Devil's Own

Devil’s Own

Disclaimers: Standard disclaimers applied. Naruto and all its characters belong to their rightful owners. This story is written for the sole purpose of entertainment only. So, please don’t sue me.


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Part VI
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The morning was hot and oppressive, even in the presence of a cooling technology. Naruto awoke to the feeling of totally hopeless and demoralized. All his hopes and dreams had vanished and he faced the bleak prospect of being a little better than a slave for as long as he can foresee. He was literally miserable, totally dejected. He hated Itachi, Sasuke, Ino and everyone else. He had no hope. Nothing.

It was time to go to Jiraiya’s place but his mind and body refused to get out of the bed. Itachi came at mid-morning. Naruto pulled the covers over his head as he heard him enter the room, “Go away,” he said, “I don’t ever want to see you again.”

Itachi touched his shoulder lightly, “I want to apologize about last night. I really like you and care for you. But romance, much less going away is impossible. Talk to me, Naruto.”

The blonde under the blanket remained still as Itachi continued, “We have to deal with rumors about us. Sasuke will be back within a week and we have to tell him something. I think we should forget about last night and tell him the rest, which was innocent enough.”

The cover flew back, revealing scornful blue eyes, “That is all you’re worried about, isn’t it? What will the bastard think? Well, I don’t care what he thinks or what you think. You’re nothing but a coward. How could I ever thought…how could I…,” he paused as tears filled his eyes. Itachi reached forward but he pulled himself away, “Go away!”

He slept until a call from Jiraiya’s servant prompted him out of the bed and go to his visit.

Days passed, Naruto still hidden himself in one of the room in the guards compound, Sai let him borrowed his room and temporary reside to a fellow guard’s quarter. Everday the blonde felt as if he had awakened from a nightmare, shaken but still have the will to live.

When the orange-purplish shade painted the horizon, he knew the Oyabun would be back by morning. Sasuke had given him two rules: avoid the guard’s compound and stay away from Itachi. He had broken both of them.

What would he do to him when he found out? Would Sasuke beat him, kill him or just be very angry? Should he meet him at the airport? His depression deepened but didn’t care. He would go to bed and pray that he never woke up.

======

He sensed Sasuke beside the bed but remain still, he thought that if perhaps he ignored him, the raven haired male would go away but the man’s angered voice evaporated any hope.

“I told you to meet me once I returned. Get up! I want to talk to you.”

His heart stopped and his body quivered. He had forgotten the life and death power he held over him. Naruto wished he had never seen Itachi or spoke to him. Blue eyes cautiously looked into black gaze glinting with anger, “I was asleep. I didn’t know you were back. I haven’t been feeling well,” he said in a faltering voice.

“What kind of sickness? Love sickness?” Sasuke’s voice was filled with sarcasm, “Ino told me about certain unpleasant stories, while my brother protested his innocence. All very touching. I didn’t bother to ask if it was true. I saw it in your eyes the night before I left.” There was long pause before he continued, “Do you still want him, Naruto?”

Naruto looked at him dumbstruck.

“He doesn’t want you. He prefers someone else and I can see why,” he said cruelly, “He said he was never alone with you, much less touched you. Is that true?”

His fear turned from humiliation to resentment. He got out of the bed, walked to the window and turned around to face him, looking straight to his eyes, “No. That’s not quite true. We were alone but we were never been lovers. Not because of me. I wished we had been. He would never have to force me the way you do.”

Black eyes narrowed. Gush of wind passed the blonde’s cheek then window behind him shattered. Broken glasses scattered the floor, bloodied fist was ignored by the owner. He started to leave and then turned back as the blonde sat on the floor in utter fear. “Be in Tokyo this afternoon.”

Sasuke was gone. For a brief moment he felt alive, he had answered him, but the euphoric feeling died as soon as it appeared. He leaned against the wall, devastated by fear. He took Sasuke for granted because of the charlatan he briefly thought he loved. He wanted to die in his own stupidity. Just to curled up and die.

Few hours before noon, he stood up from the wall when Sai went there and told him to go back to the mansion: Sasuke’s orders. He took a bath and get dressed and anxiously waited for someone to fetch him. He looked at the clock and his anxiety grows. If only time would stood still; if only he would never have to face him again…if only…..

Once in the condominium building, a sense of foreboding loomed I the air. None of the men greeted him. They just looked at him curiously. He’d been here once; he already knows where he was supposed to go. He was walking the corridor to Sasuke’s flat when someone grabbed him by his wrist and started to pull him into one of the rooms but another man stopped them and jerked the brute’s man hands, “Are you tired of your life? That Sasuke-sama’s, you idiot!”

