Distractions

Title: Distractions
Author: Redwitch05
Rating: NC-17
Genre and Pairing: yaoi, NaruSasuNaru
DISCLAIMER: Even IF I claim them as my own, who will believe me? O.o
Author’s Note: I love you guys. You’re all so supportive.
italicized ~ Emphasizing a word or recalling the past or what they’re thinking.
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ ~ Separates Naruto’s and Sasuke’s POV.
-----------****----------- ~ Scene breaks


SUMMARY: What happens when a quest alters from collecting information on your foes, to stalking your best friend? Falling in love was not part of the mission. NaruSasuNaru

~Recap~
Sunday - Shika made it to Sand and told Kakashi about the news of Sasuke and Naruto. Now he has to repeat and tell everything to the Kazekage, Gaara, one of Naruto’s CLOSE friends. Poor Shika -.-’ But on the bright side, we have Neji and Sakura back in Konoha. YAY =^-^=
Sunday afternoon - Sasuke wakes up in the nude and is introduced to two girls, Saki (a bold young teenager with a dark bandana around her head), and Risa (a shy young girl who wormed herself to the Uchiha’s good side)


Updated: August 28, 2006

DevilLived - I love you ^^ You make me so happy and you’re really quite an inspiration. I constantly come across stories that you’ve left wonderful comments to. It makes me want to attack you with hugs. Itachi’s gang ……..ye~ah, you’ll find out what they’re doing. You might me surprised later on when you find out what’s going on with them. I’m psyched that you like my story so far. I hope I don’t end up disappointing you with this chapter.
Pundit - I appreciate the feedback, but truth be told, I wrote it like that purposely. I wanted Sasuke to sound like he was talking about Naruto to all the sudden talking to him. Trust me, I would not have made such a careless mistake. You say my story looks promising, I hope that it continues to sound that way. ^^
Sadistic kiss - ^.^ *huggles* I thought the it was more than horrible. But now, I’m thinking that THIS chapter is the one that’s horrible. Why do I feel like I just leave ya’ll constantly hanging on a cliffhanger all the time?….jeesh. Emailing you was no problem. I absolutely enjoy receiving feedback. So thank you very much and I hope that you’ll continue to support me =P
Kayo - oh wow, I just feel like hugging everyone today, don’t I? ^^ You’re the only one that asked about that whip in the bathroom and how Naruto and Sasuke were able to escape without being captured. I love that you mentioned it. And I love Saki too =^-^= I was really trying to think of a character that would attract my readers into liking and not loathing them.
Inus_Kagome_Forever - Yes, Sakura does warm up to him later. She’s so awesome. Seriously, if you don’t like Sakura even after reading into the manga as she ages when Sasuke is away with Orochimaru then you might as well not like Tsunade. They’re so alike it’s scary. The cute romantic fluffy stuff won’t exactly happen this early. But don’t worry, I won’t leave you unsatisfied. I appreciate the comment, later Inus_Kagome_Forever (that’s a long name O.o)
Kyuubigirl - Omg Kyuubigirl, I think you’re the only one that’s asked about what Sasuke was giving his consent to. I was beginning to think that I had forgotten to add it. Trust me when I say that it’s not easy at ALL to keep up with the story. There are so many things that rush in my head when I write that I fear that I’d be spoiling something that shouldn’t be revealed till later on in the story. Awww, that is so cute. A story about Naruto and Sasuke’s kids would be so adorable. And hell, I don’t care if it’s considered incest. The adorableness would overpower the sinfulness of it all. Do you have any idea how hard it is to make Sasuke in character and be funny at the same time? It’s not easy sister. Poor Sasuke and his eyesight and wanting to kiss Naruto but being interrupted by a little girl. The whip is something very important to remember. Don’t forget ^^
Ruby Lips - Babe, you deserve a kiss ^-^ You and I are both stressed with our outside lives and yet we’re still hangin’. I wish I had your writing style though. I’m deathly afraid of writing a sex scene, have I told you that? It would be my absolute first. *feels nervous*
Jennifer - no problem =P I hope you had a good vacation ^^ You’re a writer too? I’ve never heard of LPfiction. I’ll have to look it up. Sadly I didn’t proofread this chapter. I’ll probably have some mistakes too. I’m just in a slight hurry because I have to go pay for my classes tomorrow.
RogueFanAM - Arigatou ^=^ You’re the second person I believe that has told me that they like Saki. YAY. I normally despise OC’s as well. That’s why I was working so hard on trying to make her likeable.
Inus_Kagome_Forever - I apologize deeply. I had my story almost done but it was just that I had suddenly decided on adding something more in between to give away some information, hoping that it’d raise more suspicion in my story. I updated twice as fast though when I read your comment and how sad you seemed when I didn’t update. Gomen-nasai.


Chapter Three - The Dawns’ Here

Three figures raced out of Sunagakure, leaving the village behind as they made their way to Konoha.


“He took it more calmly than I thought he would.” mused the silver-haired Shinobi. He smiled under his thin-clothed mask, eyeing the female of the group.


“Just be lucky that he had other things on his mind and that you’re Naruto’s friends.” said the blonde women.


Shikamaru sighed, rubbing his head and gliding from tree to tree. Gaara had insisted that Temari come along with them to their village and report their own news to the Hokage. And he also wanted her assistance in investigating the Forest. He really didn’t have much of a conversation with Gaara. He was never the one to delay important things, but he didn’t want to start out his conversation with the Kage by telling him that one of his best friends were missing. So he decided to gather important reports and information first before gradually bringing up the topic. He truly wanted to leave alive. But the redhead was stubborn and immediately questioned the whereabouts of the loud blond. You’d think that he’d make a guys’ job easy. Honestly, so troublesome.


Though he shouldn’t be, he was still nervous around the teen from the very first time that he’d seen him a few years back at the Chuunin exam. And traveling with the Copy nin and the redheads’ sister was not improving his mood. Kakashi went on and on about Jiraiya’s delay in publishing the next volume for Icha Icha whilst Temari kept waving her fan around, ready to kill the first thing that moved. However, he had to admit that if it wasn’t for them, then it would have proved difficult to convince Gaara to loosen his hold that he had with his sand from around his body. It seemed that the Kage had just received his own depressing news of his own people vanishing from a mission and was not prepared to take in the news that a dear friend was missing as well. Shikamaru was certain that Naruto and the Shukaku container had some sort of friendship agreement about always having each others backs. Both Village and companion-wise.


