Nescit Cedere

By: Ljiljana

folder Naruto AU/AR › Yaoi - Male/Male

Rating: Adult +

Chapters: 1

Views: 1,104

Reviews: 2

Recommended: 0

Currently Reading: 0

Category: Naruto AU/AR › Yaoi - Male/Male

Rating: Adult +

Chapters: 1

Views: 1,104

Reviews: 2

Recommended: 0

Currently Reading: 0

Disclaimer: I do not own 'Naruto'. I'm not earing any money wiritng this, it's just for fun.

Nescit Cedere

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name="OLE_LINK14">name="OLE_LINK7">

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>name="OLE_LINK4">style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK8'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK14'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK4'>name="OLE_LINK6">style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>This is story
was written for Kodak_85 (just Kodak here, I think) in the sn_exchange for
summer of 2010. He basically let me write what I want… Well, he said he liked
supernatural and didn’t like canonverse and a friend of mind swore he wouldn’t
mind horror, so…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK8'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK14'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK4'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK6'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK16'>Warnings:
As mentioned above, this story contains supernatural/horror elements and it was
meant to be disturbing. Just in case I did it right, think twice before
reading.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK8'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK14'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK4'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK6'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK16'> ‘style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK3'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK5'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>Nescit cedere’style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK3'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK5'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'> is Latin for
"He does not know how to give up."

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK4'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK8'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK14'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK16'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Nescit
Cedere

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>With
a funny mixture of satisfaction and guilt, Naruto darted a quick look to the
passenger’s seat. It seemed that Sasuke was too busy looking outside to notice
Naruto watching him, so he allowed his eyes to go up the shoulder wrapped in
dark blue cotton, over dark hair falling over the stained material of the
headrest and linger on the perfectly shaped jaw and forming bruise that stood
out on the pale skin.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He’d
put that bruise there. They’d gotten into a fight – again – just a mile or two
back, when they had stopped for gas. Naruto‘s knuckles ached dully. He could
still remember quite vividly the way Sasuke’s bone felt underneath them, but
not the exact words that lead them to fighting.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
can’t believe you two.” Sakura startled him out of mulling over the fight. She
was still huffing, indignant and angry as if she didn’t know exactly what to
expect when she made them come with her after their flight had been canceled.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “Fighting like that - those people almost
called the police!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Even
though his hipbone was rather sore, with the imprint of Sasuke’s shoe
noticeable on bare skin, Naruto was still unable to quite look away from where
Sasuke’s bruise was getting larger by the minute. He grinned on the words.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“A
fight, yes!” Sakura countered, “over who was going to take the passenger seat!
You are acting like a couple of twelve-year-olds – no, like a couple of fourteen
year-olds, experiencing puberty for the first time and too stupid to deal with
a little case of hormones!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A
short but complete silence followed those words. Naruto feverishly hoped that
she didn’t mean it the way it sounded to him, because he wasn’t that obvious.
Was he?

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
didn’t seem like he would bother answering this time, so Naruto swallowed and
muttered, “Geez, when did you turn into my mother? It’s not as if anyone got
hurt…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Why
are you clutching your side, if no one got hurt?” Sasuke threw over his
shoulder, satisfaction obvious in his tone.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No
one got hurt,” Naruto repeated turning his volume up. “And even though someone
became a lot uglier, it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A
snort was the only answer, though Naruto saw Sasuke tentatively brushing over
his bruised jawbone. What a vain jerk. Like a single bruise could really…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“A
fistfight over a seating argument is a big deal.” Sakura huffed again,
thankfully interrupting Naruto’s train of thought. “What are you going to do
when you disagree of something important?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
sighed and glared at him though the mirror. Naruto stared back, holding down a
grin, until she had to return her gaze to the road.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>After
another glance at Sasuke - who was still looking though the window - Naruto
followed his example. The setting sun was breaking though the thick treetops to
meet his gaze, coloring the sky and edges of gathering clouds in red and
orange. Naruto squinted and moved closer
to the opposite window, until the shadow fell to cover his face.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>They
were driving though a forest at the moment. It was early fall, so the leaves
were only just starting to turn dry and brown. It was still a long way from the
naked, creepy look forests sometimes had later in the year, when branches would
turned bare and the sky gloomy gray.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Look.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>By
the time Naruto followed her instruction and scanned the view though the
windshield, Sakura was already slowing down. There was a woman in the middle of
the road, waving for them to pull over. Her face, bare arms and knee-long white
dress were sprayed with blood.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>On
the closer look, Naruto recognized her. “It’s that woman from the gas station!
The one that dropped stuff and I helped her pick them up!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“My
baby!” The woman gasped before Naruto even reached her. She grabbed his
shoulder and waved toward the forest behind her. “I can’t get her out!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Out
of where?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Out
of the car!” She tugged Naruto forcefully along as she stepped back toward the
direction she showed him. “Please help me!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
didn’t wasn’t aware Sakura and Sasuke followed him until he heard those words.
The woman glanced at Sasuke and nodded jerkily before tugging Naruto along
again. He sounded too calm given the circumstances, maybe even a bit cold, but
it helped Naruto grab hold of the situation. He stopped, refusing to allow her
to drag him any further before he could get some information out of her.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Your
kid is trapped in the car?” Naruto asked gently, resisting her pull. “Don’t
worry, I’ll get it out. You stay here, okay?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>She
opened her mouth, as if to say something. Nothing came out. Naruto added for
good measure, already moving to where it seemed as if Sasuke have found it,
“Sakura works in a hospital; she’ll take care of you.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
volunteer at the hospital.” Sakura automatically corrected him before catching
herself and speaking to the woman in softer tones. “But you’ll be fine, let’s
see…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
couldn’t hear the rest. He hurried over where he last saw Sasuke standing. From
the edge of the road, the forest ground was descending toward the west. With
sun already completely down, it was easy to see the car’s broken headlight
blinking. They had slammed right into a tree, but not before managing to avoid
a few others. It was deeper into between the trees than Naruto would expect a
car could get, but close enough for the light to come through.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK7'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>By
the time Sasuke reached the car, Naruto caught up with him. They approached
carefully. It wasn’t that they thought it was as easy as movies suggested for a
car to blow up, but the smoke and hissing noises it was producing were scary.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was horrible. There was glass everywhere, blood splattered around. The front
part of the car was smashed so badly, you could barely see that there were
people still sitting in the front seats though the mess of bent aluminum and
shattered window glass. The driver was twisted horribly; Naruto couldn’t even
tell the gender. He was quite grateful, as he approached, that he couldn’t see
the faces. The woman that stopped them for help was very, very lucky she had
survived.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
peered inside, shielding his eyes from reflection. As Naruto stepped closer, he
glanced back and frowned, “I don’t see a kid inside.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
looked for himself. There was a booster seat in the back, one of those upright ones
that suggested that the baby was old enough to sit. He squinted to take a
better look around, but aside from the pieces of the glass and bent metal,
blood and a thick branch that was peeking through a window with sharp shreds of
glass sticking ominously, there was nothing. There was no kid. There was
nothing alive in there, as far as Naruto could see.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Shit.”
He swore, grabbing for the handle of the back door. “Did it get out on its own?
How big is this baby?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
took effort – that didn’t do any good to Naruto’s already bruised side - but
the door finally yielded under his forceful pulling and opened. Sasuke, in the
meantime, managed to unlock the other one.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Not
too big.” He said. It took Naruto a moment to realize that Sasuke was answering
the question he had asked, so he looked up from moving a large piece of glass
out of his way. Sasuke was holding something… something that looked quite weird
to Naruto in the poor light, like a plain Jack-in-the-Box toy. His confusion
must have showed, for Sasuke explained, “It’s a disposable baby bottle. I don’t
think this child was big enough to walk.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Maybe
it crawled out?” Naruto suggested.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was a farfetched idea. The windows on the back were not broken, just severely
cracked, so the child would have had to crawl over the dead people in the
front. And it would be debatable if even that way there would have been enough
space between the branches and the tree trunk and bent metal to inch through.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
got around the car to look it better at the front part. There was less smoke
now, but he couldn’t find an acceptable path. And even if the kid got though
that mess, it was a long way down.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Baffled,
Naruto started looking around. Sasuke followed his example, but he was wearing
a deep, doubtful scowl plastered on his face.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“This
doesn’t make any sense.” Sasuke said. “There was obviously a kid in the car.
How did it get out?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto,
who was at the moment on his knees looking under the car, looked up, “Maybe
someone got here before us?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
met his eyes. “I guess, but the doors were jammed.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Maybe
they were re-jammed.”

