The Demilitarized Zone

Disclaimer: Not mine. Bummer.
Summary: Itachi Uchiha has always had a sadistic streak when it came to his little brother. Now the perfect opportunity has presented itself and he just can’t let it go by. He does love him after all. (SasuNaru)

Author’s Note: No, still no lemon.


The Demilitarized Zone
Chapter 13

Sasuke stepped out of the car as Itachi and Kisame did the same. Two more cars pulled up around them, but Sasuke couldn’t be bothered with that. His eyes remained glued on the gray building as the sun slipped slowly beneath the horizon, taking away its light and its warmth.

Sasuke shivered at the notion… Like Orochimaru had done when he had taken away Naruto.

“Kid, are you listening to me?” Sasuke’s eyes strayed away from the burning orange skyline and looked at the black man, his black eyes impassive and cold.

“What?”

“Fucking Uchiha pricks,” Kisame mumbled before a forced smile split his face, “We need a plan and you need this.”

Sasuke felt the cool metal brush against his palm and he looked down to see a black handgun stark against his pale hand. Long fingers wrapped around the metal that had already begun to warm at his touch. Why would he need…

“It is for your protection, little brother. I can only assume from this afternoon’s little interrogation that you have no intention of staying behind and I have no intention of stopping you.”

Itachi stared at his little brother, catching every nuance of his composure. Something about him was off and Itachi would be lying if he said it didn’t scare him just a little bit. Sasuke had always been the more emotional one. Contrary to belief, Uchihas were very emotional beings. Maintaining such high levels of egotistical possessiveness took emotion… and lots of it. The catch was to make sure that no one else saw it. Although Sasuke had mastered the skill to the ‘untrained’ eye, Itachi had always been able to see the emotions in Sasuke’s eyes. See what the boy was feeling and thinking. It made Sasuke innocent in Itachi’s eyes… different, special. As he got older, Sasuke schooled himself even more until even Itachi was forced to manipulate Sasuke into expressing himself. Since Naruto had entered the equation, Sasuke had allowed that part of himself to be seen… not on purpose and not just by Naruto. Honestly, Itachi was… happy. Love was…

The older man shook his head and refused to think along those lines, not now. Not with Naruto potentially a building away and Sasuke standing in front of him holding a gun like it was something he did everyday with zero fear, remorse or apprehension.

“The police should be here within fifteen minutes and the question that I leave to you, fine,” Kisame rolled his eyes, “gentlemen, is do we wait or go in now?”

Sasuke let his hand fall to his side, “Now. We go now.”

Kisame affected a mock bow, “As you wish,” before turning and consulting the other men who emerged from the extra cars.

Sasuke’s stance was relaxed but inside his heart beat like a bird, the speed and the strength of the thumps nearly bringing him to his knees. The fucking mantra ran continuously in his mind and he clinched his jaw, forcing the emotion away. With a new, cold determination he shoved the gun in the waistband of his pants behind his back and made to step towards Kisame and his men.

Two steps later found his older brother shoving him against the black car, his dark eyes boring into Sasuke’s while the gun dug painfully into his lower back.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Sasuke bit out and winced when Itachi sneered and shoved a little harder.

“Listen carefully, little brother,” Itachi hissed and moved his face until he had Sasuke’s complete attention, “Today has put you into a stressful situation and your Uchiha-ness nearly takes my breath away,” His voice was flat and held nothing of the pride he alluded to in his words, “But, you need to be very careful with how far you push this and what actions you take…”

Sasuke bucked against his brother and growled when Itachi wasn’t moved in the slightest, “Itachi,” he warned. Thunder rolled in the background drowning out the last syllable of the older man’s name.

“Be careful, little brother, that when this is over that you are still a man Naruto can love.”

For a moment, Sasuke tilted his head up and looked at his brother. Lightening crashed across the sky and Itachi’s eyes widened when he saw all the anger, sadness and horror that Sasuke had bottled up behind his emotionless mask. A single tear slid down the pale cheek before Sasuke blinked and his eyes were cold once more.

Sasuke nodded, “Hn. Get off of me.”