“I swear, the first thing that you needed to do was worry Gaara. What were you thinking?”


Shikamaru sighed. “What did you expect, Temari. I’m an ANBU squad leader and I came as a reporter. Did you think that I’d come for cookies and tea.” he muttered the last part to his self.


“Yes. Why not?” she asked, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Gaara likes cookies. It would have calmed him a bit before you told him that he has his best friend missing God knows where.”


“Mendokusai yo.”


Kakashi chuckled when the blonde punched the Nara over the head.


“Troublesome women.” he muttered, rubbing his scalp as he avoided another punch.




-----------****-----------




The house was shaking violently and Sasuke didn’t know what was going on. He held Risa to his chest as he maneuvered his way to Naruto. Glass breaking and property clashing into each other sounded from everywhere around him.
“Go hide, Risa.” ordered the Uchiha.


The petite girl shook her head violently, holding a death grip on the raven’s robe.


Sasuke tried to pry the girl off and set her on the floor, but she was just as determined and held on tightly.


“Risa,” he began warningly.


“You don’t get it, do you?” Her voice shuffled as she buried her face in the fabric of the Uchiha’s current attire. “Haven’t you ever watched scary movies? The good guy always dies when they’re trying to hide. I’m not going anywhere.”


Sasuke sighed, holding the girl still and stretching out an arm to get a grip on his blond teammate. The moment skin made skin contact he began shaking the blond.


“Naruto?!”


It’s a futile attempt, he told his self. But it didn’t mean that he couldn’t or shouldn’t try.


“Dobe?!”


There was not even the slightest reaction.


“C’mon, stupid. I think you had enough sleep.”


Still, no response. Not really a surprise.


“Baka, get up.” he pulled on the blonde’s arm, mentally hitting his self for trying to force Naruto awake.


“He’s not going to respond,” said Risa. “He’s not going to respond.”


Sasuke ignored the girl, setting her on the bed and continuing to shake Naruto.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
I need to get him to wake up. I just need to. Why? Because I know that I have to leave, and there’s no way in hell that I’ll be doing that without him. It took a while before my brain registered the words of Stilmayra’s coded message. Dawn. Dawn means Akatsuki. And Akatsuki means that they’re after Naruto. That’s all that came to mind before this house suddenly started shaking violently.


His lack of a response annoys me to no end.


I just want him up. I want to hear his annoying voice and laugh. I want to hear him make some kind of comment about the way I’m pulling on him or talking to him. I want him to punch me or do something, dammit.


I just want him to wake up. If worse comes to worse, then Kyuubi ought to respond.


“Wake up, you damn fox.”
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ


“I think we have to go.” said Risa quietly, making sure to enunciate each word clearly.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
Nooooooo, really? And here I thought that I’d just wait and welcome my enemies by revealing that I have no weapons on me and not enough chakra to even pull off the most basic of attacks.
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ


“Give me a sec, Risa.” he said distractedly, shaking his head while wrapping his arms around the blonde kitsune.


“We have to go,” she said quietly.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
“I know.” I say.


Gods, this girl can be a bit difficult to deal with.


“Why won’t you go find Saki?” I ask. I vaguely wonder if she’s hiding in another part of this house. I really have no idea how to go about this. Protecting Risa and Saki is one thing, but trying to carry an unconscious guy who weighs as much as you is another. And I don’t think my muscles are up for a test run. I chew on my bottom lip as I throw one of Naruto’s immobile arms around my neck. Maybe I can half carry him. I frown unsurely as I try to pull him up.


Nope. I shake my head. There is no way in hell that I’m carrying him. He’s not that heavy, and given under any other circumstances I’d be giving the idiot a piggyback. But not today. My muscles are not up for it.


I lose my balance slightly as something knocks heavily into the back side of the house somewhere.


“Oh shit.” I grab at the sheets on the bed and keep myself steady. The whole damn house is vibrating like a wasps nest. My legs are beginning to shake. I can’t walk like this. I can barely stand as is.


“Risa?” I call out absently. She’s suddenly very quiet. When I receive no response I reach out for her.


“Risa?” I call out again, more quietly.
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ


Said girl had her face turned away from the Uchiha. Her attention was on neither the chaos going on outside nor the talking teen who had a hand around her upper arm.


Sasuke could feel her tense muscles under his calloused palm. He frowned, giving her a shake in case she had fallen into a state of shock.


“Oy, snap out of it.”


“We have to leave,” she said quietly.


“What’s wrong?” he sighed exasperatedly, trying hard not to sound too annoyed with the little kid, but at the same time wishing that she’d disappear. He squeezed at the girls’ arm lightly, cursing whoever Stilmayra was for not having yet come back.


Risa didn’t answer. Her eyes were locked on the tall man standing right behind the curtain. His shadow was overwhelming and he looked enormous in size. The minor quakes allowed her to see parts of him whenever the curtains were moved aside. She saw the stranger move his arm and grab at a gigantic sword from his back. That was when she was brought to the present.


“Shinobi. Outside.” The words came out warningly, her eyes still in a faint trance.


That was all Sasuke needed to hear. He cursed his chakra for not being able to pick up any life around him. It was just what he need. He desperately flooded his body with chakra, concentrating on the person outside.


In a fluid movement the stranger walked passed the threshold, not even bothering to maintain stealth due to the Konoha nins’ condition.


Sasuke readily pounced on the man’s back, wrapping both arms around the strangers’ neck and getting his legs to lock with the others’.


The stranger chuckled, walking without any difficulty.


The laugh sent chills up and down the Uchiha’s spine. He tried tightening his grip, but it only made the man laugh more.


“Who are you?” Despite his current state, his voice came out threatening.


Before he could even prepare his self, Sasuke was thrown to the other side of the room where his side crashed against the hard brick wall. A sickening snap was heard, and the raven teen groaned painfully when he landed on the ground.


The man strolled his way towards the dark teen.