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was getting rapidly darker. Maybe up on the road the visibility wasn’t
disappearing as quickly, but down there, in the midst of large, thick trunks of
old trees, it was becoming hard to see.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
should look around.” Sasuke said.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was likely a good idea to search as much as they could, just in case no one got
there before them and the baby actually managed to crawl out on its own. Naruto
readily accepted. “Right. Take that side?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
nodded and turned to the direction Naruto indicated. Naruto took off to the
opposite side.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
found nothing. There were some sharp bushes blocking an entire side off. Aside
from that, everything was the same, endless tree-trunks and seemingly untouched
forest ground. When it became so dark he couldn’t see anything at all no matter
how much he was squinting, Naruto located the crushed car by the blinking light
and headed back.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was eerie, walking through the woods alone at night.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It almost felt like someone was walking
alongside with Naruto, just out of the sight, watching him as he stumbled over
bumps and soft cushions of piled up leaves. There were no sounds to hold his
attention, nothing aside from his own uneven steps yet he couldn’t help the
goose bumps that rose up his arms as he strained his ears to catch hums of the
forest.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
shrugged off the feeling quickly, too worried about the missing baby to dwell
on a childish fear from the dark. Maybe Sasuke had more luck.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was clear that hope was in vain as soon as Naruto approached the wreck again.
Sasuke was already there, watching the darkness intently in general direction
of the side Naruto was searching. When Naruto came close enough to be seen in
the blinking light of the car, he visibly relaxed.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Nothing?”
Naruto called.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
shook his head. “Nothing.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What
now?” He had no idea what they should. A flashlight, at the very least, was
necessary for further search.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Sakura
must have called the police. They will arrive any moment now. They will
organize a search party, with reflectors, maybe even dogs. Let’s go back up.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
don’t know. Maybe we should wait here until they come?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Impatiently,
Sasuke told him, “We can’t do anything. It’s too dark.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Maybe
there is flashlight in the car?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
car was rented for the occasion, due Sakura’s insurance calculations. Naruto
had no car of his own so he wasn’t sure, but surely some independent light
source was required as standard equipment. Sasuke looked doubtful, but he
nodded, “Maybe. It’d be helpful.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Come
on, then!” the sooner they found some light, the sooner they could come back
and search. Naruto headed up toward the slightly elevated road first, barely
looking where he was stepping in haste. The ground was bumpy at best, but the
thought of tripping and getting hurt wasn’t impacting strongly enough to make
him slow down. Besides, Sasuke was matching his pace swiftly.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Well,
he was matching Naruto’s pace swiftly for a bit before he started to slow down.
Naruto looked back, “What?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
lifted his head, unmistakably finding Naruto’s eyes in the dark. He was
frowning, “Nothing, just…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Did
you see anything?” Naruto demanded, unable to help the thrill of hope.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But
Sasuke was already grabbing toward him, shaking his head, “It’s just a weird
feeling, nothing to…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Like
someone’s following us?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Something
is more likely than someone – an animal. Hurry.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
let Sasuke take the lead and he followed. But once his awareness to the feeling
was awakened again with Sasuke admitting he’d been feeling as well, it was hard
to ignore it. It was like sharp knife grazing the back of his neck,
uncomfortable and alarming. He kept turning until he was spending most of his
time looking back and to the side than forward – and worse yet, he was well
aware Sasuke was doing the exact same thing. They blundered, slowing down by
the second.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
let out some noise Naruto was ready to bet was cursing. He caught up and
admitted, “I can’t see anything.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>And
he should have seen something, if anything was there. They were not far from
the road, and the blinking light from the crashed car was giving the forcefully
made path enough light. The grass wasn’t high, there were no bushes. It was
clear, save from the trees. If an animal was chasing after them, as every cell
of Naruto’s body was screaming was happening, they should have seen it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“This
is creeping me out.” He muttered.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As
if laughing in his face, a loud rattle of a heavy chain followed those words.
Naruto automatically looked at the direction he was sure – he was absolutely
sure – he heard it coming from. There was a broken, dry branch there, laying
undisturbed in low grass; nothing else.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A
sound of chain came again, causing a surge of fear that was bordering on panic to
crawl up Naruto’s arms and back. Before he could react, Sasuke reached out,
grabbed his arm and started dragging him.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Hurry!’
he demanded. Naruto happily hurried after him.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
feeling of being watched, the grave presence, got stronger. It started twisting
from slightly disturbing to menacing. The heavy chain rattled rhythmically – it
took several endless moments before Naruto realized what it sounded like - it
sounded like a huge, running animal was dragging it along.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Without
thinking, he pushed Sasuke before him, “Run!” And Sasuke, as if he was waiting
on that word the entire day, ran. Naruto followed him closely; they were both
quite fast despite the uneven ground, but he managed to keep a hand on Sasuke’s
back somehow. It was small comfort with the feeling of threat and terror
literally chasing after them.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
stumbled over a rock but he kept his footing somehow. The chain jangled closer,
practically at his right, just next to his leg. Even though knowing that he
wouldn’t see anything, he didn’t dare to look. He felt frozen in spot, with the
sensation approaching, closing on him, sucking him it…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Naruto!
You stupid moron!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
recognized Sasuke with a part of his mind that wasn’t overwhelmed with
paralyzing panic. It was hard to take the first step, but it helped that Sasuke
was dragging him forcefully forward. He couldn’t feel anything following him
any longer, because it caught up, it was all around him, pulsing with intent to
capture air in his lungs and rip off his throat…

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Guys!”
he heard Sakura calling from a distance. Sasuke yanked him one last time… And
Naruto blinked as the feeling of peril disappeared. It drained out of him like
water squeezed out of a sponge.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
glanced around, letting Sasuke drag him for awhile longer, until he got a sense
of himself. They were up on the road already, white and red-and-blue lights
everywhere, blinding him. The police arrived. Sasuke was leading them toward
Sakura. Relief and worry switching on her face as she looked them up and down.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What
happened to you?” She asked, voice a frightened whisper, as soon as her eyes
finished scanning Naruto’s face.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Later.”
Sasuke brusquely brushed her off before Naruto could speak up.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Where’s
the woman?” Naruto asked, finding his voice and will to speak with some effort.
“Is she alright?”

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
let her mouth fall open. “But… she went back right after you, to help! I
couldn’t hold her back! Don’t tell me she didn’t find you!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto,
feeling shaken from her high, frightened tone looked at Sasuke, at loss for
words. There was no need to talk it over; they both knew she didn’t come back
to the scene of the crash. They were there, searching around the car for
awhile, even when they came back from the deeper search, she wasn’t there. Was
she lost or…?

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>…Did
that thing get her?

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As
if he read Naruto’s mind, Sasuke squeezed rather harshly his arm. Naruto was
not even completely aware Sasuke was still holding on to him until that moment.
He smiled gratefully. Sasuke turned to look at Sakura again.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
didn’t see her at all after we left her with you.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>She
shook her head, eyes wide and wondering, “What was that?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What
was what?” Naruto asked confused, glancing at Sasuke for clues.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“That!”
She pointed out at Naruto’s face. He frowned and tried to wipe it clean, mildly
irritated – as if it mattered right then if he had some dirt on cheek.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
let go of his arm. “There is a lost baby and apparently a lost woman in the
woods and who knows what else. We’re not talking about that now.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Talking
about what?” Naruto wanted to know, though not enthusiastically. He sounded
tired, even to himself. He felt tired. Half heartedly, he kept rubbing his face.
“What am I missing? Is there something on my face?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Nothing
I can see.” A stranger’s voice cut in. Naruto glanced up. A cop in his neat
brown uniform approached them while they were talking. “Kakashi Hatake, head of
local police. Where is the child?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

