For the Love of His Son

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bummer.
Summary: Lord Sasuke Uchiha believes that he has lost something precious to him and struggles to convince himself everyday that it didn’t exist. What will he do when a blond haired peasant arrives at his doorstep claiming he has something the Uchiha “misplaced.” (SasuNaru)


Author’s Note: Today’s author’s note will include me conducting some business. Boring, I know, but needed none the less.
First off, I am proud to say I am now the proud caretaker of a 50 ft dragon named “Fang” who has been lent to me by the marvelously talented ‘trulywicked’. His job is to protect me from pitchfork wielding pyromaniacs… He’s doing a good job. Sometimes I think he’s staring at me… not unlike a Trojan horse waiting to attack, but I’m trying to let that go. Plus he looks darling in the booties I knitted him.
Secondly, to my faithful reviewer ‘digiditz’. I have had a request to take your idea to create a short comic of Sasuke’s inner three year old and make it a reality. Although, chibi Sasuke is my idea (well, except for that he is Sasuke who I certainly DO NOT OWN. No one sue… please) the idea to create a comic was yours and I wanted to clear it by you. And because I have no way to contact you… one lacking of aff, I am forced to do it in a more village ‘herald’ manner. So “Hear Ye, Hear Ye… please respond!” ;)
And finally, another spectacularly talented author, who has also become a friend, phantomsnow, has threatened to stop writing any of her wonderful stories if I kill Sasuke and Naruto’s baby. I tried to explain that blackmail is, in fact, illegal in most states but, sadly, that didn’t seem to deter her… again, I repeat… I DO NOT negotiate with terrorists! P.S. You know I love you, Pinky.
Thank you for your time, I now return you the previous scheduled program… um… story.

For the Love of His Son
Chapter 13


There was a terrible pull and then it felt like a vacuum. Like everything was being sucked into his middle and then disappearing. It wasn’t painful, but the empty feeling was agonizing beyond description to Naruto’s heart, to his very soul. Naruto fell to his knees, breathing rapidly, while tears streamed down his face.


“No, no, no…” He whimpered, wrapping his arms around his middle and rocking back and forth. He had naively hoped for just one more time. Why couldn’t he have pulled off something ‘impossible’ just one more time!


“Kit!” Kyuubi screamed, but Naruto immediately pushed him into the back of his mind. There would be no comfort. He would not feel ‘better’ until these two men were burning in hell and Sasuke held him while he fell apart.


“My, Itachi… what did you do? I am fairly certain that I asked him to arrive here untouched.”


“Hn.” Itachi shrugged before he kicked the huddled body, looking up at Orochimaru, “I haven’t done anything. He has always been weak.”


Naruto coughed, coming up onto his hands and knees. The kick meant nothing, but the ache in his heart… god, it was like nothing he had ever felt before and with it came an anger that made Naruto’s fingers dig into the stone floor, leaving blood soaked indentations.


Orochimaru approached the blond boy, circling him as he took in his returned ‘toy’ shaking, as he cowered on the floor. “Naruto, you must know that I am not happy with your actions and there will be punish…”


He stopped in shock at the dark chuckle Naruto gave. The boy stood slowly, dry chuckles never easing. Looking closer, Orochimaru saw that the shaking he had taken for fear and pain was actually laughter.


“Are you laughing at me, monster!” Orochimaru slapped Naruto across the face, and except for his head snapping to the side, the boy didn’t even falter.


“Is that all? Really? I’d say you hit like a girl, but then I’ve personally been hit by the Fifth Hokage and I won’t disrespect her that way.” Naruto shrugged, wiping blood from his mouth.


Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Tsunade. Again he approached the boy, picking him up and throwing him across the room.


Naruto landed and heard the sickening crack of one of his ribs. Again, he pushed himself up and turned to the two men watching his every more as though he were a wild animal. Naruto smirked. They were right about that. He started to chuckle.


Orochimaru was on him with a movement too fast for Naruto to see. One pale hand wrenched the blond boy’s arm behind his back painfully, while the other yanked his head up by his chin from behind, “What do you find so humorous?” He hissed, anger all but choking the air.


“It’s just that…” Naruto wheezed out through the pain, “I know that this won’t… end well for you… and I am so looking forward to it.”


Orochimaru growled and wrenched the arm he held up so hard and fast that Naruto felt his shoulder pop and he laughed as the blackness overtook him.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Sasuke knew the moment that Naruto reached the hunting lodge because he could hear Ryuu screaming in his head. He wondered if the baby had woken up or if he was just crying in his sleep, too exhausted to wake up.


He and his knights had been riding full speed for three hours and Sasuke knew they still had over an hour to go. When he and Itachi had been younger his father would to take the family on extended hunting trips away from the castle. The lodge they stayed in was an hour away from Orochimaru’s current hideout. Sasuke remembered that Itachi used to take him to the ‘hunted’ lodge and find sinister ways to frighten his younger brother until Sasuke was huddled in the corner of the main hall, begging Itachi to save him, all the while knowing the boy was his tormentor.