Risa screeched in surprise. She jumped off the bed and hovered over the Uchiha.


“Don’t hurt him.” she pleaded. She looked at the cold eyes of the hideous looking man. The resemblance that best suits him would be a shark. His skin was like a deep grayish blue. She was sure that if she was to touch it then it would feel like rubber. His teeth were something else that caught her attention. They were pointed. He looked hungry, like he was going to eat Raven. She couldn’t let that happen. She briefly wondered if he was the mysterious serial killer that all the villagers have been talking about lately. He sure looked like one.


The man raised his sword and ran it over Sasuke, fully depleting him of the little chakra that he had.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
“Son of a bitch.” I mutter.


Was that even fair? That damn prick. I can’t even open my eyes and he has to take away my chakra. Like I had enough to begin with. I can barely stand. Damn fucker.


“Uchiha….Sasuke.” he muttered.


“What the fuck do you want?” I seethe. Damn idiot is already asking for one helluva’n ass kicking.


I hear him chuckle darkly as he crouches near my curled body. Risa is not even quivering. Her back is to me, and I can feel her hands. One is on my thigh and the other is on my shoulder. Like a bodyguard. She’s trying to shelter me. I can’t tell if she’s in shock or just very brave. But either way it’s not safe.


“Our mission is to dispose of you, Uchiha Sasuke. And to capture the Kyuubi.”


The words make me tense as if I’ve already reached my limits. Dispose of me? That can’t be right.


“Says who?” I still have a goal. The goal to avenge my clan by killing Itachi. The last of my family.


In one swift movement I wrap an arm around Risa and jump over his crouched body. I don’t even get as far as a leap before Kisame grabs me by the ankle and throws me across the room, making me drop Risa.


Do I look like a fucken Frisbee?


My head makes contact with something metallic, making me scream out. If I could open my eyes, then rivers of tears would be pooling away. That hurt like a fuck. It seems forever before I land, and when I do, it’s on Naruto’s bed.


“Get away from him, Sharky.”


Oh God. The last thing that I need right now is a chibi hero.


My hand brushes against Naruto’s forehead as I try to roll myself off the mattress. There’s something wrong. He feels very feverish.


“Kyuubi?” I mutter. That damn fox better be healing him.


“Naruto?” I say, so uncertainly that I’m close to tearing my eyelids open just to see what’s going on.


I don’t have time for my thoughts to wander. I am suddenly grasped by two strong arms and am pulled off the bed.
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ


Risa watched on as the tall man pulled the Uchiha off the bed. She kicked the man in the back of his knee, causing an unexpected yelp to escape from him.


“Don’t ignore me.” she fussed.


Kisame threw the Uchiha over his shoulder before he turned to face the obnoxious little girl.


“I have no interest in someone like you. Eating you, perhaps. But nothing more.”


Risa froze for a moment when it looked as if he was going to strike her with that humongous sword of his. Instead of striking, he directed the blade over her head in the direction of the doorway.


“I have Uchiha. You take the fox.” he ordered.


Risa turned around, staring at the other occupant that was silently watching from the curtained doorway. His face looked as if encompassed with some kind of a Venus Fly trap looking shell. She retreated unexpectedly as he approached with fluid steps, almost as if he was gliding his way towards the blonde still lying in bed. The moment she encouraged her eyes to stare passed the shell enveloping his face she tensed. Surely that was a mask, right? His face….it was unlike any that she had ever seen. She’d probably blame the lightening of the room later. Gulping slowly, she did the one thing that came to mind.


Scream.


“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.” Her voice was high pitched and sharp, causing both men to start.


Kisame squinted his eyes, blocking out the noise by ignoring all sound around him. His partner simply tightened the shell around his body, effectively blocking off the voice of the small girl.


The scream escalated only a pitch higher before Risa began panicking. Something was very wrong. She sounded too soft to her own ears. She wrapped her hands tentatively over her neck. It was as if she had her vocals blocked. She stood still, completely befuddled as she shut her mouth.


Kisame opened his eyes, glaring harshly over the small girl. “Zetsu?”


The shelled man chuckled dryly before he roughly grabbed the blonde off the bed and held him bridal style.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
What the hell was that? Did she think that she could scream their ears off? I sigh. That was pathetic. Don’t get me wrong though. My ears are still ringing and I’m actually glad that she stopped. And although I should be thankful that she didn’t do anything more, I’m very displeased. I can’t move. Not at all. I’m completely immobile and I feel as if every muscle in my body has been torn. They can’t take Naruto. He’s not in any shape to try and fight them. A part of me that’s still logical is saying that the Akatsuki couldn’t really care less of his condition. But I care. And that’s my friend. And I’m NOT going to let them take him away from me. I just can’t. But…I can’t do anything about it now. Everything is feeling too heavy for me to grasp. The air seems thick around my body and it’s suddenly very hard to breathe. The last thing that goes through my mind before I lose consciousness……..wake up, Kyuubi.
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ


Risa clenched her fists. She didn’t know what to do. The men were taking both Raven and Blondie and she didn’t know what to do.


“I don’t know what to do?” She said. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched the men disappear using a hand seal.


“SAAAAAAAAAAKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.” she screeched.


Risa ran out the room, screaming her friends name. The halls were dark, keeping her from seeing anything.


“SAAAAAAAAAAKIIIIII?” She ran down the halls blindly, knocking into several objects before she ran into a person.


“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Take it easy, kido.” came a woman’s voice.


Risa squealed in surprise and tried to shy away from the person holding her. “No, please. I don’t wanna go. Go away”


“Calm down. I’m not here to hurt you.” The woman crouched low and held the small girl. “I’m an ally, okay. My name is Anko. Anko from the Hidden Leaf Village.”


“Konoha.” whispered Risa. “You’re from Leaf.”


Risa clutched the lady’s shirt, panting harshly as she tried to look passed the thick air obscuring her view.


“They got them.” she said. “Both of them.” Risa pulled on the lady’s clothes, desperately trying to get her to listen. “They got them both and they’re going to kill Raven.” She shook frantically, trying to get her words out as fast as humanly possible.


“Calm down.” repeated the brunette women, nodding before guiding the girl to a group of Shinobi behind her. “We’ll get them back.”