Itachi backed up and together the brothers joined the other men and made a rescue plan as the storm closed in and darkness reigned in the sky.

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Naruto no longer noticed the shivers that racked his body. All of his attention had been pulled towards the sound of thunder as it echoed throughout his cell, perhaps his very body. It had rained the entire time he was held prisoner when he was five, the drips in his cell being the only sound that he heard but for the cackles and snide remarks from the men holding him.

So, Naruto knew that with thunder came rain and soon the drips that were driving him to the point of insanity would only increase in intensity once the water from outside began to drain lower, toward his cell. Naruto was certain that he wouldn’t survive. It wasn’t that he was scared of rain or water or the occasionally drip… but this, sitting in the dark while the dripping continued nonstop until his breathing and his very heartbeat were attuned was enough to make Naruto wish for silence… for death…

For Sasuke.

As a five year old, he had no concept of time. His time in the dark hole had felt like an eternity and when he was older and able to understand how short of a time three days was, he had been astounded. This time felt different. He was well aware that he hadn’t been here long. Perhaps a handful of hours at best, but this time two things were different. The first was that he remembered the feeling of being alone in the dark while the wetness soaked into his clothes making his skin clammy and fragile. He was expecting it now, hypersensitive to every moment of darkness, every echo of water and every instant that he was down here dragging into eternity because he knew what to expect.

The second reason was that this time he knew no one was coming. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Surely Kakashi would demand action be taken, but what could he do, stuck in a hospital bed? Would he even be told? Did he even wake up again or had the silver haired man slipped silently back into his everlasting sleep?

This time no one would be receiving a ransom note and although Naruto did not know all the details of how he was located last time, having a note must have helped.

That left Sasuke’s family. Would they look for him? Naruto knew that whether Itachi admitted it or not, Naruto was mildly important to him, but with Sasuke being dead… oh god. Dead. Naruto shook his head, refusing to entertain that thought for long… With Sasuke gone, Itachi would be more concerned about comforting his parents, his children… Naruto smiled remembering their faces. Would Naoki still adore him when he discovered that his Uncle Sasuke was dead because of him?

Naruto pulled his knees closer to his chest. No one was coming and if they were, where would they begin to look? Naruto was aware that it had started raining because the drips came faster and he had to force his breathing to slow down when he realized he was panting to keep his breaths synchronize with the droplets. He had long since stopped trying to block out the sound. It was never ending… why try?

He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, not that it mattered. Pitch black was pitch black, regardless of his eyes being opened or closed. Orochimaru had made it clear what he expected of Naruto and Naruto knew it would be painful, humiliating and drawn out for a very, very long time.

The best thing to do was hope for death… no, that wouldn’t be enough. He was going to need to court death. Make death take him and god willing, deposit him in the open arms of his dark haired teme.

And out of nowhere, Naruto found himself on a rock wall looking up into cold, mocking onyx eyes. The memory pulled him in and he could almost feel his fingers tighten around Sasuke’s ankle as he held him tightly.

“I never guessed that you were a quitter… but then, I always knew you were a loser.”
“I told you not to talk to me, teme!”
“Of course you did, dumbass. How’s that working out for you?”

Naruto chuckled into the darkness. What had he become? Less than five hours in a closet and he was hearing the bastard insult him and contemplating death as the only solution. This just wouldn’t do. He was not a quitter and Sasuke knew it. Had always known it and therefore had no problems pointing out when Naruto was being stupid, dramatic and overly emotional.

“Dobe, I’m not going to discuss my feelings with you when yours are so obviously causing you to make the dumbest fucking decision of your useless life!”

Naruto stood and began walking around the room, two steps, turn, three steps, turn, working the blood through his body, creating warmth that had been sapped away while he sat whimpering on the floor. Naruto growled. He would make it out of here. He would. There was no other choice, no other possibility and no other acceptable outcome. He would make it home to his parents, to his friends and to Sasuke… someday. The bastard wouldn’t want to see Naruto yet. Naruto smirked into the darkness. Chances are the jerk would kick his ass back to earth if he showed up now. No, Naruto would live… knowing that Sasuke was waiting somewhere would be enough.