“Oh, yeah.” Sakura frowned. “Don’t tell me it’s…?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Not
dead.” Naruto told her. “I think. But we didn’t find it. We looked everywhere,
as far in the woods as we dared, but….”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“It
was already too dark.” Sasuke added. “So we came back to get a flashlight.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The cop efficiently took things in his own
hands. He called for backup, ordered for a search party to be assembled. Naruto
listened to him talking to his partner, into the radio and into his phone
giving it only a part of his attention. Sakura dragged him closer to their
car.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You’re
freezing.” She said when Naruto refused to get inside. “I’ll get you your
jacket.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
wasn’t cold at all. The shaking was an after effect of the fright he got.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He felt torn, wanting to go right back into
the woods but… No, no buts. There was a baby there, and that – that animal
could hurt it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Is
there a flashlight there?” He asked loudly, as she was already on the other
side of the car. “It’s what we came back …”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
are not going back there.” Sasuke interrupted. Naruto looked up, surprised at
his sharp tone.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Of
course I am.” He actually believed Sasuke would go back with him. The thought
of going back alone made his legs feel a bit weak. He ignored it. It would be
better for everyone if Sasuke was safe, anyway. “But you don’t have to.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
don’t have to, either. He,” Sasuke gestured toward the cop who was going
through the trunk of his car in search for something, “has this under control.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
still need to go.” Naruto tried to explain. “I told that woman I’d get her kid
out. I can’t just leave.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Yes,
you can. This is not your responsibility. There will be a search party
assembled in a few minutes and I, for one, don’t want to stay here a minute
longer than necessary.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
scowled at him, “You’re just afraid.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I’m
not afraid.” Sasuke glared. Naruto was about to roll his eyes when he leaned in
closer and added. “Why would I be? That thing wasn’t after me.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Fuck.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You’re
just trying to scare me…” … And doing fine job out of it, Naruto added
inwardly. He was the one who froze and Sasuke had to drag him along. It would
make sense he was so afraid when Sasuke wasn’t because he wasn’t feeling that
overwhelming dread.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What
are the two of you on about?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
was standing not three feet away, Naruto’s bright jacket and a flashlight in
her hands and puzzled frown on her face.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Nothing.”
Naruto quickly said.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
are leaving.” Sasuke managed practically at the same time.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No,
we’re not.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
wasn’t paying attention to what Naruto said, “But I thought we would help, join
the search. I feel really bad for that woman, I want to help.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No.”
The answer was loud and chorused. As Naruto glanced at Sasuke, almost – almost
– amused, Sakura gave him his jacket. Sasuke continued. “You can’t. Neither
one of you. We are getting out of here.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Aren’t
you bossy?” Naruto muttered, with no intention whatsoever to do as Sasuke said.
He was getting a bit angry and it made him feel braver. “Look, just stay here
with Sakura and...”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No,
I’m going, too.” Sakura interrupted.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You’re
not.” There was nothing amusing about speaking like one this time. Naruto
glanced angrily at Sasuke, but Sasuke was fixing Sakura with a glare. She
rolled her eyes and lifted the flashlight, making the light dance over their
faces before turning it off.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I’ve
got the light, so I’m going.” She announced. “You two do what you want.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
reacted first, as he always did, but Naruto wasn’t far behind. They both jumped
toward her. She let out a yelp as they grabbed at her hands, one each. Naruto
managed to grab a hold on the long, silvery tube under Sakura’s fingers. He
yanked it and Sakura yelped again, utterly confused, and resisted on impulse.
As Naruto struggled to get her to let go, Sasuke grabbed a hold of the
flashlight as well.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Let
go.” Naruto hissed.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
let go.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
need it, you asshole! I have to go find that baby!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“And
what should I do?” Sasuke demanded with something akin a snarl. “Let you off
into those woods alone or stay here with her?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
didn’t see why he said that like it was a hard choice. “Stay here with her!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What
is wrong with you two?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>They
froze, both still holding the flashlight firmly. Sakura yelled all the time, so
it wasn’t her loud voice what startled them. It was fear in it. They were fighting
her, fighting each other. As if it wasn’t enough there were… things
lurking in the woods around them, Naruto and Sasuke were making situation even
worse.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Nothing.”
Naruto said.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke,
to Naruto’s surprise, let go of the flashlight and stepped away. He was still
glaring, angry and upset. He didn’t look like he really gave up so Naruto
pocketed his prize quickly and crossed his arms over his jacket so no one could
suddenly reach into his inner pocket.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When
he was done, Sasuke was narrowing his eyes – at Sakura. “Something happened
when we were coming back from the woods. I’m not sure what, but something was
following us. Chasing us.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
mean,” Sakura said, glancing around, “an animal.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
meant what I said. Something.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-tab-count:1'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“A
wolf?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No
wolfs in this country.” Naruto chipped in. He didn’t like the idea of a scared
Sakura, but she was so stubborn. If she got scared, she wouldn’t want to go
into the woods. It was the simplest way to keep her safe. His comment made her
and Sasuke glance at him, so he shrugged. “Kiba said so.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Even
if there were wolfs here, they’d be hardly be chained and invisible.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>And
a lost baby.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
wasn’t even aware when he started walking toward the track left from the
crashed car into the black forest, but then there was Sasuke in his way,
blocking it physically. They knew each other for awhile now, for a couple of
years. It wasn’t love at first sight – maybe because Naruto got very defensive
about being impressed by someone quite as much. It wasn’t important right then,
but he was still sad about how little Sasuke knew him. He met Sasuke’s eye and
said, gently, “You can’t stop me.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
pursed his lips, as if to say that he did know that, but he nodded toward the
far end of the road. Naruto glanced back, suspiciously. Not that Sasuke was
particularly prone to tricks…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>There
was a line of headlights turning in several hundred feet down the road. He
hadn’t noticed until that moment that fog wrapped itself around the area, dark
gray and heavy on his lungs. It wasn’t so thick to hide those few shapes close
enough to be visible. It just blurred them, alienating them further. There was
tree with branches leaning over the opposite side of the road. Naruto couldn’t
see the tip of it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“They
are well organized. Too well.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
words were slow, deliberate. They almost startled Naruto, more with the soft
tone Sasuke was using than because they came unexpected. He thought about it.
“It must happen a lot.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Exactly,”
Sasuke answered, as if he had proved some point.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“That
doesn’t mean I shouldn’t go and help him. I promised.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“If
you go, I’ll go with you.” Naruto, who was trying to step around him, stopped
to protest but Sasuke wasn’t finished. “And if we both go, she will
follow.” He tilted his head, as if in consideration.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “It would probably even be safer than to stay
up here all alone.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Did
he mean it? Would he leave Sakura alone just so Naruto wouldn’t go into the woods?
Was it a bluff? Either way - he spit out, “You bastard.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>His
words got lost in the sound of multiple engines coming to a halt not far away,
but Sasuke smirked. He knew he won. It was a hard choice, but there were people
already there to look for the baby, while getting Sakura in danger would be his
sole fault.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>There
were a lot of people coming out the cars lined up on the side of the road. It
wasn’t all that late – or Naruto didn’t think it was – but some of them looked
as if they were dragged directly from their beds. There was a woman that had
her housedress, obviously put on hastily over jeans and a sweater instead of a
jacket. She was an odd picture. Two younger men were counting something between
them and an older, impatient guy with them was hugging himself against the
gentle wind. Only a few talked but Naruto couldn’t catch a word of it, it was
all whispers and body signs. Only one
single person, an older woman wrapped in a huge knitted shawl, nodded in
greeting as she passed them.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Collectively
they seemed normal enough, but they creeped Naruto out worse than the thought
of going into the woods alone. He
shivered.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Wordlessly,
Sasuke pushed him a little toward Sakura and the car. With heavy heart, Naruto
went with it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
woke up abruptly, escaping the nightmare. His chest still felt heavy, as if
burdened with lead and rusty iron. It was a disturbing dream, one of those that
had nothing special in them but clutched painfully at your very heart anyway.
He had been looking for tracks Naruto had left on the ground in it, but then
the snow had started falling – or was it ashes? He couldn’t remember anything
else, aside that his fingers had started hurting.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Still gasping for breath, Sasuke looked at his
hands. Between the flickering of the TV
screen, the light he had left on in the bathroom and the gray of the early
morning outside, it was just bright enough to see that his fingers were red.
They felt tender and sore, like he was trying to dig up though the mattress in his
sleep.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Brushing
his hair off his wet forehead, Sasuke lowered his head back on the strange, overly
fluffy pillow. The sheets smelled like almonds, sickly sweet and strong, so he
buried his nose into the inner side of his elbow, accidentally brushing the
bruise Naruto gave him the previous day. What was it with B&B inns and
flowery, fruity themes? Even when rooms weren’t overdone in silly patterns,
like this one fortunately wasn’t, there had to be at least a ridiculous smell
to make him sick.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
television blazed in violent blue, movements on the screen making dancing
patterns on the walls and the ceiling, but the only sounds were coming from the
next room. Naruto’s room. Sasuke focused
on it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
changed every two, three seconds. Before he could distinguish if it was a
movie, commercials or a rerun of a talk show, the sounds were dying off for a
second and then coming alive again as something else.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was Sasuke’s third time to wake up, after long hours of struggling to get some
sleep. Naruto was obviously in a similar state. It took a long time to shake
off enough of the incident of the previous night and grasp at some normality.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
drove them to the edge of the small town where the bright signs offering rooms
and food were pointing, but even she looked pale, frightened and stressed out.
He told her just a bit, just as much as he had to get leverage for the argument
with Naruto. It was low of him, certainly, but he wasn’t regretting it. She
would shake it off as soon morning comes, anyway.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>She
will, because he didn’t tell her about the feeling that went with it, the
feeling of being tailed, hounded; like you are the pray with the hunter closing
in on you. He couldn’t see anything, just like he knew Naruto couldn’t, but
that didn’t help panic leaping into his mind, threatening to close him up.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was the look on Naruto’s face that had brought him back together. He had caught
a sight of it just where the headlights of their car broke though to illuminate
the rest of the way up. Naruto didn’t look like he was just afraid, it was
beyond that. It was expression of someone whose mind the fear had chased away
from their head. Sasuke wasn’t even aware that he was dragging Naruto around
until Sakura opened her mouth. He was
too busy trying not to give into panic.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
ended well - as long as they never had to go back, or come back to this part of
the country. With hard, selfish edge to what should have been a genuine wish
for someone’s wellbeing, Sasuke thought, God, I hope they find that kid…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Because
Naruto was feeling responsible. That woman, she grabbed him and talked to him
almost as if Sakura and Sasuke weren’t there at all. She grabbed him like she
had the sixth sense to tell her that he was just the person for the job, if
your baby was in trouble. If anyone was in trouble, really – trapped in a
burning building, or standing on the top of one, preparing to jump off, or
drowning – Naruto was the guy to go to for help. No matter the cost.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was hard, being in… caring for someone with a martyr complex.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In
the next room, programs stopped changing. Naruto left his TV on a channel with
some music. At first, Sasuke didn’t recognize it, it was just a vaguely
familiar tune played on a trumpet. Then the rough, deep voice of Louse
Armstrong arose. La vie en rose for the first time ever sounded eerie
and overly sweet, like almond in the sheets, awakening nausea.style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
bathroom was connecting his room to Naruto’s. He wasn’t surprised that the door
was ajar on the other side, as well. He pushed them, to open wider. The room
was green where his was blue, but otherwise practically the same. Naruto was
out of his bed, staring though the window. He acknowledged with nothing more
than a slight movement of his head when more of the sickly yellow light from
the bathroom broke into his room around Sasuke.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Morning,”style='mso-spacerun:yes'> Naruto greeted after several long seconds.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
entered his room. The bed was a complete mess, sheets and pillows scattered over
the bed and on the floor on one side. He pushed to the back of his mind any
thoughts about almonds and stood next to Naruto, at the window.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
saw Kaiza.” Naruto waved though toward the gray mist outside. Sasuke
automatically followed it with his eyes. “He just got back.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
fog was still thick. Naruto’s window wasn’t looking out at it, but there was a
small river nearby. Branches of a walnut tree were breaking though the fog
toward the glass to show off their black bark and prematurely withered leaves,
clinging desperately with the last traces of life to them. The sight reminded
Sasuke of his dream. He shuddered.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK15'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Do
you think they found them?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto’s
voice was just a whisper this time.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
don’t know,” Sasuke answered honestly. “Probably. They knew what they were
doing.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“But
why did it take so long? D’you think…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
think you didn’t sleep at all tonight over something that was being handled by
people more competent and fit for the job than you are.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Well,
I promised her to help.” Naruto said with a glare. Sasuke met his eye with the
intention to distinguish signs of tiredness and point them out, but all he
could see was stubbornness in the set of Naruto’s jaw and challenge.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “And there is really no reason not to help.
We’re early, anyway.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We’re
early for a reason. Sakura is the bridesmaid and needs to be fitted for her
dress.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“And
she needs me with her to do what, hold the edges up?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>That
was not a picture Sasuke needed in his head. He snapped, “Fawn.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Faw…?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
know, that thing that comes naturally whenever you are in same room with
her.” A small, oddly familiar
voice snapped at him in turn inside of his mind and mocked, Jealousy,
Sasuke?