Sasuke’s fists tightened on his reins. After today Itachi would never torment another soul on this earth. Sasuke would see to that. The anger he felt toward his brother threatened to consume him. The man had taken everything from him, his family, his dreams, his very childhood. He had almost made Sasuke lose this son and now he had taken Naruto. The last was unforgivable. The punishment would be death.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Ryuu continued to cry. Sasuke wasn’t sure how much more he could take. He was nervous enough, worried enough, tired enough without the baby’s constant reminder that Naruto was scared, hurt and in pain. Sasuke knew he had to do something. There had to be a way to turn this connection, or whatever it was they shared, off.


Closing his eyes, Sasuke was surprised when a memory of Naruto sitting on their bed, baby Ryuu held gently in his lap as he leaned up against Sasuke’s chest, flashed through his mind. Naruto was asking him about the Sharingan, but Sasuke couldn’t make out any of the words. Then the dobe looked right out him, brilliant smile on his face and suddenly sound accompanied the memory, “At least that’s what I do. If I can think it, then I try it. You’d be amazed at what can happen.”


‘Okay, dobe,’ the young lord thought, ‘Let’s do it your way.’


Slowing his horse so that Kakashi took the lead, Sasuke shut his eyes and concentrated on the connection Ryuu shared with him. He imagined seeing Ryuu’s cries entering his head and then ‘jumped’ on the connection, following it back.


‘Ryuu, stop crying. I know you’re scared. I know Mama is scared too. I’m going to make it better, but I need you to stop crying.’


The crying continued and Sasuke sighed, ‘Please, chibi’ Sasuke heard the cry die down and with one last pitiful whimper, the crying ceased altogether. ‘I’m so proud of you, Ryuu. I promise, we will be home soon.’


Sasuke opened his eyes. It worked. It really worked. Somehow, Ryuu was able to communicate with his parents and now Sasuke knew it could work both ways.


Sasuke looked up into the clear, blue sky, ‘Dobe, it worked. I’m not amazed that it happened though, but I will always be amazed by you.’


Shaking his head, Sasuke rode forward again and pushed all the knights even faster.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“… hands down the stupidest piece of human I have ever had the misfortune to meet…”


Naruto moaned. Okay, that hurt. He slowly blinked open his eyes to find himself sitting next to Kyuubi’s cage.


“… don’t have to tell you shit. Do you hear me? I ought to just let you do your own thing and then fucking laugh in your face when you realize…”


Naruto realized he must have passed out from the pain. Stupid bastards. They didn’t know what real pain was… but they would. Naruto pushed himself up until his back rested against the bars and his head was securely held in his hands.


“… you could have ruined everything… ignore me when I’m talking to you!… so damn lucky…”


Finally, having had enough of the demon’s rant about god knows what, Naruto stood up. Blinking back the stars, Naruto held on to the bars to keep himself standing.


“Will you please shut the fuck up?” Naruto sighed.


And then, before Naruto could blink, something unprecedented happened. Kyuubi reached a huge red claw through the bars, wrapping it harshly around the blond haired boy and pinning him painfully against the cage, his feet hovering three feet from the ground.


“Do I have your attention now, human?” Naruto shivered at Kyuubi’s sneer. He had never, NEVER felt afraid of the fox before… but now, Naruto’s face drained of all blood and he nodded silently.


“Shut your goddamn eyes and tell me what you feel.” Kyuubi demanded.


“O-okay… where? Outside?”


“No, you little idiot! Tell me what you feel inside this worthless piece of flesh you call a body.”


Naruto nodded, but he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to feel ‘nothing’. He wouldn’t feel his chakra, he wouldn’t feel Kyuubi’s chakra and he wouldn’t feel the feather soft touch of his son’s chakra, a delicate blend of his and Sasuke’s essences’.


Taking a breath, he steeled himself for the inevitable and focused inside himself. Immediately his eyes snapped open.


“I feel Sasuke! I don’t understand. Is he here?” Naruto closed his eyes, basking in the feeling for having Sasuke so near.


“You are such a dumbass… No, he isn’t here.”


“Listen, you furry ass! I’m having a really bad day. A really, really bad day. Stop playing games and tell me what the hell…” He stopped as Kyuubi squeezed him tighter against the bars.


“Kit,” Kyuubi growled, “I am going to forgive you your attitude because I know that you aren’t thinking clearly, but when this is over, you are going to be begging me for forgiveness.”


Again Naruto nodded. At this point, he was held so tight against the bars that all he could do was nod.


“You wanted the impossible and as always you got what you asked for.”


Naruto’s eyes widen, “What?” He whispered, “What did you say?”


“When you walked into the hall the seal tried to steal away your chakra. Your son held on to it as long as he could and just when he was going to give up, Sasuke’s chakra cocooned your chakra and the baby. The cocoon is impregnable… nothing can get in and nothing can get out.”


Naruto just stared, trying to understand what the fox was saying. “I felt it… I felt the chakra disappearing. I felt the emptiness. Even now, I don’t feel the baby at all, just Sasuke.”


Kyuubi gently released his kit and caught the boy with one of his tails when his legs failed to hold him up. Gently he sat the boy on the floor and wrapped his tails around him.


