when the sun started to set if Shino had come by. She’d told him that he had, and that he hadn’t said anything, just looked and then left through the window. Naruto sounded disappointed, but it could have been Shino’s imagination. Sasuke had spoken several times and each word out of his mouth made Shino want to rip his throat out. Naruto had risked everything for the ungrateful bastard and he sat there acting like it was nothing more than he deserved. There had been laughter, but mostly there had been quiet discussions and tension. Sakura left when visiting hours were over, but Sasuke stayed. There were guards on the door, and he was sure that they knew he was there at the window but he didn’t care. He wouldn’t leave unless they asked him too, and then he’d just find another way to be close to Naruto.

The sun had set hours ago, and the city was growing quiet as everyone retired for the night. Both Naruto and Sasuke were sleeping now from the even sound of their breathing, and the Anbu had all stepped out into the hall to guard from the outside. Shino didn’t even flinch when Yamato leapt down from the roof and sat beside him. “He’s asked about you all day. I know you heard him. Why didn’t you ever come back in?”

Shino sighed and let his head fall back against the wall just under Naruto’s window. “He had so many visitors today. I just figured all that’s happened between us was a mistake, and he’d be better off if I just stopped hanging around all the time.”

Yamato sat quietly for a moment. Shino was so young and inexperienced and with that came insecurity. Naruto was obviously smitten with him from the look on his face every time he asked about him, but Shino was too afraid of rejection to actually see the situation for what it is. “He missed you today. His eyes would light up every time the door opened only to dim when it wasn’t you to come in. Tsunade was quite upset with him when he greeted her with a pout of disappointment instead of his usual cheerful smile. I need to guard the window tonight, but I won’t say anything if you decided to go in and see him. These last couple of months are the first I’ve seen him be truly happy. He’s always been cocky and determined, and obnoxious at the best of times, but never truly happy. I was assigned to watch him just like you were, and I regret letting him slip by me like he did, but I don’t think he meant to be disrespectful. He’s just a little one track minded most of the time, and he didn’t think about us. I’m not upset with him, and I don’t think you should be either. He’s getting enough of that from the Hokage. I think you should go in there and show him how much you missed him. Tell him how much it hurt you when he left you behind. Make him understand what he means to you. If you don’t then you might find him snatched up by someone else. Sasuke has his sights set on him and so does Sakura. They shot jealous looks at each other all day. Just go. I promise you won’t regret it.”

Shino put his hand on Yamato’s shoulder. He didn’t know this man very well, but they’d worked together and he cared for Naruto, and that was enough for Shino to know he could trust him. He was also grateful for the insight. He’d felt so many of the emotions coming from Naruto’s room today, but they were all jumbled and confusing. So many people loved Naruto that he’d let himself get distracted. It had been hard for him to feel the torment of his own insecurity and he hadn’t been thinking straight, but now he was clear and ready to deal with it. “Thank you, Yamato Sama.”

Before Yamato could get out a ‘your welcome’ Shino hopped silently into the room, and stepped up to the bed. Naruto looked like an angel curled up in the moonlight, hair like a golden halo against the white pillow. Shino wanted to hold him, and he was feeling bold all the sudden so he decided he’d do what he’d been dreaming of doing for weeks. He took off his coats and laid them across the chair as quietly as he could then he slid off his sandals and his pants leaving him in a t-shirt and shorts, the same as Naruto. He lifted the blanket and gently slid into the narrow bed next to Naruto. He froze as Naruto instantly pulled him close and wrapped himself around Shino laying his head on Shino’s chest. “Shino…” He whispered in a sleepy voice and then seemed to drift back to sleep.

Shino felt his whole body come alive as an unknown pleasure coursed through his blood at the sound of his name on those lips. Naruto truly desired him, and he suddenly felt the weight of the deep seated fear of loosing Naruto lifted off his heart. He held Naruto tight against him and felt Naruto’s thigh slip between his. They were a perfect match. They fit together like they were made that way, like they had once been one being and were torn apart at birth. That’s how Shino felt, like Naruto was his other half and he was finally whole again. Naruto started to move a little at a time, and Shino knew he’d wake up soon. When those brilliant blue eyes opened there was so much happiness there that Shino felt guilty for hiding from Naruto and making him wait, but it didn’t matter now. They were together, and Shino wouldn’t make any more mistakes.