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
call it sucking up.” Naruto said. He attempted to lighten his tone, but there
was no mistaking the puzzlement. “She gives heavier concussions than you do.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK14'>Because you let her.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But
Sasuke got the hold of himself. It wasn’t the moment for that conversation. It
was never the right moment to give Naruto clues, his obliviousness was a blessing.
He’d never live it down if Naruto caught up.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
agreed to rent the car with her instead of waiting for the next plane.” He said
in what he hoped sounded at least a little more patient and normal to Naruto
than it did to him. “She needs to be there and you can’t stay here to wander
around unfamiliar woods in search for a child that is already been searched for
by at least a half the local population.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
don’t get you,” Naruto said - after giving Sasuke’s mini rant a few moments to
settle. “Don’t you feel even a bit worried?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No.”
Of course he was. More for Naruto – and Sakura and himself – than for some
strangers, but he was feeling worry for those people as well.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It wasn’t as if he wanted something bad to
happen to a child.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Responsibility?”
Naruto shot next.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No.”
That one wasn’t even far from being true.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Are
you even human at all? You stuck up, emotionally retarded…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You’re
yelling.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“…Bastard.”
Naruto finished, though softer. He hadn’t been really yelling, but he was
starting to raise his voice.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was much brighter outside, Sasuke noticed. The fog was turning white. He
wondered if it smelled like dead things and dirt.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
gave a frustrated sigh after realizing he wouldn’t be getting any answers and
stomped away toward the bed. The
mattress made a sound as he landed and Sasuke continued to look out through the
window. He never really had a wish to stare outside, especially with everything
there shapeless and unfamiliar, but he continued to do it anyway. His fingers
still felt sore as he clenched his hands into fists.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Do
you really not feel anything?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Of
course I do, Naruto.” Sasuke said, not bothering to hide the impatience any
longer. He used the conversation as an excuse to turn away from the window and
scorned himself for feeling the need to have an excuse for such an inane thing
in the first place. It was just a fucking window. “If there wasn’t a search
party out there, I would have continued searching for the baby, even with that
thing – things – out there. But it’s being handled.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
was sitting on his bed, propping himself on his arms. His old red sleeping
shirt had a hole down one side, Sasuke noticed sitting next to him. The smell
of almonds hit his nose - and it didn’t make him feel sick at all.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Yeah…”
Naruto murmured. “It’s what I keep telling myself.” Letting his hand slide on
both sides, he stretched on the bed behind. “And then I close my eyes and I see
her face - she was crying, she was so upset and I promised, you know?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
promised because we were the only ones there and we expected to find the child
in the car.” It was beyond ridiculous at that point. Why the hell would Naruto
feel that much responsibility? Why did he always have to save everyone and
everything? It was as if he had some itch deep inside – a consequence of being
an orphan, maybe – something that had him needing to try extremely hard to make
it better where anyone else would give up.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>You
didn’t mind when he was set on saving you.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
same voice from before – a disturbing hybrid of Sakura’s wariness and Itachi’s
amusement – was a hypocritical bastard that missed out a point or two in the
assessment. Like how badly Sasuke needed it, unlike a kid that was being looked
for by dozens of people already. Or that he had minded it at the time. He had
minded it a lot.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
squashed the second attempt of the voice to step forward with expertise that
came to him with years of practice. It might have showed on his face, because
Naruto asked, “Are you alright?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
was feeling a little like his bones got weak from the cold and were not far
from giving up on him.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“In
need of a shower, I think.” He was in need of a long and hot shower, even
though he would likely be freezing later. Naruto made a small noise in his
throat, blinked and glanced away, like Sasuke had started undressing in front
of him. “Why don’t you go and ask Kaiza
about the results of the search?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
instantly jumped to his feet. He gave a quick, name="OLE_LINK9">perfunctory smile and
walked out of the room with a promise of seeing about some food as well.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
hoped the news were good. Kaiza, boyfriend of their landlord’s daughter and an
employee of the inn, told them last night while settling them in that he was to
be in the second group if the first one didn’t bring good results - something
like a messenger who kept in touch with the rest of the town during his shift.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> They hadn’t seen him go out, so it was
sometime after they retreated to their rooms, but the second group was
obviously needed if Naruto saw him coming back early that morning.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Hot
water helped – for as long as the shower lasted. The radiators were warm when
Sasuke checked them, but not enough to beat the bone-chilling coldness of the
morning, not even inside of his room. It took some time to towel the most of
the wetness out of his hair and find the thickest shirt he had in his luggage.
By the time he finished and descended the cheerful staircase painted white and
green, there was greasy smell of sausages in the air. His stomach protested
again with a sharp wave of nausea.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>There
were definitely more people seated in the kitchen than it was staying at the
establishment. Actually, Sasuke was pretty sure they were the only guests at
the moment. The lake on the other side of the village was somewhat popular with
the people from the nearby city, but only in the summer, during swimming season
– or so they were told.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
quiet, tired looking people wolfing in the breakfast as if it was the last meal
they would ever get were obviously a part of the search party.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He recognized a few faces from the road where
they had left them last night. They must have come to the inn for the breakfast
in an attempt not to wake their families so early in the morning.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
found Naruto at the table in the kitchen. Only one look at his face answered
all questions Sasuke could have thought of asking – the search party was
failing so far. In retrospect, the quiet seriousness of the people he had
passed on his way should have been his first clue. But the frustration and
worry in Naruto’s clenched jaw put it beyond doubt.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Here,”
Sakura called. He didn’t notice her until she spoke, but the spot next to her
that she was offering for him to take was not two feet from the large black
wood burning stove that was crackling wildly in the moderately quiet room.
Sasuke took it gratefully. His hair was still very wet, but he warmed up even
before the owner’s daughter – Tsunami – put a plate in front of him with a
strained smile.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Bad
news?” He asked, mostly to avoid the food but also because the silence was stretching.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>A
couple of people on the other side of the table looked up. One shook his head,
worried expression making it clear that the answer wasn’t, in fact, a no.
Naruto pushed his chair loudly away from the table. His plate was still full.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I’m
going out with them when the next search party sets out.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
looked up with that fierce defiance and determination that probably made
bullies step away in alarm from their victims in high school. Sasuke wondered
if Naruto expected him to try and drag him forcefully away, or just argue. He
raised his eyebrows, making a picture of someone expecting the punch line. Of
course Naruto was going to go out there, into those cursed woods, to try his
best to find that baby. In the daylight, as faint as it was on a foggy morning,
his greatest concern was what would happen if Naruto didn’t find anything, not
some nightmarish being that barely felt real anymore.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
all are, Naruto.” Sakura said. They both stopped staring at each other to look
at her. She took a bite of sausage and waited for them to stop. When they
didn’t, she demanded, “What? I sure won’t be going anywhere until this is
settled and we can just as well help as much as we can. I talked to that cop –
Kakashi - we met last night, so he probably put us on the schedule already. ”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>So
that was settled, then.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“But…”
Naruto said. “I don’t want you to go out there.”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>In
the mostly quiet kitchen, Sakura’s laughter exploded like fireworks on
Christmas morning, inappropriate and too loud. She smothered it quickly. “I
appreciate your consideration to my comfort, Naruto. Now if we’re going to
spend the day out, you should eat something. Both of you.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“That’s
a good advice.” While they were talking, the cop from the last night – Kakashi
- entered the kitchen. He was probably coming from outside, as his scarf was
still wrapped tightly around his neck, high enough to muffle the words. He
walked to where the three of them were sitting, obviously there for their sake.
“The third shift is taking over at nine – that means that each shift has about six
hours out. You have to promise me you will stay with your assigned partners at
all times, though. No wandering on your own, we already have enough work on our
hands, we don’t need any of you to go missing.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
waited for them all to nod their acceptance before continuing, “It looks like
it’s going to be raining, so wear something waterproof if you have it or ask
Tsunami to find you something. I’ll take you to the woods point, so meet me
outside at eight-thirty.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As
if reacting to a secret sign, the man who was sitting opposite from Sakura at
the table stood up after quickly wiping his mouth a second before Kakashi
stopped talking. Engaged in a quiet conversation, they left the room together.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
forced a couple of bites down. Sakura finished breakfast first and knowing full
well that none of them were likely to have brought waterproof clothes to the
wedding, went to find them something. Most of the kitchen cleared up, but
Naruto was still picking though his plate, so Sasuke remained seated.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
silence was uncomfortable. Naruto seemed to have been expecting something from
him, but Sasuke had nothing to say. He still wished he could pack him and
Sakura into the rented car and drive them as far away as possible – but he also
wished the breakfast was lighter, that he didn’t have to wear someone else’s
clothes and that he didn’t have to move every time Tsunami had to put another
log into the stove behind him. Wishing for something else wouldn’t change
anything; he would still do what he had to.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kakashi
came back with a file and notepad and interrupted the tense silence.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
have a good half hour left before we have to leave,” He said. “So let’s finish
this. I’ll take your statements so you could sign it right now and leave whenever
you like.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We
won’t leave before we find that baby – and that woman.”style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
didn’t particularly like what Kakashi’s carful avoidance to acknowledge
Naruto’s words said about their odds. He kept his mouth closed, though.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Alright,
so I wrote down what you told me last night.” Kakashi pushed a piece of paper
toward them. “Is this right?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
handwriting was spiky and easy to read but… “Just one statement?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Well,
your stories were close enough. I have no time to waste, so either one signing this
will do.” Kakashi explained. “Read though, just in case.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
leaned over the paper, and so did Naruto.
It was correct – if vague – saying that they were stopped by a hurt
woman, who asked them to help a child out of the crashed car, went to investigate
but were unable to find anyone to give help to and looked around for the
missing child until the police came.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Yeah,
that’s what happened. “Naruto said. “But I left my wallet up in my room. Should
I go get it?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Only
Naruto would leave his wallet in an unlocked room of an inn with so many people
around. It would be pointless to argue about it right then, so Sasuke simply
shook his head and gave Kakashi his ID. He signed the paper, grateful for the
vagueness if the statement on it. If it told the complete truth, he would be
putting his name under the declaration that invisible chains were chasing them.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What’s
that?” Naruto asked. He was leaning over the table, cocking his head under a
strange angle to get a better look at the picture peeking from Kakashi’s
folder.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kakashi
stopped making the note of Sasuke’s ID number to glance at it. “Coroner’s
office photos. We don’t have a confirmation yet on the identity of the people
killed in the crash, but the car was registered on the name of Asuma Sarutobi,
so for now we are assuming it’s him and his family.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Before
he finished talking, Naruto stopped dead in an odd, crooked position over the
table. Kakashi noticed his unnatural stillness at the same moment as Sasuke,
but he finished his sentence anyway. Naruto grew as pale as a dead man, clearly
in shock.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Naruto.”
Sasuke called him. It didn’t help; he
kept staring at the picture, perplexed.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kakashi
looked over at Sasuke like there was no doubt that he would know what to do
better than anyone. Sasuke reached and snatched the folder quickly, but Naruto
just followed it with his eyes without protesting.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
took out the first picture from the file; the one Naruto was staring at.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“That
is the woman that was sitting on the passenger’s seat.” Kakashi informed them.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“But
she’s dead.” Naruto croaked while Sasuke felt his face draining of blood.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
person on the photograph, it was her. It was the woman with long dark hair in
white dress, the one that stopped them and begged them to save her baby. The
white face in the photo was obviously washed; all the smudges of blood were
carefully removed of her face so they would the identification would be easier.
Or were they even there? If she was dead, they couldn’t have seen her at all,
so the blood Sasuke remembered so clearly – along with her – they couldn’t be
real.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Yes,
I just said so. She died in the passenger seat, her neck was broken as she
apparently was in the middle of trying to turn around and reach backwards when
they hit the tree. I thought you saw her when you tried to open the car.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Her
face was covered with her hair.” Sasuke explained, his voice hollow. “We didn’t
recognize her.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“So
you knew her when she was alive? Can you tell me who she was? We assumed it was
the wife of Asuma Sarutobi, but I’m afraid the handbag we found was mostly
destroyed…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Oh
my God!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
finally moved first. He jumped, quick as an eye blink, to put himself between
the wide-eyed Sakura standing not far from the table and the photos. It was far
too late, though.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kakashi
eyed her, “What’s the problem here?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Even
if Sasuke had the time to think of how to do it, it would have been too late to
stop Sakura from saying, “That’s the woman that stopped us on the road last
night!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As
the implications of her statement sunk in, Kakashi’s eyes widened
slightly. She must be wrong, he would
say. The woman had clearly never left her seat in the car, as she died on the
spot of broken neck. There was someone else there, on the backseat with the
baby; the dead woman’s sister maybe?