“As with so many things that deal with you, I don’t know,” Kyuubi growled, “…everything.”


Naruto nodded. “What you’re saying though, is that the baby… our baby… is alive? Is that what you’re s-saying?” Naruto choked, pulling soft fur around himself.


“Yes, Naruto, your baby is still alive. He isn’t dead, kit. He isn’t dead.”


“Oh my god… not dead.” Naruto’s hand came to rest above his stomach, finally a trembling hand lay against it. “He’s still alive.” A sob escaped his throat. His baby, his beautiful son that looked just like Sasuke, was inside him and alive. He had no idea what he had done to deserve such a gift. “How did this…? What do you think happened, Kyuubi?”


“Well, I think, as a last ditch effort, the baby pushed forth the piece of Sasuke’s chakra that he held. Uchiha’s are not weak.” Kyuubi smirked, “You’re children are going to defy every known expectation. You bred well, kit.”


“Ah… thank you…” Naruto said, “Can we please not call it breeding?” Naruto’s blushed, hand still lying warmly against his unborn child.


“I think Uchiha’s chakra recognized the threat to his child and mate and took measures to protect the both of you. The chakra wrapped around the ‘womb’ your chakra formed and is stopping the seal from taking any of it.”


Naruto smiled. Sasuke had done the ‘impossible’ and didn’t even know it. The blond boy leaned his head back, closing his eyes and just as sleep took him, he whispered lovingly, “Sasuke…”


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“Akamaru says there are twenty knights scattered throughout the forest waiting to ambush us.” Kiba snorted, “Morons.”


“Don’t get cocky, boy.” Jiraiya growled.


Sasuke and his knights had stopped about two miles from the lodge. Kakashi’s scouting dogs had given them the radius and Akamaru had pinpointed the number of knights they could expect. The young lord and many of his trusted friends stood in a circle discussing strategies to get Naruto back.


“Sasuke,” Shikamaru said, “Most of the knights should provide cover and distraction so that a few of us can get in and rescue the troublesome one. A group of ten should be enough. According to what Naruto said, Itachi and Orochimaru came with twenty knights. Since all of them are out here that leaves just the two of them inside.”


“Of course, they are two extremely powerful knights. One is even a Sannin.” Jiraiya pointed out.


“Yes, I took that into account, but I think we all agree that leaving Naruto with them any longer than absolutely necessary would be… very troublesome.” Shikamaru looked directly into Sasuke’s eyes. “Waiting to neutralize the outside guard, so we could all go in together, would give them enough time to ‘finish’ anything they may have started.”


Sasuke put his hands in his pockets. He couldn’t help thinking that maybe they had already ‘finished’. Would there be anything left for him to find? He almost wished Ryuu were still crying, letting him know that Naruto was hurting, but at least alive.


“Okay, you all are with me. I’ll send the rest of the knights in first and while they are distracting these idiots, we will break into the lodge.”


It was simple and perhaps crude, but Sasuke didn’t care about finesse… he wanted his dobe back.


“Let’s go.”


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Orochimaru walked into the dark room that served as Naruto’s prison with a sinister grace all his own. He saw Naruto lying curled up on the stone floor, back pressed against the wall. There was something different about the boy. He didn’t cower anymore. He wasn’t afraid. He behaved as if he had nothing to lose. This situation was unacceptable and unbelievably… enticing. He smirked, chuckling evilly. The boy would have to be ‘broken’ again. Orochimaru felt excitement build in his stomach at the mere notion of the ‘fun’ he had ahead of him. Orochimaru watched as a gentle smile appeared on the sleeping boys face. His chuckle turned to that of delight. He couldn’t wait for the boy to wake up.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


The clang of swords and yells of men could be heard throughout the forest. Sasuke and his group had left their horses behind to weave through the battle and trees to reach the lodge. It was in worse repair than Sasuke remembered. Window shutters hung by single hinges and the west portion of the building had completely caved in. It fit the likes of Itachi and Orochimaru, but his dobe did not belong in this hellhole. When the day was over, he would burn it to the ground.


Sasuke reached the main doors and turned to his knights. As he made eye contact with each one he received a nod. They were ready. Sasuke nodded in return and pushed open the doors. The air was dank and Sasuke could just make out the ‘creatures’ running from the light their entrance made.


“Shino would have loved this.” Kiba whispered.


The main hall was dark, not a single candle was lit and the windows were shrouded with thick, moth eaten fabric. Splotches of light fell haphazardly around the room, giving the area a menacing aura.


“Be careful.” Sasuke whispered.


“Oh, now… it’s far too late for that, little brother.”


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Naruto felt himself being yanked off the floor. He blinked his eyes open. Four snake-bastards swirled in front of him. He immediately shut his eyes to block out the horror.


“Wake up, Naruto, my sweet. Your husband,” The word was spit out, “And his band of merry men are here, I’m afraid.” Orochimaru hissed against his ear.


Naruto jerked his head back, eyes snapping open. Sasuke was here! Thank god. He just had to make it a little longer… just a little longer.