He released him but Naruto stumbled on the floor, he got up and started to flee. A gentler hand grasped his arm, “It’s alright, Naruto-san. We will take you to Sasuke-sama. He said to watch for you and bring you to him.”

He follwed the three men back to the corridor, thankful for their protection. They rang the bell, informed the persons inside of his arrival. They let the blonde inside, Naruto turned around to thank the men but they were gone. Shino and Shikamaru looked at him in curious manner, surprised at his presence but didn’t said anything, or show it. They pointed him to the Oyabun’s bedroom door.

He stopped dead on his track when a shrill laughter came out of the room. That voice was familiar. His sense of foreboding intensified. He was almost afraid to knock but did the deed nonetheless. The Oyabun’s voice told him to enter.

Naruto’s face turned beet red at the lascivious sight before him, Sakura was straddling the black haired male, a thin sheet barely covering their lower body. It was obvious what they were doing, he choked back a sob. Sakura turned, to his mortification, and smiled at him, “Well, if it isn’t your slave little boy. I have few things he can do, Sasuke.”

The curious looks and the whispers, it all hit him. He clenched his fists into tight balls. He had to be strong. He couldn’t run. He wasn’t going to allow them to see the hurt and humiliation slowly eating his being. He would never show them pain or hurt.

Sasuke gently put the pink haired woman on the bed, to have better look at him and reached for the half bottled whiskey and a glass, poring himself, “Since you can’t do anything right,” he said, “perhaps you can wash my clothes. Tell Shikamaru to give you my dirtied clothes. Take Sakura’s things to her car before you leave the building.”

“No,” he couldn’t let him do this to him.

“You’ll do what I tell you,” Sasuke retorted harshly, “You’ll do anything and everything I tell you, or else. Now, get out of here. And Naruto, I don’t want my clothes machine washed.”

He would be strong and accept this degrading. Looking at them directly, he tried to smile. Thankful to the existing gods, his voice was cool and steady, “Of course, Sasuke-sama. My new duties are less onerous than my previous ones in this bedroom. And it pleases me to see that you have finally found someone who perfectly matches the moral level of your life.”

They looked at him in stunned silence. He quickly left the room and closed the door behind him, lest he wanted Sasuke to leaped out of the bed and strangle him. He fought back the tears and walked with his head raised. He could hear Saskura’s protests drowning in the Uchiha’s laughter.

Arriving back at the mansion, he saw Sai smiling at him, “Oi! Naruto! I’ve been looking for you, “he said happily, “Where have you been?”

“Sasuke-sama,” he struggled to keep his voice from cracking, “he wants me to wash his clothes.”

Sai’s smile vanished. He knew that Sakura was with the Oyabun and guessed the rest. Taking the bag of clothes from the blonde, “He shouldn’t do that to you, Naruto. He shouldn’t.”

=======

Naruto looked down at his punishment; his penalty for being so briefly in love with someone. Was it even a crime to care for someone? To Sasuke, apparently, it was. But whose fault was that? How could he have been so stupid to think that Itachi could rearrange the world for him? The Oyabun’s disgrace had brought this to him, while his stupidity had put the pink haired woman in his bed.

There were times when he thought Sasuke cared for him. Tears fell into the sudsy water, his frustrations beat against the clothes. They would be clean; he would never give him a reason to complain about his washing and a chance to humiliate him again, the blonde wringed one of Sasuke’s shirts with such a force that he nearly tore the material; he hated him but missed him. He couldn’t bear to see him with Sakura anymore.

He was too occupied to notice Ino watching him until she walked over and sat beside him, “Naruto, I’m sorry for what happened. I really am,” she said solemnly.

“Yeah, I bet you’re sorry, “the blonde’s sarcastic reply, “Don’t bother, Ino. I don’t want your pity.”

“I am truly sorry, “she put a hand on his shoulder, “I can understand you’re feeling that way. You are my friend. No matter what happened between us, you will always be my friend,” she smiled at him. Naruto sniffled.

The older teen laughed lightly at the blonde’s unknowing cuteness. Unable to contain the flooding emotion, Naruto wrapped his arms around Ino’s waist and sobbed to her chest, “He hated me,” he cried, “I lost him even before I knew I want him.”