“Asuma, take her and get out of here.”


A tall, slightly bulky man, came into view in front of the girl. It was one of his rare times that he did not have a cigar in his mouth. Wrapping the girl in a small blanket, he carried her off and disappeared into the shadows.


“Kurenai, I want you to search the house. Grab any clues before the house goes up in flames.” The red-eyed woman nodded before blending herself with her surroundings by using her Genjutsu.


“Shibi, Shino, you two cover the grounds and block all exits. I’ll go help Jiraiya fight off Orochimaru and Kabuto.”


Shino and his father readily fled with various bugs pouring from their bodies. Three days ago, Shino and his father were just leaving a finished mission in a nearby village, Amegakure (Village hidden in Rain), when swarms of insects came to them, telling them that there had been a violent fight in the Coppice Chi forest. He knew of Sasuke and Naruto’s assignment there, and for his precious bugs to be so loud meant that his comrade’s were in trouble. It had taken a couple of days before his father and he were able to contact some of the other Jounin in the area and go on a search. If it hadn’t been for the fire Jutsu permeating far into the air, then they’d probably not have found the place. Since Kurenai was his sensei, he was well aware that she was in Takigakure (located in the Land of Waterfall) with Asuma. It was very easy to send her a message because his bugs were used to her scent, having constantly been on missions with her when he was younger. Anko had been with his father, doing research on a new plant species that came to them after defeating a missing nin from the Leaf Village. When they arrived here, they were surprised to see the great Sannin, Jiraiya, fighting against Orochimaru. The enormous quakes that they had been feeling during their journey there was from both Sennin’s aggressive battle. Jiraiya’s summoning, Gamabunta-sama, had Manda, the enormous boss basilisk, under his webbed feet, currently in the process of trying to force the snake into his tar pit. They wasted no time when they slid into the house, unnoticed.
He had felt the presence of Shinobi fading from the mansion. It was not a good sign. These men, from Akatsuki, could as fast think of the word death as they can disappear. His thoughts were returned to the present when his dad grabbed his arm.


“Hold still.” ordered Shibi.


Shino raised a curious brow before he too felt it. They were in a small forest right outside the mansion. The house itself was very curious. To be at the edge of the forest and hardly visible to the naked eye, it was no doubt signified that it was a Shinobi home. The younger Aburame could feel the slight tremors of his insects from all around him. It was like feeling the vibration of a very loud stereo pressing hard against one’s body. One of the Akatsuki members, Zetsu, was apparently below them in the ground, moving at an incredible pace. The other, Kisame, was in the trees.


“I’ll take care of the bigger one.” said his father. “According to my ladybugs, they have him surrounded at the far end of the forest, right next to the small stream that leads out of the village.”


Shino gave an understanding nod as his father left . He spread his chakra out, almost as an alarm ready to trigger if any enemy got too close because he was unsure as of now how many enemies were lingering. Using his chakra to communicate with his bugs, he could almost see Zetsu move freely under the ground. His shell was drilling deeper into the soil, moving farther and farther away. Shino calmly ordered his creatures under ground to form a solid proof wall. He wasn’t sure of the shells’ strength that surrounded the Akatsuki member, but the defense would at least provide some time for him to think up of a plan. Before he had time to ponder on any particular route of a thought, a tinylkaysi zoomed by him, flapping her transparent pink wings before landing on his nose. He blinked curiously at the small fly, listening to her muted plan as he kept a cautious ear out for Zetsu.


Zetsu held Naruto securely in his arms. He was trying to go straight to meet up with Kisame, but there was something that was blocking his way. It wasn’t rock however. Rocks are easily pierced through from underground because of his extra space to move his shell and perform the needed seals. No, there was something else. His body jostled as he attempted to push his way through by force.


“Bugs?” he muttered under his breathe. He smirked before opening his Venus fly trap, jawing at the wall with his sharp teeth.


Shino immediately sensed the pain of his friends, angered by how they were being attacked. That was when he saw it. The tinylkaysi had found a small syringe near a garden, but was unable to carry it. The brunette eyed the medical tool quizzically, noting the dark fluid within the body of the instrument.


What’s this for? he thought. Twiddling the syringe curiously with his fingers, he did the first thing that came to mind and stabbed the needle into the hard ground. The dirt immediately darkened and began to bubble. His heavy cloak pulled high at the tail, collar moving to reveal his concentrated face. His dark shades flew off as the floor erupted.


He directed chakra to his feet so that he would not be thrown into the sky.


What powerful chakra, he thought. His beetles formed an armor around his body, hardening their shells with chakra.


Zetsu frowned questioningly when his body began to tighten itself against the sudden heat seeping into the ground. He had made a small opening through the hard shelled beetles and was attempting to going through when the ground got too heated and began to disintegrate the pellicle of his sheathed shell. He sighed, being forced to jet from the ground and protect his self lest he wanted to endure having his flesh burned. The blonde was already hurt, so he couldn’t risk his safety. It wouldn’t do if he delivered him dead.


Upon landing in the air, he spotted the annoyance that had forced his retreat from underground.


The debris scattered roughly around the Aburame as he formed a few seals. The steel-like shield that framed his body released him and formed a hand to grab Zetsu. The Akatsuki member avoided the powerful grasp with ease by summoning a shield from the rocky ground as a defense.


Shino spread his arms out, releasing his invertebrates within his body from either sleeves’ end. Swarms of flies that varied from bees, wasps, hornets to yellow jackets poured from his form and aimed at an opening to attack the missing-nin.


Despite the extra body weight slowing him down, Zetsu had no doubts that this mission would end successfully. He blocked all sides of his body using the leaves off the trees to fling the flies off. He then angled the leaves using his chakra before shooting them at the young Konoha-nin.


Shino was caught by surprise when Zetsu suddenly merged with the trees. He ordered his bees to follow him, not noticing the spiky edged leaves launched his way until they pricked his skin. He started, jumping out of the way and made his way into the Forest.


Don’t let them get away. he told his self. He pounced on a branch, communicating with the infinite insects that were now his colleagues. Coming across a hive of wood beetles, he instructed them to drill through every tree in the area and beyond.