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Kakashi had moved onto Iruka’s bed after the doctors had come and gone. Iruka silently stared out of the large windows watching the rain trailed sideways across the glass as trees whipped around in the wind while he listened to Kakashi spin his worst nightmares into reality.

“‘Ruka? Are you okay?” Kakashi whispered into his hair while gently wrapping strong arms around his bruised and battered body.

Iruka chuckled darkly and winced when the pain raced across his chest, “Did you hit your head, Hatake?”

Kakashi leaned back, startled at the icy tone. Iruka just looked straight at him, “Of course I’m not fucking okay… are you? Feeling springy, lighthearted and joyous that our son is in the hands of a madman?”

“Umino, you know exactly what I meant!” Kakashi hissed and then sighed, a hand running through silver hair before falling at his side, “It was a stupid question.”

Iruka winced once more, this time having nothing to do with his own pain and instead the pain running across gray eyes. “Hey, I was out of line. The answer is, yes… I am okay. I’m awake and alive and so are you. And no… I am not okay. Naruto is missing, alone and this time I’m having a very difficult time holding onto any kind of hope.”

“I might be able to help with that.”

Kakashi and Iruka turned to see Fugaku walk into the room, the door closing quietly behind him. The tall man walked toward Iruka’s bed with his hands in his pockets and his face drawn. He pulled a chair toward the bed and slouched into the seat in a very un-Uchiha like manner.

“I am so fucking tired,” he growled out and run both his hands over his face. “I know that Minato has nothing to do with this, but damn if I’m not going to kick his ever loving ass the next time I see him.”

Kakashi and Iruka just continued to stare, eyes owlishly wide and hearts practically at a standstill as they waited for Armageddon to descend upon them.

“What?” The dark haired man snapped.

“Is everything okay, s-sir.” Iruka asked and cringed when the black eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Sir?” Fugaku bit out, “What are you... fourteen or forty-four?”

“Fugaku, do you have any information or did you just come here to whine about Minato leaving you a mess, however uncharacteristic and understandable that may be.” Kakashi said with a fake grin.

Fugaku sat up straighter and the men on the hospital bed watched as the Uchiha collected himself once more, Uchiha mask firmly in place. “I received a call from Itachi.”

Kakashi nodded and pulled Iruka into his side, “Apparently, he and Sasuke were able to locate where Naruto is being held. They are on their way and asked that I inform Ibiki of their location.”

Kakashi opened his mouth but Fugaku cut him off, “Before you ask, I have no idea… no, I have a very good idea how they ascertained that information, but it’s better if we all just imagine that it fell into their laps.” Fugaku’s voice was flat, but Iruka and Kakashi knew that he was just as worried for his sons as they were for Naruto.

“They are going to wait for the police, right?” Iruka said concern making his voice hoarse. Kakashi had explained Sasuke’s new place in Naruto’s life and Iruka didn’t want to imagine what would happen if either of them died, leaving the other alone.

Fugaku met Iruka’s brown eyes with black eyes that were weary and obviously mocking, “I wouldn’t and so I doubt that either of my son’s will either. Sasuke can be quite… aggressive… when probably motivated.”

“So, now we wait.” Kakashi said flatly and fisted the sheets beside him.

“And now we wait.” Fugaku agreed darkly. The three of them sat listening to the wind and rain beat against the side of the hospital before Fugaku broke the silence, “They will get him back.”

Iruka turned and looked at the man, no, father beside him, “Of course. They are Uchihas and Naruto is an Uzumaki. They will bicker amongst themselves until Orochimaru can’t stand it anymore and then they will come home to us.”

“Oh the joy.” Kakashi said sarcastically but the truth of the statement remained with all three men as silence fell once more.

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“… four bottles of beer on the wall, four bottles of beer. Take one down, pass it around…”

Kabuto smirked as he neared Naruto’s cell and saw the fuming look upon Jirobo’s face.

“I see you have entertainment.” He said stopping outside of Naruto’s door, leaning against the far wall. He pushed up his glasses and smirked when Naruto hit a particularly high, drawn out note.

“… waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllll…”

“He has been doing this for the last hour. One hour. He didn’t start at one hundred. The little bastard started at one thousand.”

“Well,” Kabuto said chuckling, “It seems as though he is don…”

“… I’m the eighth old man, I’m Henry! Henry the Eight I am, I am… Henry the Eighth I am…”

“Oh dear god…” Jirobo groaned letting his head fall back against the cold, gray cement walls with a muted thud.

“Second verse… same as the first! I’m Henry the Eight, I am…”

Kabuto opened his mouth to tease the large man some more when a dark chuckle echoed down the hallway. Both men turned to see Orochimaru emerge from the shadows.

“I see our little guest has been keeping himself busy. He must be terribly bored. Perhaps I can ‘entertain’ him, no?”

Jirobo nodded numbly and stepped away from the door as Orochimaru arrived and reached a pale hand into his pocket producing the key. The door cracked open and Naruto’s voice became louder and clearer before the door slid shut once again.

“… I got married to the widow next door…”

“Hello, Naruto.” And then there was silence.

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Ibiki pulled into the field adjacent to the warehouse and its parking lot not at all surprised when he saw three black cars already parked and empty when he arrived.

“Fuck,” the scarred man mumbled and the young rookie next to him jumped a little in his seat. Even when his boss mumbled it sounded like yelling to his abused ears.

“Sir?”

“Damn Uchihas… why even call us if they had no intention of waiting.” Ibiki opened his door, getting out before slamming it harshly. Several more undercover cars pulled around him, their occupants getting out and surrounding him for instructions.

“Okay, here’s the situation. Naruto Uzumaki,” Ibiki pulled out a picture and placed it on the hood of a nearby car, the rain drops slowly dotting the smiling executive’s face, “Is currently being held by Orochimaru Sannin,” another picture joined the first.

“Sannin, sir? My father said that…” a dark haired detective interrupted.

“Yes, I am aware of what your father said and he has good reason, however, the bastard is alive and well and in that building. You should also know that we now have reason to believe that this man,” Ibiki produced a picture of a man in his formal blue police officer uniform, his glasses reflecting the flash. He smirked when the men around him gasp, “Kabuto Yakushi, is working with Orochimaru.”

Ibiki looked up to see the drawn faces of the men around him, many of them, including himself, having worked with the detective on occasion. “I am sorry, but it is important that each of you understand that he is partially responsible for the kidnapping for Naruto Uzumaki today, as well as, nineteen years ago. He helped Sannin fake his own death and escape criminal charges. He is the bad guy, gentlemen, and if you cannot handle that, I need to know now.”

Sounds of understanding and solemn nodding met this statement and the detective continued. “As we speak, these men,” Two pictures of men in suits were tossed onto the hood. Both dark haired with pale skin and ridiculously handsome, “Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha, are in the building with several unidentified men.” Ibiki sighed, “As a result, our job just became a hundred times more difficult. Think before you shoot, gentlemen, we have friendlies mixed with the bad guys and no easy way to establish the difference.”

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After leaving the cars, Itachi, Sasuke, Kisame and his merry men worked their way soundlessly to the side of the dark warehouse. The plan was simple.

“Get in. Get the kid. Get the hell out.” Kisame had said and everyone nodded but Sasuke who wondered how Kisame got to be the ‘best’. “Oh, and don’t fucking die.” Sasuke couldn’t help but nod to that little gem of wisdom.

They stood at the dented metal door while one of the extras worked to pick the lock. Not surprisingly, Sasuke was soaked and the rain had yet to let up. He wondered if Naruto could hear it wherever he was and that thought was followed by the hope that a little rain was the only thing that Naruto had to be concerned about. Please, let the dobe be okay. Please… please… please…

“Let’s go, little brother.” Sasuke’s head snapped back to his brother and he realized he had been staring up at the black clouds, lost in thought and now they were all waiting for him to enter the building. He nodded curtly to Itachi’s raised dark eyebrow and pushed into the building, his older brother following close behind.