The blonde girl stroked his golden hair while the other patted his back, “There, there. It’ll be alright,” she said gently, “You’re still here and he still taking care of you. It may take a long time, but you’ll have him back. I’m sure you will.” She lifted his chin, wiping the tears from his face, “Now, let’s get this washing done, shall we?” she smiled at him, her blonde hair whipping in the air as she turned her head to the other direction, “Ten-Ten! Sai! Get your lazy asses in here! We’ve got work to do!” she yelled.

Collective groans came out from the corner, grumbling the two other teens walked over to them. His friend’s antics brought a smile on his face.

=====

Naruto dreaded coming to Jiraiya’s place but he went. He would see the old man he was so fond of, but it also means that he was going to encounter the woman he was not so fond of. The ero-old man seemed to become much older and quite thin from the last time he saw him, that was a week ago. But the sense of superiority still lingers in him.

He was obviously delighted at the boy’s visit. He would nod, smile and laugh at the teen’s stories but Naruto noticed the faraway looked on his face; like he was on a different dimension and the smiles and laughs were not meant for him.

Sometime in their conversation, Jiraiya stood up, “Arashi, my boy,” he said delightfully, “you’re home. How’s your camping trip?” he asked. He walked to Naruto, the old man encased him in a tight embrace.

Utterly confused, the blonde teen just returned the hug, “Tadaima.”

When his visit was over, Naruto went to the garden to wait for Sasuke’s men to escort him back. Oddly, the men seemed to be gone, along with the Master Oyabun’s guards and not a single guard dogs patrolling. He wasn’t aware of the danger that he soon was going to meet.

Two strong hands grabbed at him, one at his waist and the other covering his mouth to prevent him screaming. He struggles was futile, his lithe form was no match to the man’s strength. He threw the blonde inside a room, sending him flying to a wooden table. The tools hanged in the wall clanked noisily at the sudden impact, his breathe hitched. Naruto looked around nervously, as he slowly got up, from what he could make out, he was in a garden utility room.

The blonde threw the first his hand grasped at the towering man. The man with muscular body and crooked face easily caught the small shovel and tossed it aside. He sneered evilly at Naruto. The said man advanced on the teen, but the blonde wasn’t the type to go down without a fight. He clawed at the man’s face which earned him a knee to his stomach; he dropped to the ground doubling in pain.

Shakingly, Naruto got up and tried to scream for help. But as soon as he opened his mouth, hard fist connected to his face. The brute slammed his back over the wooden table; his breathe hitched, eyes lidded with daze. He felt so weak and helpless and was about to given up when the sound of ripping fabric reached his ears. The brute man ripped his shirt off, unbuckling the boy’s belt; he dragged a tongue along his jaw that made Naruto’s skin crawl. The man covered the teen’s lips in a sloppy kiss, thoroughly disgusted, the blonde bit the man’s tongue until it bled. The man yelp of pain muffled in the boy’s mouth, but a swift punch to his stomach freed the wounded appendage.

The man glared menacingly at him, open palm strike the boy’s face mercilessly, splitting his lips and jarring his whole body. Strike after strike, Naruto felt his consciousness leaving him, his body weakening. He summoned all his remaining strength; he forcefully kicked the man between his legs. The brute howled in pain and dropped to his knees. Seeing his chance, the blonde teen moved quickly to the door, but stopped. The man was recovering from the pain, so, before he could fully recovered Naruto act. Instinctively, the boy reached for the shovel beside the door and with his remaining strength, his both hands lifted the tool of doom and brought it down on the brute’s head. The man fell but he hit him over and over until blood oozed from his ears. The man lay still, his lifeless eyes fixed upon him.

“Kami-sama!” he exclaimed. He knew instantly that he killed a man but his consciousness could not accept it. Naruto thought of solution to his problem frantically. He thought of burying the man but he doubted anyone wouldn’t notice his unusual activity and it still broad day light. Then he thought of just leaving the body in hopes that the deed would be blame on someone else.

Body and mind numbing, he turned towards the door and blindly ran outside. Tears were running freely down his face, blocking his sight. He bumped into someone and landed on his bum, “AAAAAHHHHHHHH!” he screamed when a hand touched his shaking shoulder.

“Naruto-san, please calm down. It’s just me, Neji,” the man said.

His screaming stopped as soon as he recognized the voice. Trembling, he hesitantly reached for the hand offered to him. Neji helped him up and asked what happened to him. He told him some lie. Neji looked at him in astonishment that he glanced down at himself. Only then he noticed his ripped shirt and hands were splattered with blood. His sight hit him full impact and he dissolved into tears. Meekly, he related what happened and led the Oyabun’s right hand to the body.