“I had many, many plans for us once we got back to my castle. It seems that you need new lessons in how you are to behave, little monster. Your time with the littlest Uchiha has corrupted you. Unfortunately, that won’t happen now. Our time in running short.”


“Then leave. Leave now before he finds you, you snake bastard!” Naruto spat. His vision had stopped spinning and he was glad to see his arm at least had mended during his rest away from Orochimaru. ‘Thank you, Kyuubi.’


“Now, you see, that is exactly the behavior I’m speaking of.” Orochimaru sighed before violently grabbing Naruto’s hair and yanking him out of the room. “Because of our truncated timetable, your lesson will just have to be condensed in time and increased in intensity. What was it you say to me before? Oh yes… I am so looking forward to it.”


Naruto was thrown harshly into a new room. Struggling to his feet he saw a raging fire in the fireplace, a moldy mattress with frame and a single chair in the room. Upon closer inspection, Naruto noticed the leather straps attached to the bed and several metal pokers tucked securely into red hot, burning coals. His eyes widen.


“Ah, I see you don’t even need an ‘overview’ of our lesson.”


Naruto made a dash toward the door only to have the side of his face meet Orochimaru’s fist. The force knocked him to his back and made his head spin. Before he could gather his bearings, he was picked up and thrown ruthlessly onto the bed. He struggled with everything he had, but Orochimaru had all his chakra and Naruto had none. Soon he was tightly strapped to bed.


“Please, don’t do this. Just go.” Naruto said, knowing even as he spoke it was futile. He shuddered at the sound of the chair scraping across the floor and sparks flared in the fire.


“And so begins Lesson One. You will address me as Lord Orochimaru.” The snake bastard smiled and brought the first poker down on Naruto’s chest.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Sasuke stared into the dark corner, his Sharingan blazing. He saw Itachi sitting at the head of the broken table at the far end of the room.


“Hello, brother.” He said, stepping forward. Without turning around, Sasuke issued orders to his knights, “Go. Find Naruto. I’ll take care of this.”


“Boss…” Kiba began.


“Just go.” Sasuke’s tone was final.


The remaining knights backed out of the room and Sasuke drew his sword.


“Put that away, you’ll only hurt yourself.” Itachi said in monotone, body not even appearing to tense as Sasuke stalked slowly across the room.


“Stand up, you fucking bastard. I intend to present Naruto with your head and I hate to keep him waiting.” Sasuke growled, annoyed as he always was at Itachi’s ‘indifference’.


“Ah, yes, your little husband. He is beautiful, isn’t he?” Itachi casually stood, shrugging off his black cloak. He walked regally down the two steps to the main floor, sword gently hitting his thigh, but not yet unsheathed.


“Don’t talk about him!” Sasuke spat out. “You have no right. You are a disgusting asshole and deserve to be put down like the animal you are.”


“Oh, but Sasuke… I do have a right. You didn’t even know he existed while I was shoving my cock down his throat. You were busy crying over our dead parents while I violated him in everyway possible. You were weak, as always, while I made him scream until his throat bled.”


“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Sasuke seethed. His hand tightened so hard on his sword he could feel his nails cutting into his palm.


“When you took him, did you think about me holding him down, forcing myself into him... Clearing the way as it were? Was he still loose? Do tell, little brother.” Itachi finally pulled his sword, but his stance was relaxed, bored even.


Sasuke however, was breathing harshly, red, that had nothing to do with the Sharingan, swirling through his vision. The anger was all consuming and Sasuke wanted to rip the man apart with his bare hands.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


And from the fire of his anger, Sasuke’s inner three year old was reborn from the ashes. He stood up slowly, but gone where his black tresses, replaced by longer pale purple, his hands uncurled to reveal sharp claws and the smile on his angular, ashen face showed piercing fangs. The most startling new feature were the two grotesque wings that burst from his shoulder blades.


He stretched and snapped at the air. He roared his anger and gnashed his teeth. He could smell Itachi and longed to feel the man’s life bleed onto his hands as he ripped him to shreds. He yelled at Sasuke. He demanded retribution and if Sasuke was too weak to provide it, then he would take care of the fucking problem himself.


Sasuke stared across at Itachi. He was talking, but Sasuke couldn’t make out the words. Time seemed to be slowing down while his inner three year old campaigned for the right to annihilate his brother. Sasuke could feel the power the inner chibi wielded. Yes, he could be invincible. Ferociousness radiated from the small monster, filling Sasuke’s body with strength, power and a bloodlust like he had never known…


Suddenly Sasuke smelled something he could only describe as the first gentle breeze of spring. Inner Sasuke froze. He looked up. His yellow chibi eyes widen when a small blond haired chibi walked toward him, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his orange shirt. The boy looked up and ocean blue met menacing yellow causing chibi Sasuke to roar in… anger? Frustration? Overwhelming sadness?… Sasuke would never know.


The blond boy didn’t flinch, just kept walking toward the small monster.


“Shhh… it’s okay.” The boy whispered, his voice ringing like a silver bell on a snowy night. “Don’t do this. He wants this. He wants you to lose control. You’ll make a mistake in your anger. He’ll kill you,” The blond reached the monster and gently cupped his cheek, love shining in his crystal blue eyes, “And then… I would die without you.”