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
need to go make sure preparations are going well. “ Kakashi said instead of any
of that. “No one is going to be upset if you change your mind about coming with
us.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We…”
Naruto glanced around to confirm it, but really. There was no going back.
“We’re coming with you.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Kakashi
left them alone in the kitchen.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>No
one said a thing.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
was paired with a bulky guy who had his bushy red hair trapped back in a plait.
He was somewhat relived that Sakura was off with Kakashi, even though they
headed to a completely different direction. He was competent and seemed to have
known what he was up against. She was
better off with someone like that. Safer.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
would have been hard to orientate in the unfamiliar surroundings, but the
villagers thought of it in time. He was sent to help cover one bank on the
small river that cutting down the edge of the forest. It was impossible to get
lost even in unfamiliar fields, clumps and groves if you were following an
unbreakable line. On the other side of
the river, he could occasionally catch a glimpse of Naruto between the bushes
and trees. His side was mostly cleared up for cultivation a long time ago,
though it was too late in the year to see anything growing. Small squares of
soil were plowed, prepared for next season.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> The grass was high, rich green despite being
sprinkled with yellow and orange fallen leaves. Kakashi was definitely right
about the weather. It took a long time for the fog to lift, maybe even until
after noon. It was been hard to look in the beginning; flashlights weren’t
helping much with white morning fog. And as convenient as the river was, it
seemed that there were many more places for a small child to hide in around it.
The river itself was tiny, but the banks were high and aslope. The land was
uneven, full of holes and bumps, weeds were tall and dense.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> It was a slow, hard work.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>And
then the rain started and all that Sasuke thought was hard became torture.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
good side of it – if there was one – was that while struggling with the layers
of mud on his shoes, rain drops sliding into his shirt and hands hurt from
moving rocks and other nasty stuff, he didn’t have the time to think about
other things.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>…Other
things being chained invisible creatures and dead women begging Naruto to save
their children. No wonder she was so set on having him promise her – it was some
supernatural sixth sense that told her he would be just the person.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When
3PM came and Sasuke’s nice and thankfully quiet companion announced that it was
the time to wait for the next shift to take over, it felt like they were out
there for six days, not six hours. He was tired; all adrenalin long since
drained out of him.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As
they waited on a convenient spot in the open, it seemed colder than before.
Sasuke stuffed his hands in pockets and attempted to distract himself.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“How
would we know if someone had found anything?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“They’d
yell – or phone us. “ The man whose name Sasuke had forgotten fished out his
cell phone to wave with it. “But we’d likely hear it first, sound carries
around here.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>As
if set just to prove his point, they heard Naruto complain on the other side of
the small river. “But then – just until they come. Why would we just stand
here, doing nothing?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
was just across, though there were trees there to protect him and his partner
from the wind.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Aren’t
you tired?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
smiled to himself. Naruto wouldn’t even recognize the word, not when he had an
agenda. A quest. Give him ten lines to write down and he would fall asleep in
the middle of it, claiming he was too tired to finish, but this… He’d never
grow tired of trying to save something, even if it was a stray dog.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>What
were their chances to get him to return, at least to the inn if not back to
their trip, anyway? Not good.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No,
why would I be? We’ve just got here.” Naruto answered, unsurprisingly. “Hey,
can I just take another shift? Instead of putting two new people here, just
send someone to go with me. Or I can go alone, that’s fine, too.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“He’s…
determined,” Sasuke’s companion commented, startling him from trying to catch a
glance of familiar blond hair across the river.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“He’s
a moron.” Sasuke corrected him. “How do you cross this? Is there a bridge
nearby?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“There
is only one bridge over, back near the town. You could jump.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>That
was a monstrously bad idea with all the slippery mud. Sasuke started looking
for the narrowest part nearby anyway. The stream was fast and high. Foam
bubbling up in the rush was dirty and as brown as the eroding riverbanks.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Their
conversation was overheard, or at least their voices, for Naruto appeared on
the other riverbank just as Sasuke found a convenient taper. He was still
wearing the horrible red canvas cap. It didn’t fall down even when Sasuke
almost slipped at the landing and Naruto had to pull him up quickly to the
other side.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Despite
the glare he got, Naruto let go only after making sure Sasuke was stable. He
grumbled, “Our shift is up.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
know.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
don’t want to go back.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
know that, too.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
frowned at the lack of sympathy. “Where’s your hat? Your hair is wet.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
thought about the orange rag stuffed in his pocket. “I lost it.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“On
purpose?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Well,
it was hideous. He changed the subject, “Sakura will be waiting for us.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You’d
better go back then and make sure she doesn’t worry too much.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“While
you take on another shift and stay out here to well into the night?” Yeah, no
way. Sakura can worry all she wants – back at the inn, safe - if he doesn’t
manage to talk Naruto into heading back.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Yes.”
Naruto said simply, as if answering a real question.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“No.
If you stay, I’m staying too.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
wasn’t there for him to use her safety to pressure Naruto into going back. All
he had was himself – and anyway, he meant it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But
it failed. Naruto stepped back from him and hissed, “I can’t believe you’re
blackmailing me! Just go back – I know you want to! And I’ll come when we find
the baby.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When
they find a baby. Like it was a matter of time.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Yeah,
it was very hard being in love with someone with martyr complex. And Sasuke
wasn’t a very patient person.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
grabbed Naruto’s jacket to keep him in place when Naruto tried to step further
away, but instead he pulled him closer. “Do you realize – did it even occur to
you that that child is dead? Because chances are, it is.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I’m
not stupid! Of course I know I could be – it could be… But I don’t know for
sure! So I have to look, because it’s just a helpless little baby and I
promised!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
jerked himself free and without looking at Sasuke again, started walking down
the riverbank again. There was nothing to do but follow after him. The dark
would fall in just a couple of hours. Light was already dimmer – or was that
just his imagination?