Neji looked at the body emotionless, “Since, Naruto-san is involved, Sasuke-sama will take care of this,” he said to the guards captain, then he turned to the blonde, “Come, Naruto-san, I’ll take you home.”

======

The drive back was eerily silent, the open motor engine and the blonde’s occasional hiccups were the only sound visible in the car, aside from the noises of the busy street outside. Their vehicle came into a halt, it was rush hour, even though his company was members of an elite Yakuza organization, they still subjected to traffic jams.

Tightening Neji’s jacket around him, he let out a heavy sigh as he leaned on the window to look outside, or pretend to be. The tears on his face and the blood on his lips and clothes were all dried now, but it failed to take the boy’s guilt along with it. He heard the Oyabun’s right hand say it’s going to be alright and what he did was justifiable. He did it to protect himself. The brute bastard deserved it and all is going to be alright once Sasuke took care of it.

No, it wasn’t going to be alright and he doubted he’ll be alright. In his mind, the lifeless body and the soulless eyes keep coming back to him, staring at him, haunting him. He had taken someone’s life to protect his own, and now he was suffering the consequences of it. He was the one who had been wronged, so, why wasn’t he the one who’s guilt-free? His body racked with sobs, unaware of the fresh tears spilling his eyes, he hadn’t heard Neji told the driver to take the coastal road to escape the traffic.

The swarm of people came into him in nothing but blurred images mind and vision refused to function, scared of the horrible memory to come back again. The car turned around a street, there, somewhere in the blurred sea of people, at the other side of the road, a man walking with a familiar face.

It happened so quickly, so abruptly that the paled eyed man didn’t have the time to react. Naruto had opened the door and jumped off the moving car, rolling to the rough asphalt gaining more bruises that added to his already abused body. Their car came into sudden halt, slamming to the bus in front. The bus driver poked his head to the window to check the damages and was about to open his mouth, but one warning look from the dangerous pale eyes, kept his mouth shut.

Cursing, he slammed the door close, “Naruto-san!,” he yelled at the slowly raising blonde boy twenty feet away from him.

But the said boy had lost all his coherent thoughts and ran, ignoring his limping form, across the street and was almost got hit by a speeding truck. Luckily, the truck driver has quick reflexes, stepped on the brake and wheeled the giant vehicle away from the crazed boy, hitting an electric post. The driver yelled obscenities which were ignored by the teen.

“Naruto-san!” Neji yelled, mortified. A great feeling of relief washed over him when he saw the blonde boy safe, limping across the street. He nodded to the other bodyguard and both moved to retrieve the blonde.

His whole body ached but he ignored it, he was almost there, he stretched his bruise arm to take a hold of the man’s shirt, “Iruka-nii-san,” he called.

The man’s shoulder tensed at the familiar voice, he spun around to see a young boy whom he had missed so much, “Naruto,” Iruka said, holding the boy to his chest. He released him immediately when he felt him flinched and whimpered in pain. Eyes hardening as he took note of the boy’s injuries; swollen cheeks with purple bruise, cut lip, ripped shirt with splattered blood, “What happened to you?” he asked worriedly.

Instead of answering, Naruto wrapped his arms the older man’s waist and cried pitifully, “I want to go home. Please take me home. I don’t want to be there anymore. Please take me with you.”

Neji and the other bodyguard separated their ways, pale eyes never leaving the man running with a blonde boy in his arms out of his sight. He stalked them silently, not wanting to alarm them to cause more damage. He entered a small alley and found them already stopped, Homura, the other bodyguard was at the other end of the passageway, trapping them.

Iruka put down the blonde on his feet and turned around to see a man with pale eyes slowly approaching them, “What did you do to Naruto?” he demanded, tucking the blonde at his side protectively.

“If you value your life, I suggest you give the boy back,” Neji said coolly, ignoring the man’s demand.

Two men stared at each other, seizing each other, silent eyes spoke volumes until a tiny voice from Naruto interrupted them, “Please Neji-san, I want to go home,” he pleaded.

“I’m sorry, Naruto-san. You know I can’t do that,” he replied, trained eyes never leaving the potentially dangerous man in front of him, even if out numbered, he won’t take any chances. “However, I’ll give a choice. Leave with us and I’ll spare your friend’s life. Otherwise, you know what’ll happen.” He said.

The boy stood in stunned silence. His horrible experience came crashing into his mind. The lifeless body and those eyes again…no…no…no! His body began to tremble as he held to Iruka for dear life and tears running down again in his face.