He leapt with great speed for almost two miles before something caught his attention in the wide part of the forest. There was a ninja crouching low over two bodies. Blinking confusedly, he landed with a light thud before the Shinobi, all the while pausing the actions of all his insects.


“Father?” he asked. Shibi Aburame was crouched low over two Shinobi, an unconscious blonde and brunette.


Staring dumbstruck, Shino walked near the bodies, giving his father his most baffled expression possible. “I know you’re good, father, but….” his brows creased unsurely as he surveyed the area around them, searching for the two Akatsuki members. No such luck.


Shibi shook his head, his body crouched low over the two Konoha nin. “I found them like this. I was already at the river waiting for the former mist-nin when my bark eating lilyas told me that the boys were dropped here.”


Shino, who was already kneeling down to carry Sasuke, looked up at his father, mouth parting in surprise.


“Dropped?” he asked. “By whom?”


“Don’t know. Our insects were unable to detect the person. Must’ve been too fast.” replied the elder brunette. The father resumed looking over the unconscious boys, shock clearly evident in his face.


Shino rolled his shoulders a bit as his insects once again returned to his body. Still perplexed as to what may have happened, he slid an arm under the Uchiha’s upper back and lifted half his body up, scanning for injuries. Despite the few tears in the robe that Sasuke was wearing, the kimono looked fresh and new, if not just a little bloody.


“He’s been drained of chakra and rendered unconscious. He has a broken left ankle and a slight concussion. His left arm is strained and I think he has at least one broken rib. Bruises cover a large expanse of his midsection and he has numerous cuts over the top portion of his body.” Shibi named the few other minor injuries that Sasuke harbored before moving on to Naruto.


Shino tied the loose sash around the Uchiha, making sure to cover him fully before carrying him.


“I’m a bit nervous to move Naruto.” admitted the father. Naruto was clad in a pair of loose white sleep pants. The fact that he didn’t wear a shirt made checking his wounds easier. “His injuries are more serious than Sasuke’s.”


“Nothing Tsunade-sama can’t fix,” replied Shino. He waited for his father to lift the blonde before he began to walk his way to the others.


“True.” Giving one last glance over the forest around him, the Aburame followed after his son.


A silent figure watched from afar, masking their body like a shadow. When the leaves brushed over their form, they disappeared, just as silent as they had been observing the scene below.


-----------****-----------


It was probably two hours later before everyone settled together in a nearby village hotel. Jiraiya and Anko were able to force Orochimaru and Manda away from the village people, partly because Gamabunta’s Jutsu that had performed the tar pit had a chemical reaction against the dark fluid that Shino had injected into the ground. Manda had gotten stuck and retreated angrily with the promise for revenge. Asuma had left to take the little girl, Risa, to the hospital to go check on her friend, Saki. Shibi and Shino took Naruto and Sasuke to the hotel and began working on their injuries. Jiraiya and Anko helped Kurenai put out the fire in the mansion before leaving to meet up with the others at the hotel and rest. They hadn’t had proper rest for the passed few days due to the hurried non-stop traveling that they did to get there.


“What a day,” smiled Anko. The short haired brunette was currently staring over Shino’s shoulder, watching him as he collected some serum from a few of his insects before walking over to Naruto’s side. She followed along his side, also intrigued with the boys’ injuries. Naruto and Sasuke were lying on separate tables, both stripped to only towels around their waists. “You know, he’s quite the cutie. Can’t believe I never noticed it before.” she brushed her fingers gingerly over Naruto’s torso, avoiding his ribcage because he had about 3 broken ribs. “What are you going to do with that? Dab it on his skin?”


“No,” replied Shibi, walking from the other side of the room where Sasuke was before taking the bottle from his son. The contents were clearly visible through the clear test tube. It was a mellow looking yellowish green liquid that smelled strongly of herbs. “We need to get them to drink it.”


“Yuck. You serious?” Anko held her nose against the strong smell, disgust clearly patent on her face.


“About 3 ML should be enough, right father?” Shino held out a small syringe, preparing to consume the herbal fluid through the thin nozzle.


“-believe so. Did you already withdrawal a blood sample from him?”


Shino nodded as he prepared the medical instrument. “I’m testing it right now. How was Sasuke’s sampling?”


“Fine. His blood cells seem very healthy. I don’t think anything was administered to him, but just to be safe I’ll have to check his urine. But as I said earlier, his injuries are minor compared to Naruto.” Shibi walked around the blonde, looking down at his marred skin. “I’ve trained in the same line of work as Ibiki. This was a sign torture. Naruto was put through it for maybe a whole night. He’s been stabbed with a senbon under every finger nail and under both feet. His legs are sprained rather badly. I thought they were just at an awkward positioning, but …” he mapped his hand to the blonde’s kneecap, “they were twisted that way. But I believe that they’ve been forcibly set and will heal in time. I think maybe, considering his wounds, he was probably being interrogated for something,” he said unsurely. He moved near Naruto’s head and ran his fingers through the mop of hair quizzically. He probed the area cautiously with the pad of his fingers, concentrating fully for any affliction that may have been done to the cranium. When he found nothing, he checked the teens’ jaw. “His jaw is cracked.” he looked up, lightly cupping Naruto’s mouth. “Hand me the soldier pills, Anko-san.”


Said brunette dug into the pockets of her Jounin vest before coming up with a small black bottle.


“Crush one pill and dissolve it into the medicine for Naruto,” instructed the Aburame.


Anko nodded and used the hilt of a clean kunai to do so.


“I want to get out of here as soon as possible.” grumbled Anko.


Shibi and his son nodded understandingly. Konoha and Iwa were not at best terms for the many things that had occurred in the past. It was rather easy coming in to the village. None of the Shinobi were even on watch at the border. But actually finding a hotel that would accept them proved bothersome. And there was really no point in trying to receive medical treatment from them. If the medics learned that they were treating Konoha nins then they’d have a mishap that would result with the lives of Sasuke and Naruto.


“Where’s the IV that Kurenai found? We need to hook him up to it.”


-----------****-----------


Another hour later Jiraiya and Kurenai arrived, undeniably drained.