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>How
did Sasuke’s fat companion jump over the river was a something to wonder about,
but he didn’t question it aloud as he looked to find both villagers looking at
Naruto walking away with worry.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“We’ll
just keep following the river.” Sasuke told them. He wasn’t sure if they will
take Naruto’s enthusiasm seriously enough to send another two teams to follow
the river or not.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Make
sure you don’t go through your batteries too quickly.” Naruto’s now already
ex-partner advised him. “I’m serious,
man. If you notice your batteries are getting weak, head back immediately.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
looked like he was about to say something else, so Sasuke lingered a second.
Nothing came out. He nodded and turned to follow Naruto, who was going so
quickly he was almost completely out of his sight among the trees.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
wasn’t stupid enough to try to slip away, which was better for both of them,
but he pointedly ignored Sasuke at first. The wind picked up, cold and full of
rain drops that felt like needles where they touched bare skin. More than ever,
Sasuke wanted to stick his hands into his pockets, for warmth. It was impossible,
because the grass was getting higher and thicker as they moved and he needed to
push it out of his way. It was harder than ever to press forward, but Naruto
was looking as if took no effort at all, as if there was something dragging him
though the dense, wet bushes.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
wasn’t a result of conscious decision, but as the light dimmed Sasuke found
himself walking close enough to hear Naruto mutter under his breath. Once or
twice, Naruto thought he saw something, chased forward to get it and then let out
bitter disappointment with so much frustration in the form of curses. If there
was a way to soothe him, Sasuke couldn’t think of it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
was too busy convincing himself that there was nothing behind him, anyway. It
wasn’t exactly as intense as the feeling of being watched and followed from the
previous evening, but his skin was prickling whenever a sound would break
though the rumble of the river.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Fuck.”
Naruto finally said loudly, just as Sasuke was trying to blink gray spots out
of his eyes, caused by effort to see what was on the other side of a fallen
tree trunk. “I don’t see shit.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
retrieved the flashlight Kakashi gave him and turned it on. It wasn’t night,
not quite yet, so Sasuke considered telling him about the warning he’d got. But
it was hardly of any use to walk around if they couldn’t see properly and also…
with darkness getting thicker, fear was settling at the base of his spine.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto’s
flashlight, strong and bright, brought instant relief despite it being able to
illuminate properly only a small portion of wet soil and vegetation around
them.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
didn’t question Sasuke’s decision not to follow his example, opting instead to
stay close. It felt safer – a tiny little bit safer – though Sasuke wasn’t
about to deny it to himself when his eye caught a movement on his left and his
heart sped up under the surge of adrenalin that he would go back instantly to
the inn or their car given half a chance.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
sky soon turned into an endless smudge of ink, except all the way on the
horizon where occasionally lightning cut it downward in an ominous promise of a
storm.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“How
many hours?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Startled,
Sasuke looked at Naruto blankly, “What?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“How
many hours is that kid out here someplace? About twenty four, right? The sun
was setting when she – when we pulled over from the road last night.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Yes,
about twenty four hours. Why?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
shrugged his left shoulder and found a better angle for the beam of light to
reach a dark spot behind a rock. “I don’t know.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Like
fuck he didn’t know. “You’re thinking how low our chances of finding anything
are.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
was thinking that it wasn’t too late. Twenty four hours isn’t that long.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“It
is for a baby. It could have fallen in the water and drowned – that is, if you
can buy that it reached as far as the river.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
straightened in the middle of the sentence like Sasuke had physically pulled
him back from checking a shallow alcove in the muddy bank nearly bare weeping
willow. He turned, eyes wide and shocked.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What
the hell? Sasuke, you can’t just say that!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“It’s
true.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
can’t say it.” Naruto insisted, franticly waving his hand. “You can’t –
you are going to make me think it and then…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Good.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“…I’ll
get afraid and sloppy – it’s not good!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“If
you’re going to yell at me like that, is there a way you’d tell me what I can
do to make you head back?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
opened his mouth incredulously. “Well, now that I know you’ve been just waiting
for it...”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Excellent,”
Sasuke cut in. Despite the dire circumstances, biting wind and Naruto seething,
it was hard not to roll his eyes. It takes a little more that a certain tone of
voice to pull off sarcasm. “As I went
through the trouble of asking. “