Standing in the rain hadn’t been pleasant, but the cold, dank air in the wide open warehouse sent a chill straight into Sasuke’s bones and he couldn’t stop the shiver that run down his spine. Kisame lead them toward a stack of wooden crates that they all crouched behind. The sounds of footsteps put them all on alert and Kisame looked around the crate quickly before falling back. He motioned them all closer.

“Two men, both armed, both stupid.” Kisame said calmly and Sasuke absently wondered if his brother’s heart was beating as fast as his own. They should have waited for the police. What the hell were two businessmen and a handful of thugs going to do? Kisame motioned towards two of his men and they disappeared behind the far side of the crates. Seconds, that felt like hours, went by and the sounds of muffled grunts and thuds were heard before the two men reappeared at the black man’s side.

“Done.” One of them reported and Kisame nodded, “Okay, the best we can do is fan out and hope that we stumble across something. According to the schematics of the building, there is a basement… that’s where I would put the little shit…” Sasuke growled, “I mean, the poor, unfortunate little shit, if it were me.” He winked cockily at Sasuke and Sasuke felt Itachi’s hand on his arm reminding him silently of their purpose here and how it had nothing to do with making assholes cry… at least, not this one. Sasuke nodded… yet.

“I’ll take the Brothers Grim and the rest of you pair off. Report if you locate Uzumaki. Oh, and remember, we are being joined by our friends in blue… try not to kill them. Turns out they frown on that.” Six heads nodded and disappeared. Kisame turned to look at the two remaining men, “Shall we?”

“Hn.” Was the only reply and on pain of death Kisame wouldn’t have been able to say which brother it came from as they both turned and melted into the shadows.

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Ibiki and his men decided that since they were the police, they could just use the front door. Surprisingly, the door was unlocked and they all cautiously entered the quiet building. Yellowing lights flickered over head and caused shadows to dance around them, making locating suspicious moment difficult. They softly walked down the main walkway, guns drawn as they made their way between two high rows of miscellaneous machinery, training their sights on anything that moved or didn’t belong.

At the end of the row, Ibiki order the group split into three parties and whispered the need to report if they found anything suspicious and to be careful. Having crossed the wide open expanse of the inner warehouse, the detective found a door that lead to a hallway littered with offices and a door at the far end with a sign proclaiming a stairwell lay beyond. All the offices had large windows that looked out into the hallway. All but two had their blinds open allowing Ibiki to see clearly into the abandoned offices. Walking quietly down the hall, his young partner behind him, Ibiki worked his way towards the staircase.

Stilling, Ibiki heard muffled noises coming from the office closest to the staircase, the closed blinds made looking inside impossible. Voices raised, followed by a dark laugh and the sound anyone who was familiar with guns could tell was a silenced revolver. The window burst, sending glass shards flying as a dead man fell through into the hallway. Ibiki followed the dead man’s descent with his eyes before snapping them back towards the now open office. His young partner gasped as he recognized Kabuto standing in the office, gun held limply at his side.

The gentle whoosh of air drew the attention of Kabuto and the tall, fat man standing by him. The large man pulled his own gun and pointed it at the two officers. Kabuto smiled and followed his lead. Before Ibiki could think, the fat man had pulled the trigger and he felt the burning along his arm and heard the man behind him cry out as he slumped against the wall. Instinct overtook his mind and Ibiki aimed his gun, squeezing off two rounds before he felt another sting, this time through his shoulder and silence overtook the room.

Both Kabuto and his large associate lay on the floor, bullet holes straight through their foreheads. Ibiki felt his stomach turn when he noticed that Kabuto still had the condescending smile on his motionless face. Turning around, Ibiki saw his partner leaning against the wall, his hand against his neck while blood rushed freely through his fingers as though nothing were in its way.

“Oh shit…” Ibiki swore and the younger man gave a feeble smile before his wide eyes shut and his bloody hand fell to the cement floor.

Ibiki removed his radio and opened communications, “Officer down. They know we’re here.”

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“Hello, Naruto.”