Sasuke watched in awe as the monster fell to his knees in front of the chibi blond, wrapping his arms around the lithe waist and pressing his face into the boy’s abdomen. The blond carded delicate tan fingers through purple hair as it slowly shortened and turned back to its original midnight hue. Claws receded and wings disappeared.


The monster, turned chibi, sank sluggishly to the floor, the blond following, easing him down tenderly. Sasuke couldn’t believe his eyes as the powerful ‘monster’ nestled into the blond chibi’s chest like a child would to his mother’s bosom.


Suddenly, the blond chibi looked directly at Sasuke, blues eyes bleeding red, “Time for you to go now. You are a goddamn Uchiha. Act like it! I’m waiting.”


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


The pain was excruciating. Naruto had been screaming for so long and so hard that he didn’t even hear himself anymore. Was he even making a sound? How long had be been here? Two minutes? Two Hours? Two Days? Where was Sasuke and oh, god, please, little one… hold on.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Itachi had stopped talking when he realized Sasuke was no longer listening. It was unlike Sasuke to lose focus like this.


Suddenly, Sasuke’s body totally relaxed and he looked up at his brother. Itachi couldn’t stop the chill that ran down his spine. Sasuke’s eyes were back to black and if possible, were more intimidating than when they had been spinning red with his Sharingan. His face was emotionless, he stood tall and regal, shoulders squared, glaring at his adversary. A perfect specimen of the Uchiha legacy.


“Actually, brother, you never entered my mind. My dobe can be quite… diverting when he sets his mind to it.” Sasuke started walking slowly toward the older man, “But,” Sasuke’s face twisted into an evil smirk, “I’m sure you thought of me every moment you were with that pink haired bitch.”


Itachi’s body immediately tensed.


“Brother, what was it like fucking her knowing that I had taken her first and that it was my child that made her stomach swell? Please, brother, do tell.”


Itachi growled and charged forward. Sasuke raised his sword swiftly, meeting his brother’s attack, the metallic cling of their swords echoed through the hall. Sasuke shoved back and began to mirror his brother as they circled one another.


“Sensitive, are we?” Sasuke jumped nimbly to the side as Itachi’s sword, crackling with chakra, stabbed forward. Using Itachi’s own momentum against him, Sasuke pulled him forward and them shoved him from behind. Itachi stumbled forward, spinning on his heel to face Sasuke as he slid against the table.


Sasuke stepped forward, bringing his sword down harshly against Itachi’s upturned block. Itachi rolled away backward over the table, coming gracefully to his feet on the other side. Sasuke’s raised a dark eyebrow. Itachi shrugged.


Sasuke’s jumped onto the table, not pausing as he flew across it to attack his brother. Itachi turned to the side, planting his shoulder into Sasuke’s stomach as he blocked the attack and threw Sasuke over his shoulder.


Sasuke landed hard on his side, sword skidding across the crumbling stone floor. He was on his feet in a second, dodging Itachi’s strike, inwardly wincing at the harsh sound of metal against stone as he retrieved his sword.


Turning, he ran once more toward his brother. He ran sword raised, but just as he reached the long haired man, he pulled his sword down, slashing at the exposed thigh.


Itachi fell to one knee, but before Sasuke could take advantage of the situation, Itachi threw a dagger, forcing Sasuke to duck and roll away from his injured brother.


They both stood up, once again circling each other, waiting for the other to make a move or mistake so they could strike.


Sasuke nearly tripped when Ryuu started screaming in his head. His heart skipped… Naruto… oh god. Something had changed…. Sasuke knew the boy wouldn’t ‘interrupt’ otherwise. He needed to end this.


He ran forward, ducking Itachi’s thrust and grinned when he felt his sword connect with soft flesh. Itachi grunted, but before he could move, Sasuke was behind him.


“You are right. I will never have the screams you are so proud of, brother, but I will have his sweet moans and his lust filled whispers.” Itachi’s breath hitched and he looked down to see the tip of Sasuke’s sword sticking out of his chest, drops of blood dripping onto the floor. “And when he screams, you son of a bitch,” Itachi felt the cold touch of steel against his pale neck, “He’ll be screaming my name!”


And then Sasuke dragged the dagger across the bastard’s neck.


The young lord yanked his sword from his brother and walked swiftly out of the room before the corpse had even hit the floor.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Kakashi had suggested they separate into groups of two to find Naruto. The lodge wasn’t huge, but it wasn’t small by any means.


Kiba had been paired with Jiraiya and they took the second floor east wing. Akamaru had his nose to the ground taking in every scent. Kiba followed closely behind. If something happened to Naruto… Kiba couldn’t stop the growl that escaped his mouth.


Jiraiya was nervous. So many things would change today. Lives hung in the balance… Naruto’s, Orochimaru’s, Itachi’s… all of them. With a simple flip of a coin, either Orochimaru would walk away victorious or they would. Jiraiya wasn’t one to feel insecure about anything, but it was Orochimaru. Their history was long and painful, making the feelings deep and hard to set aside when they would meet. Shaking his head, he stopped when he saw the Dog Boy freeze.