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I’m
not going back now!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Oh,
for fuck’s sake! Maybe there wasn’t a baby in that car at all!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“There
was – stuff, baby stuff everywhere…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“And
even if there was, it shouldn’t have been possible for it to get out of the
car! It shouldn’t have been able to crawl out of our reach in such short time!
And its dead mother certainly shouldn’t have been able to get up on the road
and jump in front of our car!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Don’t
you see? That’s just it! If she,” Naruto stopped suddenly and inhaled sharply.
His eyes fluttered closed for a moment. He stepped closer to finish, voice
softer and eyes pleading, “If she, you know, bothered to stay behind and ask me
– ask us to help her baby, then it should be possible. We should have had a
chance. We should still have it. She was dead and she…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
felt his anger draining. He gritted his teeth, trying to hold on to it forcefully.
It shouldn’t be so easy for Naruto to talk him into to doing ridiculous things,
to even convince him that they weren’t crazy at all. There was sense in his
words Sasuke knew from previous experience will turn out faulty and stupid
after he agreed and Naruto stopped looking at him like that.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
squeezed his fists, struggling. His palms were cut in places. His fingers were
bruised. It was painful to keep them like that.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
cleared his head.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
gave her enough. She should have helped more.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“You
think this is enough?” That was a sneer on Naruto’s face, ugly in the odd angle
under which the flashlight was illuminating it. His eyes were just huge
shadows. “It would take months of wandering about these woods for it to come
anywhere near to compete…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“And
here I am, being eternally grateful you pulled me forcefully though all phases
of clinical depression with suicidal tendencies by trying to return the favor!
Where is your dead woman? Shouldn’t <i>she</i> be holding
your hand when you’re trying to save her child?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
don’t even want you here! You should be someplace safe!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>name="OLE_LINK18">style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>That
much was true. Or Sasuke just felt drained for acknowledging the thing they
never talked about.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“So
should you.” He sighed. “You’ve done enough.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
felt like it was going to stick. It looked like Naruto was letting go… But then
he spun on his heel with a growl. The beam of light jumped erratically high
above their heads, making Sasuke lose his balance and the sight of Naruto. In
the next second, the beam calmed down some and he saw Naruto slipping down. He
was just in time to hear the yelp Naruto let out up close and catch him around
waist.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was harder than he expected to hold Naruto up. Sasuke’s shoes were so muddy he
was barely keeping his ankles straight to begin with and the sharp descent of
the bank was wet and slimy. It wasn’t until he was low enough to sit down and
balance himself on his ass that he managed to stop them both from falling right
into the river.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Thank
God Naruto had enough sense not to struggle.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Uh.”
Naruto said. “Uh. Gross. Cold.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
nodded in empathy against his shoulder.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Man.
I think you saved my life.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Don’t
be stupid. The water’s not deep enough.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“An
ankle at the very least,” Naruto offered. There was a smile in his voice.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
wished he could see it, but he kept his forehead against Naruto’s neck anyway.
For the first time since last night, he was feeling halfway safe. It was
slightly intoxicating.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>After
a second of enjoying the sensation, he said, “You’re sitting on mine.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
moved his leg a bit, so Naruto would feel it under him. “You are sitting on my
ankle.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
should get off it, I guess,” Naruto acknowledged. Sasuke tightened his hands
around him, but he didn’t try to move at all. “After all, you saved mine.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
cold wetness reached his senses finally. It was very dark; the only thing
Sasuke could see clearly was the line of Naruto’s jaw and the tip of his nose.
Where his hand brushed Naruto’s thigh, his jeans were soaked.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
think your lungs are in trouble, though.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Umm?”
Naruto asked, sounding absent.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-tab-count:1'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
pinched the wet material in his fingers. “You will end up with pneumonia if you
don’t dry quickly.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Oh,
that? Hehe. I thought you were groping me for the kicks.” He might have
squeezed, or stiffened his back or something because Naruto reacted to the
emotion that flared though him. He glanced quickly back at Sasuke. “Er. I’m…”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Bad
timing, that’s all.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
waited, wondering if Naruto would get that as ‘bad timing’ for jokes like that,
or ‘bad time to start something’. It didn’t feel like either breathed for a
moment. He felt and heard Naruto swallow before finally answering, “Raincheck?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Ohstyle='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>.
“Yeah.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was barely more than a breath, but Naruto heard it, or felt it and turned to
face him properly. There was a familiar smile there, one that told Sasuke that
he had a real chance to drag Naruto out of the cursed place and someplace warm
and safe. Maybe to bed.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But,
again, it lasted only a second. Naruto’s eyes slipped off his face to focus on
something behind.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“My
God.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
was already starting to get up when Sasuke managed to turn and look. Then he
wished he didn’t look - that he’d hit Naruto over his head and dragged him
back, that he had never agreed to rent the fucking car and go on this trip in
the first place.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>She
was there. The woman that stopped them on the road. Her hair was motionless
despite the raging wind and she didn’t look disturbed by a branch that was
swinging just over her head. It was too far away to see on what her eyes were
focusing exactly, but Sasuke could feel it. It was a gaze that crept under your
skin, spiked your blood with fear until it flooded your heart like that, making
it try to break out of your chest. Nothing else suggested that she was dead,
not on that distance.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
barely had time to all take that in, when Naruto broke free from his arms. As
soon as he moved, she turned and started… walking. Sliding in impossibly huge
steps, like skating on ice. Fast, it was so fast it only took two steps before
she was gone and Sasuke felt shaken to the bones, frozen.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto,
on the other hand, started running. Toward her.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Oh
fucking hell. After her. He was running into his own death, the fucking moron.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Fear
for Naruto did what fear for himself couldn’t. It broke Sasuke out of his daze.
Blood reached his brain again. He took out his flashlight and ran after Naruto,
into unknown blackness ahead.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
stretched, the running. Sasuke followed Naruto, fortunately bright enough with
his hair and the cap and not too hard to see in darkness. Naruto was following
her. She was fast. She was creepy and everything alive in Sasuke’s system was
shouting on him to turn back, turn back instantly and run to the opposite
direction. Grateful that adrenalin soaked in some of the terror, Sasuke kept
running after Naruto, stumbling over things that were and weren’t there, out of
breath.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
flashlight in his hands was making wild patterns on the wall of darkness and it
wasn’t really helpful. He had neither the will nor the time to turn it off.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Finally,
Naruto stopped. He didn’t slow down first, or it didn’t look like it. One
moment he was running, the next he was standing still. He spared a short but
intense glance over his shoulder for Sasuke before stepping forward carefully.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke,
who managed to catch up but not to regain his breath, followed, finally making
a good use of his flashlight.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>They
were at the source of the river. There was a pond under the thin stream of
water coming out of a stone. After all the rain, it looked almost like a small
lake. Sasuke turned beam of light, searching for the woman, hoping at the same
time with all his might he wouldn’t find her.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Something
screeched over their heads. From the tree across the pond, similar screech
answered. On instinct and not because he wanted to see, Sasuke turned the light
upwards, feeling Naruto creep closer.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
was hard to distinguish anything; the thick branches were black against dark
sky. A movement caught Sasuke’s eye and he illuminated that part. It looked
like a bird. It was a bird. It was positively huge for one… but it was a
bird.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“The
hell.” Naruto muttered. “And where is she, did you see her? I lost her.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
didn’t see her.” He was just catching occasional glimpses earlier.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> He didn’t care all that much about her,
anyway. He was there because of Naruto.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But
as long as he was out there…He started looking for her again, carefully
settling the beam of light on one patch of darkness at a time.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
noticed it first. “There, oh God, do you see it?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
saw it, though Naruto didn’t wait for him to answer.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>They
actually did it. They found the baby. It was currently sitting on a branch,
over the pond, about ten feet up. It was awake, looking around. It was a child
of maybe a bit over a year. It shouldn’t have been possible for it to be up
there, it shouldn’t have…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
was walking directly through the pond, determined, but held back by the mighty
friction of water anyway. Of course, Sasuke started to follow. Before he made
more than two steps, there was that screeching again, high and sickly loud. A
shadow – how could he feel it anyway, it was so dark? – flew over his head,
lower and lower. It hit Naruto right in his back. It was forceful enough that
under any other circumstances, it would have knocked him off his feet. Standing
in deep water was the only thing that helped Naruto stay upright.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
was still pushing forward, terribly slow, when another shadow slipped off a
nearby tree. He pointed his flashlight and tried to catch it in flight. It was
also a bird - huge and black - like a raven, maybe. He couldn’t tell for sure,
because he couldn’t quite catch the sight of bird’s head and beak.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
light scared it off, it seemed. It changed direction. But it just made a circle
and then it was flying back. Sasuke wasn’t that far behind any longer, but
Naruto started walking again, hips deep into the inky dark water.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Keep
the light on the kid!” He yelled.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
stopped. The water was reaching maybe to his knees. He wasn’t about to keep the
light just on the kid, though – and it didn’t look at all like it was in
trouble, despite the place it was sitting on. He pointed the beam on Naruto and
a bit above him whenever there was a shadow.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>It
didn’t even take as much time as Naruto needed to get to the other side until
those birds figured out that Sasuke was distracting them and changed tactics.
The first one, just like it happened with Naruto, hit him from behind. Sasuke
had about enough time to notice the irony of it, what with all the glancing behind
in the last twenty-four hours, before he realized that he was on his knees and
hands in water. The flashlight sunk under, turning off almost immediately.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
next screech, attached to a shadow, was close enough to make his ears hurt. He
was so fucked…