Naruto turned the last word dying in his throat. He flinched when light flooded the room and Orochimaru stood outside of the cage. The single light bulb on a string swung innocently back and forth casting shadows on either side of the taller man’s face while he smirked through the bars looking even more sinister… if that were possible.

Naruto walked toward the bars and nodded, “Orochimaru.”

“You seem musical this evening. I’m sad to say that your singing isn’t nearly as amazing as your cello playing.”

Naruto nearly gagged with the knowledge that Orochimaru had that much information about his life… especially something so precious to him. Forcing a smirk worthy of Uchiha proportions onto his face, he shrugged his shoulders, “Sorry to disappoint. My room didn’t leave much for options.”

“My apologies,” Orochimaru said his voice seemingly able to squeeze Naruto’s heart, fear clawing at his mind, his sanity. “But, let it never be said that I was a less than gracious host.” Naruto watched closely while the pale fingers wrapped around the bars, unlocking the door before stepping in. Naruto stepped back into the corner of his room and cursed himself when Orochimaru grinned at the action.

“Are you scared, Naruto?” He hissed softly stepping closer.

Naruto shook his head and then yelled when the snake bastard appeared at his side, hand fisting Naruto’s blonde locks while he dragged him out of the cell and into the slightly larger room. Naruto’s hands ripped at the pale skin and his legs kicked out in an attempt to free himself. Once out of the cell, Orochimaru threw Naruto against the wall, smiling when Naruto’s head hit the wall and the smaller man slid down onto his knees.

“Now, I hate to see you so bored, Naruto,” Orochimaru was at his side, crouching in front of the dazed blonde, once more holding Naruto by his hair. “I am sure I can think of something a little more productive for you to do with that mouth of yours.”

Naruto did gag this time and spit out the sick that raced into his mouth at the notion. “Not in this lifetime, asshole.” He bit out still tasting the bitterness in his mouth as his stomach kept rolling. A tear slid down his face when Orochimaru yanked his hair back.

“Now, that was rude. I will be a good host and in return, you will be a gracious guest.”

Naruto chuckled, “Is it a give and take thing then? Okay, you put your cock in my mouth and I’ll graciously bite it off.”

Naruto couldn’t say he was surprised when the hand released his hair just long enough to backhand him across the face, the back of his head hitting the wall again.

“Ouch…” He whispered, blinking his eyes as white lights flitted around his vision and then pushed himself back up onto his knees, only to see the gun pointed between his eyes.

Maybe courting death wasn’t such a bad idea. He’d rather die than submit to Orochimaru. This little request was only the beginning, it would only get worse. He knocked the gun aside with his hand and lunged toward the door, knowing before he started that it would be useless.

Orochimaru turned and stomped his foot onto the back of Naruto’s knee as he moved passed. Naruto screamed and dropped to the floor, hands coming to his knee and tears to his eyes. “Fuck!” He hissed and Orochimaru chuckled, tapping Naruto on the head with the black weapon, “That wasn’t terribly smart of you, now was it?”

“Fuck you,” Naruto hissed, “Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you.”

“What a marvelous idea.” Orochimaru was on Naruto in a second, shoving Naruto’s flailing arms and legs aside until he was wedged between Naruto’s legs, reveling in the yelps of pain Naruto gave when his injured knee was forced to bend to accommodate him.

“Now, let’s begin, shall we?”

Naruto renewed his struggles, screaming and cursing before Orochimaru gathered his wrists into one hand above his head while the other worked at Naruto’s black slacks.

The pale hands stilled when shots rang through the air. Orochimaru sighed, standing swiftly and yanking Naruto behind him, the blonde struggling to follow when his knee gave out and hit the floor painfully.

“It looks as though playtime is over… for now.” The black haired man bent, picking up the forgotten gun before heading out the door.

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Kisame lead the way while Sasuke followed behind, Itachi taking the rear. Kisame stilled suddenly and Sasuke assumed he must be receiving a report through his ear transmitter.

“Shit!” Kisame whispered and turned toward the brothers, “Two of my men are unaccounted for.”