“I need a shower.” affirmed the crimson-eyed woman. There was a small blonde bird on her shoulder, eyes brilliant in the strong lighting of the room.


Jiraiya followed from behind, carrying a large enough box that would fit a full grown man in.


Anko, who had been half asleep on a futon near Naruto’s side, yawned as she turned over. “What did you find?”


“Things.” he answered.


Anko gave him a disapproving glare before standing up. “Clarify.” she stated, eyebrow raised in curiosity.


“Scrolls, tools, weapons and such.” he asserted, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. “Asuma hasn’t arrived yet?”


Anko sighed, scratching her cheek sleepily as she shook her head. “Nope.”


“How’s Naruto and Sasuke and where’s everyone else?” he walked to the two sleeping boys. Their beds were pushed together so they could sleep side by side. They were sharing one thin blanket and had various medicinal herbs eliciting off their bodies. Naruto had an IV in his arm and Sasuke had his head bandaged lightly.


Anko smiled warily as she stood by his side. “They’re going to be fine, I think. Apparently the girls were already taking really good care of them.”


Jiraiya didn’t look convinced, however. “What do you mean? Naruto doesn’t look like he’s healed at all.”


“Yeah, I know. Almost every one of his chakra passageways were blocked. And the pathway that lead to Kyuubi’s chakra was cut off.”


Jiraiya looked alarmed, giving her a very frightening look. “What?”


“Calm down.” she replied, patting him on the back. “We have both Aburame’s wonderful insects that are opening everything as we speak. Disencu- …what? Yes, we have some buggies inside of him.” she said, laughing at the Sennin’s comical expression. We’ll have Tsunade-sama take care of the rest. But as for now, I want you to look over something.” The kunoichi pulled the sheets down off the boys’, pointing at Naruto’s abdomen where a kanji seal stood visibly. “Do you know how to remove whatever Orochimaru did to him?”


Jiraiya sighed, feeling angry at the appearance of his student. “This is called the 5-Elements Seal.”


“Aa.” Anko nodded, running her finger around the seal.


“Orochimaru uses it to strengthen the seal that Yondaime placed on the Kyuubi. But in doing so, the additional seal disturbs the demons’ chakra, preventing Naruto from being able to control his own chakra properly. The odd-numbered seal creates an imbalance when placed on top of an even-numbered seal, ya see. Thus concluding why Naruto looks like shit.”


Anko nodded understandingly, still tracing over the kanji symbols. “So~, how about taking it off?”


“Not now,” said Jiraiya. “Naruto is too weak right now for me to perform anything.”


“But if you went on with it then Kyuubi would be able to start healing him, right?”


“I would believe so. But just to be certain we’ll have Tsunade look over it. I don’t think Naruto has enough strength to be able to endure the strike the Jutsu requires to be done on his belly. Once his ribs heal I’ll take care of it.”


Naruto turned his head to the right, body at discomfort from the intrusion of insects.


“Where did Shino and Shibi go?” asked the Sennin, currently staring out the open window. It was around early evening now. They’ll have to rest for a while so they could wake up early and continue traveling.


“Searching for food. They don’t serve any here.”


Jiraiya’s stomach growled at the response. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday. He rubbed his belly reassuringly just as the door to the room opened.


“I think I want to leave this place. Like now.” said Asuma.


“It went that bad?” Asked Anko, giving him a warm smile as he walked into the room with a sleeping girl in his arms.


“It’s one thing to come to a village that hate you, but it’s another to come and ask for medical treatment.”


The short haired woman smirked and padded her way to the flustered Shinobi to retrieve the little girl. “Yeah, I know. What’s her name?” she asked curiously, stroking the young girl’s hair as she lied her on the same bed as Sasuke and Naruto.


“Huh? Oh, Risa.” He padded his Jounin vest until he came up with a box of cigarettes. “The other is Saki. She’s in real bad shape.” he tapped the end of the box and pulled out a thick cigar, smelling the Konoha leaves before he put it in his mouth. He probed around his pant pockets for a lighter and lit his cigar, giving it a long drag as he inhaled the rich tobacco scent that reminded him all too much of home. “She might not make it.”


The three Shinobi looked down on the bed at the little girl sleeping. She looked so peaceful and fragile, oblivious to the world around her.


“Were they able to take out that damn tree’s limb?” inquired the kunoichi.


“They can’t.” he said evenly. “They’re trying to work their way around it. Every time they make an attempt at pulling it out of her, more and more splinters tear off and mix into her blood. The medics say that even if they do succeed in extracting it, there’s a 75% chance that she’ll die. The splinters are very thick and the blood flow in her system will carry the fragments to her heart. They don’t see her surviving the night.”


“Damn sick, demented, son of a bitch,” cursed the Mitarashi, clenching her fists in deep hatred. “She’s just a kid.” she spat into a waste basket before turning and exiting the room.


“She may not look it, but Risa said that Saki is a very powerful 15 year old kunoichi. Risa is the baby of the family. She’s only 10. She hasn’t seen Saki nor does she know of her condition. Either way, she has no doubt in her mind that the girl will live.” he took another drag as he sat near the windowsill, watching as the sky got darker.


Jiraiya remained quiet for a few minutes, struggling with an effort to not explode with everything running in his mind.


Fortunately he didn’t have to deal with his internal struggles for long because Shino and Shibi had breezed in through the other window with a bag of boxed meals.


-----------****-----------


It was a quarter till 3 in the morning and Sasuke was feeling oddly comfortable. He smiled, snuggling into the warmth beside him. It felt great. Like a toasty blanket on a icy day. He entwined a leg around the sheets, burying his self closer to the source.


“Mmmm, Naruto.” he whispered, fisting the sheets firmly. He sighed, feeling very content as he set his head on a warm shoulder. He swung an arm over the blonde’s stomach, stroking the skin lovingly.


Naruto made a hissing sound when the fingers ran over a broken rib.


“Sorry,” murmured the Uchiha sleepily. He circled his finger around the Kitsune’s navel, dipping a finger in his bellybutton every once in awhile. After a moment his fingers began wandering again, exploring the warm flesh.