“Do you smell that?” Kiba asked, not turning around, “It smells like something is burn…”


“What?” The white haired man asked, confusion evident on his face.


“Oh fuck… we need to hurry!” Kiba didn’t even attempt to keep his voice down and bounded down the hallway like all the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Kakashi and Shikamaru had just turned the corner from their search area when they saw Kiba running down the hallway, Jiraiya right behind him. Immediately they broke into a run as well.


Akamaru stopped outside a closed door. When the four knights caught up, they listened for sounds inside the room. There was a dark chuckle, followed by a shuffle and the sounds of firewood snapping as it burned. Another shuffle and then a blood curdling scream.


“That’s enough for me!” Kiba yelled and burst through the door.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Orochimaru leaned over to touch the newly heated poker to Naruto’s chest. Just as it was about to make contact, Orochimaru screamed. Looking down, a large white dog was attached to his wrist, making the poker drop to the floor with a metallic clang.


Kiba, Kakashi, Shikamaru and Jiraiya forced their way into the room. Orochimaru’s eyes widened and he yanked his hand back from the dog, at the same time delivering a kick to its over sized head.


Kiba yelled, running at the man, sword drawn. Orochimaru held out his hand and Kiba found himself flying backward through the air and connecting painfully with the door frame.


During Kiba’s attack, Kakashi had summoned his dogs and they launched themselves at the black haired man while his attention was turned to Kiba. Shikamaru stepped forward and caught the bastard in his shadow possession.


Feeling his movements inhibited, Orochimaru’s lips pulled back against his teeth making him look feral in his anger. “Is this all you have?” Orochimaru sneered and began ‘pushing’ against the ‘shadow’.


Shikamaru muttered, “Troublesome. This isn’t going to last… long. Any ideas?”


Jiraiya stepped forward, “A few.” In a blur the white haired hermit moved his hands forming signs. Chakra ropes appeared out of nowhere, wrapping tightly around his former teammate, as Kakashi’s dogs jumped off. The ropes secured Orochimaru from this shoulders down to his knees. Just as the ropes were secured, Shikamaru staggered back, breaking his shadow jutsu. Orochimaru roared, struggling against the ropes which glowed in response and tightened.


Kiba had pulled himself off the floor and walked over to Naruto who still laid tied to the bed. The blond haired boy hadn’t made a single sound since they entered.


‘Let him be okay… let them be okay…’


What Kiba saw made him lunge to the foot of the bed and throw up. Kakashi walked up behind him, face paling at the sight of his lord.


“Kiba… go get Sasuke. I don’t care if you have to take over his fight with Itachi. Get him now.”


Kiba didn’t need to be told twice.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Just as Sasuke exited the main hall, he looked up to see Kiba running at him. His face was pale and his eyes were huge with fear and horror… Sasuke could barely meet them. He felt his stomach drop.


“Sasuke!” Kiba stopped in front of the lord, craning his neck to the side to see Itachi lying dead on the floor behind the young lord. “We found N-Naruto.”


“Kiba.” Sasuke said darkly. It’s not that he was mad, he just knew that something horrible had happened. Did they find him alive? Was his dobe dead? Sasuke swallowed down the emotion. “Kiba,” his voice soften, “Where is Naruto?”


Kiba started like he just realized that he wasn’t still in the room with Naruto. “Fuck, Sasuke, follow me.” Without waiting for an answer Kiba turned around and ran in the direction he had come.


Sasuke didn’t hesitate to follow, matching the brown haired man’s breakneck pace.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Entering the room, Sasuke saw Kakashi and Jiraiya holding a securely bound Orochimaru. Sasuke wondered why the asshole was still alive. He was sure he had made himself clear on that point.


A movement to his right brought Sasuke’s attention to Shikamaru who looked to be untying something from the bed in the corner. Shikamaru shifted and sweaty blond locks could be seen lying on the bed.


Naruto! Sasuke walked swiftly toward the bed. Hearing his lord approach, Shikamaru stepped back, placing a comforting hand on Sasuke’s shoulder as the lord took in the image before him.


Naruto golden hair lay plastered against the side of his face and head with sweat. His face was snow white and his beautiful blue eyes were closed. Rose colored lips were painfully chapped and Sasuke could only just make out the shallow whizzes of air that escaped the slightly parted lips. Sasuke could see dried trails of blood running from the corner of the boy’s mouth, down his chin, only to disappear behind his neck.


Sasuke’s fists clinched and his eyes threatened to close but he forced himself to look lower. What he saw made him fall to his knees next to his husband. The boy’s chest was covered in burns. Red, angry burns crisscrossed the tan flesh. Sasuke could see blisters and oozing wounds. Some of the injuries looked to be burns on top of burns on top of burns.


“No, no, no…” Sasuke muttered, finally closing his eyes against the pain his dobe must be in. His eyes snapped open. Why wasn’t Kyuubi healing him? Why couldn’t he see the red chakra saving his dobe? Orochimaru!


Sasuke turned around, dark aura causing everyone in the room to take a step back. “GET HIM THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!” Sasuke screamed. “Naruto and the demon can’t use their chakra around the bastard!”