A gunshot echoed through the building and suddenly there were footsteps and voices coursing throughout the building. “And there goes the element of surprise.” Kisame groaned and started running down the hallway. Sasuke and Itachi ran behind him and then fell backwards when Kisame turned and shoved them to the floor. Bullets hit the far wall above their heads and Sasuke blinked the dust out of his eyes and crawled on his stomach toward the sheltered wall.

“Get out of here!” Kisame hissed, “I’ll hold these guys.”

Itachi nodded and forced Sasuke in front of him. Sasuke ducked and ran across the opening in the hallway while Kisame fired shots to cover him. When it was Itachi’s turn, Kisame swore and leaned against the wall, his arm bleeding from a stray bullet. Itachi sided up to him, ripping off the man’s sleeve and tying it around the wound.

“Go, Sasuke.”

“Brother…”

“GO! Be careful… I’m right behind you.” Itachi growled tightening the strip of fabric while Kisame hissed in pain.

Sasuke met his brother’s eyes and nodded, turning and racing down the hall. Further down he stepped over the pale body of a police officer and one of Kisame’s merry men. Closing his eyes against the sight, Sasuke pushed forward. A door mark ‘stairwell’ began to open and he ducked into an open office, kneeling behind a desk with a clear view of the hallway.

Sasuke’s heart jumped to his throat when he heard the pained voice of his dobe and saw a dark haired man enter the hallway.

“Let me go, asshole.” A whimper followed by a scream made Sasuke stand up and charge into the hallway.

Orochimaru yelled, his gun flying out of his hand as he was tackled to the ground by a black haired blur. Naruto screamed when he was dropped and his knee folded with a sickening thud beneath him. He blinked his eyes, trying to focus on the activity in front of him even as the pain pushed him toward the blissfulness of unconsciousness.

Orochimaru wrestled with another man, grunts and curses filtering into Naruto’s ears but making very little sense to his muddled mind. He pushed himself against the wall and Orochimaru bucked the man off, sending his body flying towards Naruto.

Naruto lowered his eyes and cried out, “Sasuke!” It couldn’t be. It couldn’t be. A shaking tan hand reached out to be gripped by a strong pale one.

“Dobe,” Sasuke coughed, “Oh fuck, dobe.” Blue eyes glistened and Sasuke reached up to catch the tears with his thumb.

The cocking of Orochimaru’s gun caught both of their attentions and Sasuke pushed himself in front of Naruto.

“Isn’t this adorable… the littlest Uchiha back from the dead,” Orochimaru smirked and Sasuke felt for his gun, only to find it missing. A quick scan found the weapon several feet down the hallway and hopelessly out of range.

The long haired man chuckled having followed Sasuke’s line of sight. “So close and yet so far.”

Sasuke felt Naruto’s hands grip his sweater from behind, “Sasuke… oh god… Sasuke. I thought you were dead,” the blonde whispered into his shoulder. “You have to go…” Sasuke stiffened at the words and felt Naruto shift slightly from behind him.

“Let him go, Orochimaru,” Naruto said, “Let him go. You have me.”

“Oh, fuck no.” Sasuke snapped, “Shut the hell up, dumbass. I’m not letting him take you. Over my dead body.”

Orochimaru laughed, “I think Naruto would rather that not happen…”

“He’s not the only one.”

Orochimaru stiffened when he felt the barrel of a gun pushed into his back. Itachi Uchiha smirked behind the older man, “Hello, minions.”

Naruto nodded, his blue eyes wide, “Itachi.”

“Ah… where’s the respect?” Itachi drawled and pushed Orochimaru forward slightly, “Are you okay?”

Sasuke nodded and pulled himself up, reaching out a hand to pull his dobe with him. Without warning, Orochimaru lunged forward and grabbed Sasuke’s hair, pulling the dark haired Uchiha away from Naruto and in front of himself like a shield.

Itachi cursed, “Let him go!” The gun in his hand pointed directly at his little brother.

“Now, now… not so hasty. I believe you have a choice, Uchiha. I’m leaving with Naruto or Sasuke dies. So, who will you save? Your brother or Naruto?”

Itachi looked into Sasuke’s eyes and knew exactly what his brother would choose. His brother’s dark eyes shifted to the blonde beside him before meeting Itachi’s with hard determination.