Naruto stirred, twisting his head from right to left whenever the fingers ran over a bruised part of his body. He groaned painfully when the weight got heavier. Sasuke had moved closer, muttering another ‘sorry’ before wrapping an arm lightly over the blonde’s abs and seemingly fell asleep.


-----------****-----------


The sun hadn’t even risen before Jiraiya and Shibi awoke and discovered the boys in such a compromising position. Sasuke was on his side with his right arm lightly draped over Naruto’s bare stomach. Both his legs were entwined with the Kitsune’s as well. His face was pressed against the others’ arm, lips peacefully parted and brushing against the blonde’s skin. Naruto was still on his back like yesterday. The only part of him that actually appeared different from last night, apart from his head, was the left hand curled over his stomach covering Sasuke’s arm.


Jiraiya made a popping sound with his mouth before pulling on his over shirt.


“What do you think?” whispered Shibi, head cocked to the side as he gazed at the two Shinobi.


“Me?” Jiraiya raised both brows in amusement before giving the Aburame a wide smile. “I think they just gave me an idea for my next chapter in Icha Icha.”


“Come again?” The brunette shook his head as if certain that he misheard.


He gestured his hands into the sky, grinning widely. “I’ll call it Secret Lovers to the Naked-eye.”


Shibi hung his head exasperatedly before padding his way to the window.


Jiraiya looked around the dark room and noticed that someone was missing, “Where’s Asuma?”


Someone stirred on the floor. Kurenai sat up, yawning widely as she rubbed her eyes. “He left a couple of hours ago to go check on Saki. If he hasn’t come back yet, then that’s good news. It means that she’s still alive.” she smiled brightly. She stood up and started stretching. Even with the futon, the floor wasn’t all too comfortable to sleep on, considering that it was made of stone. “Is Anko not back yet?”


There was light yawning as someone else stirred. Shino popped his head from under the thin sheets near Sasuke’s side and replied that she was supposed to stay on watch for the remainder of the night.


“Any breakfast?” she asked.


“We have leftovers from yesterday.” replied Jiraiya.


“I think I’ll pass,” replied the kunoichi with distaste. Yesterdays’ dinner wasn’t appetizing at all. The food was very much different than that of Konoha. They had crêpe-like patties smothered in thick sesame paste at the side of Beef Tongue, Beet Salad, and veal fried in goose lard. There was rock-hard biscuits served with Lime Flowers Herb Tea. The tea was really good, so they ate it with the bread as their meal. That was all.


There was a low grumble of hungry stomachs before Shibi announced for them all to pack and head out. The fastest way to get to Konoha from their current location was to go through Kusagakure (Hidden Grass Village).


A short time later and they met with Asuma. The Sarutobi told them that he will stay with Saki and have her brought safely to Konoha once they manage to pull the limb from out of her body. Apparently the trunk had pierced through from her left shoulder, left wrist, and left ankle. The medics had divided the limb into three portions and were roughly struggling with detaching the roots from her form where they were lodged painfully with her bones. They planned an emergency operation later that day where they plan to use healing scrolls and Jutsus to open her wounds without her losing any blood to retrieve the offensive materials.


Anko caught up with them and told them that she’ll stay with Asuma for the time being and that they should hurry and move on. Though Risa was reluctant to leave Saki behind, she left along with the Konoha nins, knowing that Stilmayra would come for her later. She bid her home goodbye before departing with her team. Kurenai carried the small girl on her back, Shibi held Naruto bridal style, Shino held Sasuke half standing, and Jiraiya held the enormous crate that held the items of what they believed were the survived belongings of the girls.


Asuma and Anko gave one last wave before the Konoha nins disappeared passed the border and out of sight.


-----------****-----------


The Konoha Shinobi glided smoothly from tree to tree, moving at an incredible pace whilst still keeping the two injured teens and the small girl at comfortable ease. The girl oddly did not complain about being in the sky over 500 feet, nor did she disapprove of the unprolonged rest stops that they made. Actually, Risa had stayed asleep half the time, so it was relatively simple to travel. They took small breaks to eat some fruit and replenish their energy, but never more than 10 minutes. At one point, both Aburame’s had gotten so tired of holding the boys that they took a soldier pill for added strength. But other than the occasional exchange of holding the two teens and stopping for restroom breaks, the Konoha nins made great progress.


It took them almost two days before they reached the gates of their home, and when they did, they wanted to do nothing more but soak in a warm bath. They smelled of earth and moist rain, they had half their bodies drenched in sticky sweat, grime and dirt coated their clothes, and their hair frizzed from the humid atmosphere that developed solely around their bodies from their hurried traveling. Sasuke kept muttering Naruto’s name in his sleep, so they were sure that he’d be waking up soon. His ribs, as well as Naruto’s, had healed greatly ever since they were given that serum developed by the Aburame’s. Many of the wounds that Naruto had obtained from battle were fading and they could swear a powerful chakra occasionally seeped from his body. They blamed their blurred eyes and tired state for everything.


They were just passing through gates when they ran into a tall teen wearing green spandex.


“J-Jiraiya-sama?” The lithe 20 year old ran to the group, shocked that they were holding the very two boys that Tenten had informed the disappearance about.


“Naruto-kun? Sasuke-kun? Are they alright?”


“Go tell Hokage-sama that we’ve arrived.” said Kurenai, wiping her forehead with her free hand while still holding the little girl on her back.


“Hai.”


Tsunade was in the tower, giving orders to a few rookie Jounin when she was interrupted by a hurried knock followed by a green blur rushing into her room.


“Tsunade-sama, Sasuke and Naruto-kun have been found.”


Tsunade froze stiff for a moment, eyes wide. Just yesterday they had released two squads of Anbu to look for the boys. She hadn’t even expected such a quick response.


“They’re alive, Hokage-sama. Jiraiya-sama is with them.” The brunette smiled proudly, fist in air as he reported that they were waiting for her at the Hospital.


The amber eyed woman left the two rookie Jounin, giving them a quick apology as she made her way to the clinic.


‘They’re here? They’re really here?’ The question repeated itself in her mind, hanging in that cloud of unsure and doubt. Could they really have gotten so lucky that they found the boys already? It seemed strange. It took a good minute of speedy walking and transporting before she found the group of Konoha heroes in the lounge.