“Shit!” Jiraiya mumbled, dragging Orochimaru out of the room with Kakashi’s help. He knew that! He fucking knew that and he just stood there and let that innocent boy suffer. Why didn’t he think of that?


Orochimaru chuckled, “Is something wrong, Jiraiya?”


Jiraiya pulled his fist back and slammed it into the mocking, pale face. The bastard slumped forward, “Enjoy your time alive, you snake. You won’t be leaving here today alive. I promise you that.”


“I understand the need to hit him,” Kakashi drawled, “But now we have to carry his pasty ass.”


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“S’uke…” A pained whimper filled the room.


Sasuke turned around and was caught in deep blue eyes swirling with fever, pain and confusion.


“S’uke… you here?” Naruto moaned, shifting his head to the side. Sasuke could almost feel the words scratching their way painfully out of the wounded throat.


“Shhh… dobe. I’m here. It’s over.” Sasuke lifted a hand to touch his dobe, but didn’t know where to touch him that wouldn’t cause the beautiful boy more pain.


Sasuke saw tears start to slide out of sapphire eyes, as a weak hand reached toward the dark haired lord. “I… need… hold me.” Naruto whimpered.


“Oh shit, Naruto… I don’t want to hurt you. If I touch you, I’ll hurt you. Do you understand?” Sasuke whispered into Naruto’s ear, gently grasping the offered hand.


A sob escaped Naruto’s throat, causing the boy to writher in pain, “… don’t care…S’uke, please!”


Sasuke stood, kneeling one knee on the bed as he gently lifted his precious dobe. Naruto screamed in pain and Sasuke attempted to release him, but Naruto twisted his hands in his husband’s shirt and pressed his face against the strong chest.


Sasuke leaned back against the wall, adjusting Naruto causing several more cries of pain before they were both settled. Sasuke thought his heart would break before it was over.


Naruto panted in his arms, trying to manage the pain. Sasuke sighed with relief when he finally saw the translucent red chakra begin to cover the boy’s body.


Closing his eyes, Sasuke felt like his heart would jump from his throat, “I love you, Naruto. Can you hear me? I love you… I’m so fucking sorry it took me so long to get here. I’m sorry I wasn’t with you so that it never happened in the first place. I love you. I love you so much. I’ll never leave you again. I’m so sorry, dobe.” He leaned his forehead against Naruto’s.


“Hey…” A gentle hand cupped Sasuke’s cheek, “I love you too… is okay… you came.” Midnight eyes met clear blue, “… here now, yeah?”


“Yeah…” Sasuke broke eye contact to see the progress the demon was making. The blisters were no longer oozing and many of the wounds were smoothing over. Sasuke saw that one of Naruto’s tan hands lay gentle against his abdomen. Oh god… the baby. Was it even possible that he had survived?


A pale hand came to hover over Naruto’s tan hand, “Oh god… Naruto?” Sasuke whispered, eyes locked on Naruto’s stomach, not wanting to ask the question he was dying to know the answer to.


Naruto’s hand reached up and grabbed the trembling hand above his, placing it tenderly against their unborn baby. “It’s okay, Sasuke.”


Sasuke snapped his eyes up to meet Naruto’s, “The baby?”


Naruto nodded and smiled the first smile Sasuke had seen from his dobe in two days.


“Dobe…” Sasuke leaned his head against his husband’s.


Kiba and Shikamaru excused themselves from the room. Behind them, Naruto held his husband tenderly while Lord Sasuke Uchiha cried.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


“Teme!”


“Hell no, dobe! You are not walking. Maybe ever again. From now on if you want to go somewhere, I will carry you.” The dark glare showed that the young lord was deadly serious.


Naruto stared at his husband, frustration radiating off him. Suddenly, he giggled and his giggle turned into a full blown laugh, “Really? From now on, I will never be walking again?” He received a darker glare, “It’s all fun and games now, Sasuke, but what about in eight months when I’m out to here?” Naruto stretched his arms in front of him, “What then, bastard?”


Sasuke stared blankly at the young man who had changed his life. In the last two days he never allowed himself to believe he would get to hear his dobe’s musical laughter again, even as he made promises and chased across the forest, he couldn’t. He had needed to prepare himself for the worst. But, now, Naruto sat before him, eyes twinkling with love and laughter. His love was alive. His family intact. They had won. Sasuke’s inner three year old laughed out loud until tears fell from his eyes, happiness threatening to drown him in delight.


Before Naruto knew what had happened he was swept up into Sasuke’s strong arms. “Then, dobe, I shall find a wheelbarrow… reinforced of course, against the added weight, to haul you around in.” Sasuke smirked, nuzzling golden spikes.


“What?! HAUL! You bastard!”


Sasuke strolled from the room and headed down the hall. Kiba and Shikamaru followed, snickering at Naruto’s indignant ranting.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


The knights in the front hall heard Naruto and the rest coming before they saw them. Most of them couldn’t help the smiles that came to their faces. They had succeeded. Naruto was okay. Thank god… no one wanted to think about what Sasuke would have done otherwise.