“I won’t give him back to you,” Iruka’s voice equally threatening.

Neji hated himself, part of him wanted to give Naruto want he wants but his pride and loyalty wont let him. He sighed, inwardly cursing himself. He didn’t want to do this but he has no choice. He pulled a gun from his back and pointed it at the man holding Naruto, ready to pull the trigger, “Naruto-san,” he said, gaining the teen’s attention, “what’s your decision?”

The poor boy was so confused. He had two choices: first, to gave up his freedom and go back to hell, and second, refused and have his father figure’s life taken and live in hell. They were sadistic choices given by a sadistic right hand serving a sadistic master. Somehow, he had to choose the lesser evil.

Defeated, he slowly detached himself from his father/friend and walked towards the pale eyed man, “You promise?” he asked, stopping in the middle.

“Promise.” He said reassuringly.

The boy turned around and smiled at Iruka, “I’ll be alright. Please tell them I miss them,” he said before continuing his walk, when he reached Neji, his knees gave in and collapsed, blackness swallowing him.

The car stopped in front of the alley, carrying the boy, Neji walked to the vehicle and gently deposited Naruto inside, “Don’t worry, Iruka-san. We’ll take care of him.” he said before disappearing inside.

=======

Ten-Ten wiped the beads of sweats off the blonde’s forehead and face, careful not to press too much pressure on the boy’s face. Naruto’s body have more injuries than what they anticipated; left eye swollen, blackish-purple circled both sides of the cut lip, bruised shoulders, two broken ribs probably came from his stunt earlier, blackish-purple shade colored the boy’s sore rib cage down to his navel, and various cuts and minor bruises all over his body. But what they worried about the most was Naruto’s emotional and mental health. They prayed that it is only the body that is damaged and not the boy’s spirit.

The fever was gone but Naruto was still warm, they cleaned him off, redressed him and forced him to sleep. For the boy’s safety, they had summoned Tsunade than taking him to the hospital and turned their room into a temporary clinic. The blonde Oyabun injected the boy some sedatives to calm him, Naruto became hostile when he woke up and found himself in Sasuke’s estate, which made the task of attending to his injuries impossible. He seemed to be sleeping peacefully, but they knew, Naruto was continuing his battle in his slumber.

It was nearing midnight; Ino had replaced Ten-Ten to look for Naruto when Sasuke arrived. He walked brusquely, almost running to their bedroom, he had wanted to take the blonde in his arms as soon as he heard but a more pressing matter kept him from doing so.

He tapped the young woman by the shoulder lightly, waking her up. Drowsily, Ino opened her eyes and was surprised to see the Oyabun in front of her, “K-konban w-wa, S-Sasuke-sama,” she said, clumsily knocking the chair as she stand.

Sasuke caught it before it landed, “Go to rest, Ino,” Sasuke said, “Come back here tomorrow,” the girl turned to leave but was stopped, “And Ino, you didn’t see me and I didn’t speak to you. Understood?” Sasuke added.

Though confused, Ino nodded. She knew the Oyabun has reason for his every action.

Sasuke removed his shoes and carefully climbed on the bed. He brushed the golden bangs aside and kissed his forehead. Naruto began to cry out in his sleep, a hand raised as reaching for something. He took it in his hand; he lay beside the boy and whispered soothing words in his ear, “It’s alright, dobe, “he cooed, “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Responding too his cooing, the blonde cries subsided and fell into deep sleep. Sassuke wanted to wrap his arms around him but didn’t want to hurt his already sore body; he contented himself by lying at his side and holding his hand, assuring the unknowing boy security.

By dawn, a light knock was heard and the door opened, Sasuke was already up and refreshed himself, he was dressed in a white gi and black hakama, Neji entered the room, “The bird has sung,” he informed.

The Oyabun nodded. Neji left. He took his katana from the display and waited for Ino. When the girl arrived he repeated his orders the night before and left.

He walked the long hallway to the dojo; he entered the practice hall and walked across to the farthest corner, passing the shooting range and stopping at a Samurai figure display, he pulled the hands holding a katana down, opening a small entrance with dark stairway passage leading down and disappeared in it.

The passage was long, dark and musky smelling. Even with darkness the Uchiha didn’t bother to bring a light, he had already memorized the way and counted the steps, he’d been using this secret chamber for years. He came to the bottom of the stairs; it was rectangular room with stone walls, to the left of the room was an empty prison cell and to the right of the room was a long wooden table. The only light was provided by the fluorescent light suspended in the ceiling.