Itachi then looked at Naruto. Wide blue eyes met and held his own, pain and sadness swirling in the ocean blue pools. The blonde head shook slightly and Itachi knew what Naruto would choose.

“Times up. What will it be?” Itachi clinched his teeth and the gun in his hand shook imperceptibly.

Sasuke yelled out as his head was pulled back and the gun shoved harshly under his throat. “Well, I know who I choose,” Orochimaru hissed and Itachi screamed before a shot rang out.

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Ibiki had searched the basement and came away empty handed. He found a cell, but not Uzumaki. He could hear the footsteps, screams and gunshots ringing above him and worked his way back toward the steps. Moving cautiously up the staircase, he paused at the door listening intently. He heard several voices arguing and cracked the door open slightly to see if he could get a clearer picture.

He saw Orochimaru standing with Sasuke Uchiha against his chest, his gun pressed firmly into the young man’s neck. Naruto Uzumaki sat on the floor his eyes trained on his fiancé, his normally tan face ghostly white. Further down the hall, Itachi Uchiha stood with his gun drawn pointing at his younger brother and Orochimaru.

“Well, I know who I choose,” the snake bastard hissed and he shifted Sasuke down in front of him so that he could position his gun at a better angle to shoot the young man. Itachi screamed and Ibiki took the shot that Orochimaru had opened by moving Sasuke.

Orochimaru yelled and fell to his knees clasping a pale hand over his shoulder. Shrugging off the older man’s hold, Sasuke kicked the fallen gun across the hall before crawling towards Naruto, pulling the blonde into his arms, the dobe’s head tucked securely against his chest.

Itachi stared at the fallen Orochimaru who writhed in pain on the floor, his blood soaking into his white shirt and spreading across his chest. The gun fell limply from his hand as Kisame ran down the hall.

Seeing Ibiki point his gun at him, the black man held up his hands, “Whoa, partner. I’m with the good guys.”

Ibiki lowered the gun slowly walking towards Orochimaru, “Right, Kisame… that will be the day.”

The black man winked cockily, “Good to see you again, too.” He clasped Itachi on the back, “So, this is the little shit, then?”

Itachi nodded, “Yes, meet my musical, troublesome minion and future brother-in-law.”

Neither Sasuke nor Naruto heard a word. Naruto pushed himself into Sasuke’s warm chest and listened to the sound of his heart. “I thought you were dead. I saw you… you were drowning in flames… I saw you.”

“Shh… dobe. I am alright. It wasn’t that bad.” He rocked the blonde boy, nuzzling his golden hair, his eyes closed while he felt his dobe’s breaths against his neck. “I came. I’m sorry it took me so long.”

“I was ready to die because I knew you would be waiting.” Naruto whispered and Sasuke’s eyes snapped open before he pushed the blonde away.

“Excuse me?!” Sasuke growled, “You were ready to die?”

“I didn’t think anyone was coming… he,” Naruto’s eyes shifted behind Sasuke to see paramedics placing the black haired snake on a stretcher, “He was going to do h-horrible things, teme. I couldn’t live like that.”

Sasuke pressed the blonde’s head against his chest once more, shushing him, holding him until Itachi knelt beside them, “We need to go now, boys.”

Sasuke nodded and stood, pulling Naruto up only to nearly drop him when the blonde yelled out, “Fuck! My knee…”

“I’m sorry, dobe.” Sasuke said kissing away the tears that slid down Naruto’s cheeks and held him tightly against his side. Itachi went to the other side and helped support Naruto as they headed toward the warehouse entrance.

Even though the brothers were careful the jarring pain and emotional exhaustion finally overtook his senses and Naruto slid into the darkness of his mind before he reached the ambulance, his blonde head falling against Sasuke’s shoulder.

The paramedics ran to help the dark haired men and after a short argument in which Itachi growled and grown men cowered, Sasuke sat beside his sleeping dobe while the doors of the ambulance closed and the red and white lights glowed in the darkness as the vehicle spirited the two men towards the hospital.

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