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Sasuke!”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
looked up. Naruto was half way up the tree, but he stopped, looking like he was
trying to decide if he should head back to help him.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Get
the baby!” Sasuke yelled back.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>There
was no need for that much yelling, he was thinking as he attempted to get up.
They were not so far from each other, though Naruto’s walking though the pond
felt like it lasted forever. Another bird hit him, so hard he was sure it broke
his hip and he fell again to the side. He caught the sight of a movement on his
right and held his arms up to cover his face. From that angle, he expected to
finally feel those doubtlessly horrible beaks.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But
it just hit him again. It was a hard hit in the chest. It left him breathless.
He struggled to take in some air and hold himself over the surface. They would
drown him in the end if he didn’t manage to get out of the water, he realized.
While he was trying to back up toward the mud behind him, the fourth hit landed
on his shoulder. It gave up and he fell from the sharp stab of pain, face down,
right into the water.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Lungs
working reflexively, Sasuke inhaled dirty water by accident. The coughing fit
was terrible. It hurt like hell and in the middle of it another bird hit him on
the head. His eyes were closed already, but even as edges of his consciousness
blurred, he was still coughing violently.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
was going to die. Hopefully Naruto got the baby and would manage to escape with
it. But Sasuke was about to die.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Just
as soon as he thought that, a hand grabbed him and started dragging him up.
Sasuke was still coughing. His lungs hurt.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Sasuke,”
Naruto said, sliding them down to the ground. His presence seemed to be keeping
the bird at bay; nothing hit him for a blessedly long time. Maybe he had light.
“Sasuke?”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “The baby?” He croaked.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Here,”
Naruto said. Something warm pressed against Sasuke’s forearm.style='mso-spacerun:yes'> “Can’t you hear it? It’s screaming my ears
off.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
managed to rub some water out of his eyes and look. The baby was really
Naruto’s arms. The crying reached his brain finally – the screaming was loud,
broken and pained, like it should have been when it was up in the tree, not now
when it was safe.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Turn
it off.” He demanded. His head was hurting. He felt sick.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“I
wish I knew how.” Naruto said helplessly. “Come on, stand up. We have to go.
They – these things don’t seem to want to harm the baby, so they are not really
attacking now – but we’d better hurry anyway.”

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto,
with baby firmly clenched in his left arm, hauled him to his feet.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
attempted to walk steadily, but he was slow and clumsy. His head was spinning.
Naruto had to keep clutching Sasuke’s wet jacket sleeve, just in case he lost
his balance.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
birds kept flying in circles over their heads. They only tried to attack once
or twice more, but it didn’t do any damage. They obviously lost their drive now
that the baby was with Naruto.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
threw the theories that started forming out of his head, deciding that there
would be a better moment to ponder over what exactly happened. One thing was
becoming clear – whatever it was that happened to the baby, it wasn’t hurt.
Nothing was trying to hurt it.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Once
they were back on the part of the river that was familiar, Sasuke started
relaxing. Was that pond really where the river was starting? It looked that
way. But it could have been a different, smaller river. Or this one had a huge
curve ahead, before turning back toward that place.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Not
that it mattered.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Hello!
Anybody there?” A voice called.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
answered. Out there, from the direction the voices called, two flashlights
flickered in darkness. Naruto yelled that they had the kid, and people hurried
toward them. With the light so close, the screeching over their heads was
starting to fade. Sasuke looked up, leaning heavily on Naruto.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>style='mso-spacerun:yes'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>They
were leaving, turning one by one, back and disappearing between brunches. As a
beam of light caught one bird in midflight, Sasuke’s knees gave in and he only
stayed up because Naruto seemed to have been expecting it and caught him.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>But
surely not? Ghosts were one thing… Huge birds with human faces were just…
impossible. The sort of thing that made a disturbing dream into nightmare. He
had a concussion. It wasn’t real.

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>

style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
had heard of something like it, once. Someplace. Mythology is some distant
region? If a child died too young, before it was baptized, it would be buried
on unholy ground. Such children were doomed to wander the Earth, often taking a
shape of birds and striving to make their flock larger…

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“What?”
Naruto asked quietly, because the other rescuers had practically reached them.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
shook his head, regretted it instantly and let the darkness close in on him
finally.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
wasn’t unconscious for long. Sasuke was vaguely thinking that maybe he should
be embarrassed for fainting, but he couldn’t at the moment. Not when Naruto was
making his ridiculous dance of trying to grin in relief and show his worry at
the same time. Sasuke didn’t care, anyway – as long as Naruto kept guiding him
down the riverbank, even if he didn’t actually need it.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>One
by one, people were joining their little group. It felt safer by the second.
The way seemed much, much shorter now when they weren’t looking under every
rock, even if the pain that was cursing though every possible part of his body
was making it uncomfortable.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>At
one point, the locals turned them off the route toward a dirt path where a car
was waiting. The rest of the night was gray mist and laughter in the
background.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
doctor that was called to see him was nice, but not very competent in Sasuke’s
opinion. He insisted that Sasuke should rest for a couple of days… And that was
just ridiculous. He was not staying in that town, not a minute longer than
absolutely necessary.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Despite
their worry, Naruto and Sakura quite agreed with him. They were packing and
loading the rented car before it properly dawned.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
let the two of them finish preparations and make final inquiries with Kakashi
about what would now happen to the baby as he got into the backseat. He kept
feeling sleepy and sick, but he heard as Kakashi assured them that everything
will be fine and wished them a pleasant remainder of their journey.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sakura
got into the driver seat. After a second, the other door opened and Naruto got
into the backseat next to Sasuke.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Here,”
He said, folding up his jacket. “You can rest your head here.”

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>‘Here’
was his lap. Sasuke hesitated just a moment before taking him on it. The
backseat didn’t have a headrest. The offer was gold.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>He
rearranged himself slowly to lie down, facing the front seat. Naruto moved his
hair out of his face and then kept going though the strands, carefully avoiding
to go anywhere near the nasty bump at the back of his head. Maybe Sasuke wasn’t
feeling quite himself yet, but it felt nice. Really nice.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>When
they were passing the sign that they were leaving town, which Sakura read
aloud, Naruto’s hand stilled.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Sasuke
asked glancing upward as far as he dared, “What?”

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Oh.
I forgot to ask,” Naruto smiled sheepishly down at him, “if it was a boy or a
girl.”

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The
hardest thing in the world, being in love with a martyr. Jesus.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>“Sakura,”
Sasuke called. His voice was weaker then he wished, mostly because he was quite
comfortable and sleepy but he knew she was listening. “If any people covered in
blood try to stop you, run them over.”

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK13'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK17'>style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Naruto
protested, but Sakura snorted and accelerated.

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style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK14'>style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK18'>end

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end notes:

the situation
with mother stopping a car after having an accident with her husband to ask for
help with her baby stuck in the wrack only to turn out later that she was dead
all along is an urban legend. I have no idea if it’s known anywhere but around
here, but it wasn’t my idea.

Creatures I
described in this story are a part of Serbain folklore. Their collective name
is ‘nekrshtenci’ (Некршtенци)
or naviye. The name is always used in plural.

Basically,
they are what become of souls of children that died before being baptized. They
are keeping together, often taking form of cats, mice or, most commonly, big
partially visible birds. They mostly attack small children and toddlers, but
are also known of going after a young mother or animals that produce milk.

People,
when talking about odd flocks of large birds they spotted by going out into the
woods, usually say that no matter how close they got, they couldn’t see heads.
Only a few stories are about those birds having faces of children they once
were… Which is why I decided that Sasuke would see that when he was on the edge
on consciousness.

Sorry
about long notes and hope you enjoyed the story. style='mso-ansi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";
mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

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