His face devoid of any emotions immediately replaced by dark and raging anger as he took in the sight of the strapped body on the table. It was the man who had dared touch what was his.

The man was barely alive when Jiraiya’s men picked his body and knowing treason was punishable by death, turned him over to the Konoha Oyabun’s custody. The basket in the corner filled with empty bags of artificial plasma indicated that he’d been subjected to painful interrogation since his arrival. They had given him blood supply to keep him alive to extract necessary information.

“P-please…k-kill…m-me,” the man begged in pained voice.

“Tell me, why would I want to do that?” Sasuke asked coldly, putting on a glove. He dipped his gloved hand in a basin of acidic solution and touched the man’s exposed intestines, delighted at the man’s screams, “When it’s pleasing to the eyes watching you suffer?”

“Pl-lease! I…al-alrea-dy t-told y-you w-what you w-want to k-know,” he gasped, “P-lease l-let me d-die,” he begged.

He looked at the brute with contempt, struggling to continue the painful penalty or gave in to the sense of humanity tugging at his sleeves. He would give him what he wants. After all it’s the ending of all living, but, he would die with a slow and painful death. Sasuke would make sure of that.

“Very well,” Sasuke said, turning to his pale eyed right-hand, “The crows haven’t been fed in a while. I’ll leave it to you, Neji.” He took off the glove and tossed it aside. He left the room wordlessly.

=======

Weeks passed and Naruto’s health was back, but he was still taking sedatives. Knowing the blonde would strain himself as soon as he opened his eyes and risked the chance of full recovery. His injuries were healed except from the light swelling on his left eye and broken ribs, but he’s doing well.

Naruto would woke up to the feeling of warmth and security, strong hands wrapped around him protectively, warm body spooning him and warm breathe against his neck lulled him back to sleep. Groggily, he would turn around and snuggled close to the warm body, he wanted to open his eyes but the medications kept his eyes shut.

Every night, Sasuke would come and sleep beside him, holding him close and was gone by dawn. As the boy’s health progresses his coming home became lesser and lesser and was completely off his property when they cut off the sedatives.

Several days after, Naruto opened his eyes to the warm sunrays peering at the room feeling healthy. Everyone in the house had laugh when he asked for ramen after he woke up. He undergone physical therapy sessions under the strict supervision of Tsunade to helped his weakened muscle, then he began walking properly again. He wanted to visit Jiraiya, he had missed the ero-old man so much but he wasn’t allowed to leave the estate premises.

He had missed the Oyabun too. He felt disappointed when he woke up alone in the bed. He wanted to believe his gut feeling that Sasuke had been there, cared for him and those nights he thought he cared for him, were real. He really wanted to. But where was Sasuke when he woke up? Ino and everyone in the house confirmed that the younger Uchiha didn’t even bother to send his shadow looked over him. Only the other Uchiha visited him once. He wasn’t returning his calls and refused to talk to him. Was it part of his punishment too?

And to make his dilemma worsen, an unwanted surprise visitor came parading in, “It really is a surprise to see you alive. How are you doing, Naruto?” Although she smiled Sakura’s eyes hardened, “Sasuke already proposed to me, “she held her hand to the blonde, giving a very good view of the diamond ring in her finger, “When Sasuke and got married you wont live that long,” she said delighting herself at the display of emotions on the boy’s face.

“He won’t marry you!” Naruto blurted out angrily, infuriated at the woman tormenting him.

Sakura laughed coldly, “We’ll see about that,” she sneered at him then walked away.

Naruto ran crying and stumbling across the garden, totally distraught. Racked with fear, he flung himself into Sai’s willing arms, oblivious to the foreign feeling he had woken in him. He had to see Sasuke and tell him about Sakura and her threat.

Sai was reluctant to take his message to the Oyabun but the terror in his blue eyes convinced him to go. He returned crestfallen and handed him a note. The younger Uchiha would not see him. Trembling, he unfolded the note:

My dear Naruto,

I already know what happened. I regret having you meet her abuse but it is necessary. As much as I want to be there and comfort you in person, my coming to you would only take you in more danger. Trust me and don’t worry you are carefully guarded at all times. When this is over, I will explain.

Sasuke

He read it again but it seemed so cold, so unfeeling, “Kami-sama. Sai, he has abandoned me to that woman,” he fell to his feet and began crying, “Help me, Sai. Please help me.”

A/N: Hope you liked it! Any reactions are welcome! And Thanks for the reviews minna-san! I really appreciate it!