Entering the hall, Naruto stopped talking, eyes immediately falling on Orochimaru, who was still tied up, held between Kakashi and Jiraiya.


“Put me down.” Naruto whispered, but the command in his voice was clear.


Sasuke hesitantly complied, but held the dobe’s hand tightly in his. They started to walk towards the main doors. Sasuke just wanted to get Naruto outside, away from the snake bastard. Orochimaru wouldn’t be leaving here alive, that went without saying, but Naruto didn’t need to be present for it.


Orochimaru followed their progress across the hall, his sinister yellow eyes all but eating up the blond boy. Damn fox! All that hard work and the boy looked none the worse for the wear. He would need to do something more ‘permanent’ this time. He had felt his ‘captors’ relax slightly at the sound of the little monster’s laughter. Orochimaru quelled a chuckle. Emotion was for the weak, as they were about to find out.


In a move no one expected, Orochimaru jerked his head back, forcefully hitting Jiraiya directly in the face. The white hand man flew backwards, knocking painfully into the stone wall behind him and sliding slowly to the floor.


With Jiraiya indisposed, the chakra ropes loosened and that was all the snake charmer needed.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Kakashi lunged forward, sword drawn, but the ropes had already disappeared. Orochimaru sidestepped the thrust and wrenched Kakashi’s wrist up and around until a ‘snap’ was heard. With his other hand, the black haired man grabbed the sword before it could fall to the floor. He kicked Kakashi hard in the stomach and turned, running toward Naruto.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Kiba had been smiling, walking toward the main doors to open them for his lord and his ‘lady’, when he heard a commotion behind him. Turning he saw Kakashi fall to his knees and Orochimaru ran toward Naruto, sword raised.


‘Oh fuck!’ He started to run, but he knew, even as he forced chakra into his feet, that he would never make it in time.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Shikamaru sent his ‘shadow’ out faster than he ever had in his life. It almost crackled as it flew across the floor. He knew it wouldn’t ‘stop’ Orochimaru permanently, but it would slow him down enough to get Naruto out of harms way.


Inches from the snake lord the shadow came up short, snapping back like a dog at the end of its leash.


‘Troublesome’ didn’t even begin to describe the feeling that clinched in Shikamaru stomach and squeezed his heart.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Sasuke watched as the black haired man ran toward Naruto, face full of bloodlust and insanity, his sword pointed directly at the boy’s heart. He reached for his own sword as his other arm made to push Naruto behind him. His right hand fell on nothing. His sword wasn’t there! In his confusion, Sasuke looked down to his hip.


In the next second, his head snapped up to the sound of flesh being pieced by steel.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


No one dared move or breathe as every eye in the main hall lay riveted on the scene before them. Naruto stood, left hand held up, Orochimaru’s sword running straight through it until Naruto’s fingers curled around the hilt holding it in place. His face remained totally blank as if he didn’t notice the injury. Sasuke’s sword was pushed to the hilt against Orochimaru’s chest, straight through his heart.


Naruto smirked at the snake man’s shocked face and leaned forward.


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX


Naruto watched in horror as Orochimaru knocked Jiraiya out and took Kakashi down before anyone in the hall even knew what happened. The man turned, his yellow eyes meeting Naruto’s. In the reptilian eyes Naruto saw every time that man had hurt him, touched him and made his life a living nightmare.


“Now it’s your turn, kit!” Kyuubi screamed, rattling the bars of his cage.


Naruto nodded, face grim and determined. He twisted toward Sasuke and unsheathed the sword from his husband’s side. He turned to face the man who had stolen thirteen years of his life, determined to do one thing. Kill the bastard.


Naruto stood and waited, body tense, as Orochimaru got closer. Finally, he raised his left hand, catching the sword tip and yanking his hand to the side, away from his body. It hurt, sliding in and coming to a stop at the hilt, but it didn’t stop Naruto from raising his own sword and feeling it sink deeply into living flesh.


In Naruto’s mind it was only him and Orochimaru. The bastard’s face was one of almost comic shock. Orochimaru looked down to see the sword running through his chest. In the next moment, he met cold, steel blue eyes once more.


Naruto smirked at the disbelief that swirled in the yellow, dying eyes. He leaned forward and whispered, “I told you this wouldn’t end well for you.”


Naruto shoved the man away from him and watched, detached, as the man’s body slumped to the floor. It felt like he was submerged in water as he looked up taking in the rest of the hall. Kiba, Shikamaru and Kakashi ran toward him, yelling, but Naruto could make out the words. Were they talking to him? He shook his head and blinked his eyes trying to make sense of the world around him.


Suddenly, warm, strong arms wrapped around him from behind. His mind immerged from the haze.


“Dobe… it’s over now. You did it. I am so proud of you.”


Sasuke… it was Sasuke. Naruto slumped back into his husband’s arms, feeling warmth fill him, surround him, comfort him.


“Teme?” Naruto whispered.


“What, dobe? What can I do?” Sasuke’s hold tighten and Naruto felt his sweet breath against his neck.


“Take me home. Just, please, take me home.” And Naruto let the tranquil darkness brought on by tremendous exhaustion overtake him.