“Hey…”

“Hey.” Naruto whispered back. He shifted his weight a bit so that he was leaning up and then he was kissing Shino. It was tentative, just tender touches, but Naruto needed reassurance that Shino was really with him. He pulled Shino as he rolled onto his back and felt the full force of Shino’s weight pressing him down into the bed. Naruto slid his legs out and pulled his knees up a bit, dropping Shino between his legs and pulling them closer still. Shino ducked his head to Naruto’s neck and Naruto felt a heavy breath blow across his skin. He flexed his hips a bit to see if he could get another reaction from Shino and was rewarded with a whispered moan.

Shino’s body tightened above Naruto and he tried not to move, but the position they were in was so innately sexual that it was impossible not to. He felt his body writhe of its own accord in the timeless rhythm of two bodies coming together. He didn’t even notice that they were still dressed or that Naruto was making breathless sounds of his own. All Shino knew in that moment was the motion of their bodies as they moved against one another.

“Naruto…” Shino whispered before he took Naruto’s lips in a searing kiss. They’d waited long enough. He wanted more, but he didn’t have the self control to stop what they were doing to figure out how to get it.

Naruto was panting into his mouth, and it was getting so hot under the blanket that he could feel the sweat pooling at the base of his spine. Strong hands were pulling at his shirt, but he couldn’t bring himself to pull away from Naruto’s lips long enough to get it off. The rhythm was faster now, and there was a very light squeak coming from under the bed each time they rocked against each other. There was friction now too. Shino lifted his weight slightly, giving him leverage to grind his erection against Naruto’s. This time they both moaned, but the sound was mostly captured by the other’s lips.

Shino had hit a steady pace that seemed to be pulling them closer to the edge, and when he thought he might loose his mind if he didn’t come, he felt Naruto jerk beneath him, and all the muscles in both their bodies tightened painfully, but they didn’t feel it. All they felt was the unbelievable pleasure of coming together. They panted into each other’s mouths as they drifted back to reality. Naruto smiled at Shino and he smiled shyly back. They shifted to one side still holding on to one another and lay face to face in exhausted elation.

“I missed you.” Naruto said, and Shino was overwhelmed at the sincerity he heard in the other’s voice.

“I missed you too. I was so angry with you. You could have told me. I would have been angry, but we could have worked it out. I could have come with you.”

Naruto shook his head as best he could as they lay there, and smiled a self deprecating smile. “He never would have listened to me if I hadn’t come alone. It’s been so hard all these years without him. I just needed him home. I’m sorry.”

Jealousy pierced through Shino’s heart for an instant like a knife, but he wouldn’t let it ruin the moment. “I forgive you. I will always forgive you just as long as you always come back to me. I could never stay mad at you.” Shino ran his fingers through fine golden hair and leaned in for an affectionate kiss. They lingered there, kissing for a while, and when they broke apart Naruto pulled them closer again and laid his head back down on Shino’s shoulder.

“Stay with me tonight.” Naruto whispered as he settled more solidly against Shino’s chest.

“Okay. But I need to clean up before we go to sleep.”

Naruto laughed. “I do too.”

They quietly slipped out of bed to the bathroom where they cleaned themselves up properly and then settled in for the night. They were so wrapped up in each other that they never once noticing the pair of fierce red eyes watching their every move.


If I have time I'll update again tonight, but I've been a bit busy (summer semester started Monday). I will definitely be able to finish the story out by the end of this weekend though.

Thanks for the reviews. I just can't say enough how amazing it is to know someone likes my story.


All the information for this fiction was either taken from actual episodes, manga, or one of several Naruto information sites. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments on any of the info I use, I'm trying to stay in line with the actual story as I can. Thanks.