Relief. It was the first thing that greeted her. Jiraiya, Kurenai, Shibi, Shino. They were all there and they smiled when they noticed the blonde-haired Godaime.


“I should have known that you’d be a part of this, Jiraiya. Where are they?” she stood in the center of the group, heart racing in her chest.


The Konoha nins guided her down the hall to the right. It was the first room that they could get into as soon as possible and start working on the two injured young men.


The blonde stood in front of the door, swallowing thickly before tuning the knob and pushing it open. Her heart beat thumped faster, threatening to pound out of her chest. And then she saw them. Shizune was working on the far side on Naruto while Sakura was working on the Uchiha. There were also other medics surrounding the distressed doctors.


Tsunade readily walked over to the Uchiha, catching the hopeful look in Sakura’s eyes as she continued healing the wounds within his body. The Hokage placed her hand over the 19 year olds forehead, releasing her soothing chakra into his body and healing his mind. She allowed her eyes to roam over his body. He was not wearing a shirt, just clad in a small beige towel. One of the medics were unraveling the wraps around his stomach, revealing faded bruises and slightly marred skin. Sakura was healing his hands and placing healing scrolls over his upper torso.


“They’re actually here.” whispered the tall woman, smiling as she looked back at Shizune. “How is he?” she called out over the noise.


“Tsunade-sama? I am need of your assistance.” pleaded the brunette, in the middle of a healing Jutsu that required two very skilled medics.


The blonde woman nodded as she looked back on the Uchiha. She stared intently on his eyes, waiting for the lids to flutter open when suddenly Sasuke shot out of the bed, scaring everyone around him in shock.


Sasuke swiftly grabbed a senbon and crouched in defense. The first thing that came to mind as he was being stirred into responding to consciousness was that Kisame had taken him to the Akatsuki hideout and that they were performing horrible tests on him. He felt very naked and was aware of the wandering hands, very fearful of where Naruto was.


“Where the hell am I?” he exclaimed.


“Sasuke-kun, hold on.” ordered his pink-haired former teammate.


“He can’t open his eyes.” came Jiraiya’s voice from the open doorway, not bothering to walk into the hectic ward.


The Uchiha froze in spot, registering the voices around him. “S-Sakura?” he called out, turning his attention unsurely around the room.


“Sasuke-kun.” she answered softly.


The kunoichi walked around the table towards the Uchiha, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace.


Sasuke stood in place, feeling just the slightest bit unstable.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
Something grips my heart roughly as Sakura throws her arms around me. They found me. I’m in Konoha? I should feel relieved, but for some reason I’m just angry. I clench my fists at my side as Sakura brushes a lock of hair out of my face. I’m so angry. I didn’t want to be back already. I grind my teeth together, head hung low so that my chin is resting on top of Sakura’s soft hair.


“Sasuke-kun?” I heard her say. “What happened?”


She caresses my back like she always does after a long mission. I don’t answer.


“What did you say about his eyes?” came Tsunade’s voice.


“They won’t open. And trust me when I say that I have no idea why.” replied the sennin.


Well great, I think. I’m blind. Sakura pulls away from me and guides me to sit back down on the table.
æææææææææææææææææææææææææ


The blonde Hokage sighed, closing her eye lids as she placed a hand over the Uchiha’s eyes and began releasing chakra, searching through his dark irises by feeling her energy inside him.


“There’s a kind of seal over his eyes that’s keeping the lids closed.” Tsunade frowned, biting her bottom lip as she tried to get her chakra to weaken the seal.


Five minutes later with no luck, the amber-eyed woman remembered that she still had her blonde to look over.


“I apologize Sasuke, but I’ll see what I can do about your eyes later.” And with that the Hokage padded her way to Naruto, idly noticing that he was clad in the same attire as the raven teen.


Without interfering with Shizune’s ministrations, Tsunade began surveying the Kitsune, hand immediately settling on his head and discharging her appeasing green chakra. It only took a moment before Tsunade’s body froze tensely and she looked around her.


“Everyone out of the room.”


The Uchiha visibly tensed, knowing that it had something to do with his friend.


“What’s wrong?” asked one of the medics.


“Out. Now.” commanded the Godaime, getting a startled Sakura’s attention and starting to take blood tests.


“Hokage-sama, what’s wrong? We already took both the boys’ blood samples.” said Shibi, frowning in confusion at what they may have forgotten to do.


“There’s poison in his body and it’s rushing to his brain.” she said in a panicked rush, not quite meaning to say it so loud so that everyone could hear.


Gasps went throughout the room, alarming everyone.


æææææææææææææææææææææææææ
Please let him be okay. Please. I try and swallow down my fear of not seeing Naruto again. It has been what, over a week since I’ve even heard his voice and seen his face? I feel horribly sick and my limbs feel like jelly. I sit up from the bed and clumsily feel my way to a waste basket. My stomach churns when the Hokage speaks her next sentence.


“There’s poison in his body and it’s rushing to his brain.”


I hear several people being ushered out the room as I gag into the basket, heaving only air due to my empty stomach. And then to my luck, everything goes a strange kind of clumsy gray as I feel the prick of a needle enter my arm. I am then carried to a table and being carted away. Voices echo around me, bouncing off the walls sickly while assaulting me with its loudness. My head pounds in an oncoming headache and my stomach churns again. Even if I could open my eyes, gravity feels too heavy around my body to even move.


“Naruto?” I can barely hear myself whispering, my voice fading into the air as I feel dread settle in my stomach. What the hell happened? I still have no idea. Is he going to make it? Or am I going to wake up with the news that he had died sometime during the night? Kyuubi? My eyes burn, probably the only notion that lets me know that I’m crying. What an odd feeling, to be crying but to have no tears leak down my face.


Hang on…….dobe.



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Author’s Note: Hey guys ^^ school has just started for me so the chapters might be smaller in the future updates. For those that are wondering when the hell some REAL action is going to start, don’t worry ^^ Be patient. So, does anyone know what’s going on now? Dear me, what am I doing to Naruto? O,o I really don’t like this chapter for its lack of detail and feeling. The next chapter will be better, I promise.


“Habit is habit and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs a step at a time.” - Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar