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The Fall of the Dogs of War	By : dolphina23 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 927 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Author�s Note: Possible
male/male romance ahead. Please read!� J
�� Thanks to
all that reviewed! Please feel free to do so again. Right now, I don�t have
much of my first novel done; I keep getting sidetracked by ideas for new ones
in the series, so not much to tell yet. I am hoping to make a career out of
writing, though, so, don�t worry, I�m sure you�ll all be getting a message of
some sort about it eventually. ;)
�� ItaNarulover,
thank you for the positive reinforcement and no matter what you say, kind words
and good reviews always deserve an answer! J
�� Abhorsen3,
I shall endeavor to keep you guessing, it is the highlight of any
suspense/horror/drama novelist to do so for their readers. Such a thing is what
keeps us all who are engrossed by a good story from putting the book away to
sleep or do other mundane things that have nothing to do with the glorious
craft (writing, not magic, though, you all knew that, right?)
�� Okay! Onto
the next chapter!

Chapter�� 10
Trials by Fire, Sand and Sea

�� Naruto had
heard the word love before. He had heard the terms �true love� and �the love of
friendship�. Recently, he had even heard about the possibility of a �great
love�. Naruto had been told that it was the kind of love that could change
lives, as opposed to the kinds that he would cease to feel or even think about
after a while. Iruka had been the one to tell him that, right before he�d left
and the doctors had taken his place. That had been just yesterday according to
Sasuke.
�� Strange,
but it felt as though he were floating in a sea, nearly drowning, and the more
he floated the less he could hear or see anyone within reach. They were all
slipping away from him, or he was slipping further from everything he had known
before. He wasn�t sure which was worse, which, if any, he wanted. To disappear
himself, for all that he�d found familiar and comforting until just days ago to
fall beneath the waves, or to stumble out of the water to try and piece it all
back together. But, porcelain can never again match on all sides once
shattered. Break it again, and the cracks become larger. Once more, and the
pieces would be beyond repair. That was what scurried around his mind all day,
every day, so far.
�� The
doctors, in all their white coats floating behind them like angels wings that
masked demon skin had yelled at him then, softly. He could hear the buzzing
from their mouths, the disapproval, just as he�d heard it from Iruka before the
man had finally begun to notice him, and from all the others. He shivered and
clung tighter to his knees until the buzzing stopped and he was left to the
welcoming silence. God, how had he ever wanted to be noticed, to laugh, to
shout greetings and constant jokes? How had he ever managed to challenge
anything? He was so tired. Sasuke was cooking, though. Naruto could smell it.
Naruto saw mist and rain in his mind. He could smell the earth and rain that
had been in Sasuke�s hair without needing to think very hard. Maybe Iruka was
right. Sasuke was his friend. Naruto loved him, achingly, constantly, without
effort. He would go down in a little while, to eat. But, first he needed sleep.
�� His body
was sore in places he hadn�t been able to stretch or move well since the
battle. Naruto felt his head swim and his vision blurred slightly, but he
fought it off until he�d reached Sasuke�s bed. The room was nondescript, yet
tastefully decorated in the manner of an above average hotel. Rich blue carpet,
soft grey walls, a painting of flowers over an oak bureau and a matching oak
nightstand went well with the sight of the quaint square just visible out of
the bay window. But, the bed was what he longed for. Sleep, without dreams or
restless ghosts, was what he needed.
Food would wait, Sasuke would wait. Although, the assurance did little to curb
the gnawing sensation embedded in Naruto�s stomach since Sasuke had appeared
out of nowhere with promises Naruto feared he could not keep. He sighed heavily
as his head hit the pillow and, eyes already heavy, he succumbed to sleep, the
sound of footsteps and clinking cookware lulling and calming in its own way.

�� Sasuke
stared down at Naruto for a moment before setting the tray of food down on the
nightstand and leaving, softly sliding the door closed behind him. The food
would keep for a while inside the warmer. He wondered if it was right, not to
wake him. Naruto had looked so troubled, but sleep, he knew, helped a person to
heal. Besides, he needed to see Tsunade. There wouldn�t be much hope for
Sasuke, or anyone else for that matter, to do any good while Naruto was still within
the confines of the village. Things would be different for a while. They were
already different. Sasuke was now being forced to watch over an injured and
lost former friend instead of tracking down and assassinating the Council. He
sniffed and shifted on his feet uncomfortably before deciding to clean out the
kitchenette in his hotel room until it gleamed.
�� Naruto, an
injured Naruto, should not matter. Nothing should matter. Just what the hell
had happened for his drive to so suddenly crumble? It wasn�t a genjutsu. Sasuke
had had enough experience with them that it was virtually impossible to trick
him into doing anything he didn�t want to. That thought rose up in him like an
angry pit viper, hissing and spitting the whole way. Itachi; Itachi had tried
to use such a thing several times before. This place had ravaged his brother,
taken his sanity, his blind faith, and mauled his mind and body beyond repair
until Sasuke was forced to kill him.
�� They had
known, they had all known, what had been happening and why. How could they not
and still profess themselves the ultimate protectors and judges of every person
present? Sasuke gritted his teeth painfully and slammed his fist into the
counter he�d recently cleaned, denting it slightly. He had so many questions
now, so few places to search for answers, but he felt certain of one thing, at
least. They could not have him, and they would not erase what was left of
Naruto. Moving as silently as his training dictated, he crossed to the spare
bedroom in the suite, now his, and retrieved his scrolls and weapons pouch. It
would not be safe, not to mention quite stupid, to travel anywhere in Fire
Country without them no matter what the Godaime had declared to the other
ninja.
�� Sasuke
secured the outer lock he�d fashioned on Naruto�s door before heading out. He
didn�t want the young man to suddenly end up in a more dangerous situation than
at the festival should he wake up and find himself alone. Sasuke couldn�t
believe the Hyuuga girl had finally stirred up enough courage to say more than
two words to anyone only to use that strength to send Naruto into a near
catatonic state. Well, he had to admit, grudgingly, the situation before had
not been much different, but Sasuke could have done something about it. Now, he
would have to work all that much more to shove through all the mental breaks,
gates and chains, crushing each lock as he went. Sasuke hated it.
�� If it had
been him . . . if it had been him, he would not have appreciated such a
violation. It would not matter if he�d come out whole and healed and well on
the other side. He was sure Naruto would see it the same way, were he
completely conscious of everything around him. To Sasuke, he seemed to drift in
and out of reality in a semi-sleep state with eyes wide open, one without
sound. Shrugging slightly to ward off a sudden chill, Sasuke prepared to make
good use of the rooftops connecting his street to the main fairway, and further
on, the Hokage Tower. A surge of foreign chakra stopped
his ascent. A sound not unlike sighing reached his ears and Sasuke knew exactly
who was behind him. The feel of the dirt beneath his feet shifting and rising
like waves confirmed it. Turning, he met the steady, empty gaze of the
Kazekage, though he caught something underneath it. It was like he was watching
a hurricane from the center, spinning outward with the churning winds. The eye
of the storm; Gaara, no the Kazekage, was using the eye of the storm to both
fuel and quiet his rage.
�� And, what
rage. Sasuke could feel the other ninja�s intensity and chakra prickling and
sizzling its way up his spine. He grimaced. I
don�t have time for power-plays or mind-games. Let him suffer in silence.
Apparently, the silence angered Gaara further, who pulled sand from the
surrounding road and secured Sasuke�s feet to the ground. Sasuke made no move
to draw them free. Sucking in air, his hands fluidly moved through the hand
seals and roiling and rolling fire cut through the sand barrier Gaara had
erected to counter it. Sasuke pulled back the technique before it could make
contact. He smiled grimly.
�� It would
seem your run-in with Akatsuki has left you deficient, Kazekage-sama.�
�� Uchiha, I
am not here to play. If you want to test your skill with me, you are welcome to
accompany any of a number of Konoha ninja that travel to my village regularly
for joint-training. I am here,� Gaara�s sand had begun to bite into Sasuke�s
skin, pressing mercilessly into his aching muscles, �for him.�
�� You mean
Naruto,� Sasuke clarified unnecessarily.
�� It is so.�
�� Sasuke snorted.
�Are you going to try and kiss him, too?�
�� Gaara
merely stared, eyes widening significantly. Sasuke could not contain the
derisive laughter at the sight. Really, maybe it was worth it, just for this
moment, not to have killed them all.
�� He�s fine,
or he will be.�
�� Gaara�s
brows lowered and furrowed.
�� Like he
was fine at the festival?� he asked lowly. �For all that I respect the Hyuuga
clan and understand Hinata-sama�s situation that should not have happened.�
�� Sasuke,
himself, frowned at the mention of the Hyuuga girl. The way Gaara spoke, it was
like he was intimating some kind of relationship between Naruto and that girl.
Sasuke shook his head clear of thoughts and feelings he did not have time to
unravel further. He did not know how long Naruto would stay asleep or how long
the locks and barrier seals on the doors and windows to his room would hold.
�� He will be
looked after, that is one thing I can promise,� Sasuke made the concession.
�� The Suna
ninja nodded slowly after appearing to consider his words and retracted the
sand. Then, his body began to dissipate and float away on an errant breeze.
Sasuke huffed out a shallow laugh; a sand clone. Why not?

�� Sasuke
slipped slowly and carefully through the nearly deserted streets of Konoha.
He�d concealed himself well, using a non-descript appearance from a village
he�d traveled to in the past while he�d belonged to the horde amassed by
Orochimaru. It wasn�t that he feared any retribution from the Konoha ninja that
he could sense floating from place to place along the way. He simply didn�t
relish getting caught up with the members of the village who seemed to be under
the impression that he�d left under coercion or had been carried away by demons
or renegade ninja. He�d already been forced to endure hours of constant
babbling from the attractive - and unattached � females who had apparently
spent the last three years lamenting their loss of a prospective husband. He
felt nothing but disgust curling inside his stomach at the thought of marriage
or having children with anyone, let alone someone who could not understand all
that he, as a ninja, had seen and done.
�� Fortunately,
the Hokage Tower was already in sight and Sasuke
breathed in deeply, preparing himself for only his second appearance before the
Godaime in the week he�d been back.�
Sasuke entered the Tower through the main door rather than leaping to
the rooftop under Tsunade�s window as Kakashi was wont to do. He absolutely
despised the Jounin and could not abide assimilating any of the man�s habits into
his own life. He despised Naruto for becoming injured, for saying what he had
said, for making Sasuke question, even for a moment, his resolve. That was
unconscionable and Sasuke would now have to fight to get it back. Not wanting
to give Naruto the chance to decimate his hotel room or possibly injure himself
in an effort to release the barriers, he traveled the stairs and down the
winding halls to the Hokage�s office quickly. Sighing slightly at the sound of
mumbled voices coming through the door, Sasuke leant against the far wall and
waited.
�� The voices
rose to a crescendo of shouts and irate language that Sasuke did not have any
desire to follow. He didn�t need to the moment he heard a familiar voice yell
Naruto�s name within the rush of words at the same time that the door burst
open. Shikamaru exited Tsunade�s office quickly and glared harshly at Sasuke
before leaving in a silent huff of fury. Tsunade called him in and Sasuke
spared no more time with formalities than most people did when confronting her.
�� I�m here
to discuss the limits of my current mission.�
�� Tsunade
blinked before settling her hands on top of her desk, drumming her fingers on
the wood impatiently.
�� If you are
suggesting that Naruto is too much trouble for you to deal with, then you
should have refused it the minute Kakashi offered you the chance.�
�� Sasuke
frowned. Kakashi hadn�t given him a
choice, though he refused to admit that he might
have made the same decision regardless.
�� He is too much trouble. He has always been too much trouble, too loud,
too aggressive, too . . .�
�� Sasuke had
almost let it slip, and that kind of lapse in control was neither warranted nor
healthy. A ninja was easily overtaken who could not control their own behavior.
The fact that Naruto really was �too constant�, always there, always dependable
and supportive to his teammates, whether they wanted him to be or not, was not
the issue and not something Sasuke was sure had survived the torture and so
should not be estimated just yet.
�� But, that
is not what I mean.�
�� Tsunade
pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes and cupped her chin with one hand
gracefully.
�� You want
to take him from here,� she guessed.
�� Sasuke did
not move in the slightest, though he was surprised at her insight. His face
remained the blank expanse that he had perfected during his training, only
letting it slip during his final encounter with his brother. But, he had
realized all too late, Itachi had deserved to see more of Sasuke than unveiled
and unbridled rage. Sasuke kept quiet. No one would ever see that regret, or
anything else genuine, not ever again.
�� Yes,� he
replied simply.
�� I cannot
grant your request,� Tsunade raised a hand at Sasuke�s silent protest, his
mouth thinning and his brow rising slightly.
�� I cannot
until Kakashi has agreed. He is, after all, the one who has secured and paid
for this mission. Sometimes, not even a Hokage can cross certain lines, though
they may want to,� Tsunade was searching the scenery outside the window now,
speaking wistfully and almost to herself.
�� Seeming to
finally remember where she was and what she was doing, her face and voice
hardened again when she glanced back at Sasuke.
�� There are
rules. They will be followed. You will be allowed to take Naruto for a short
trip outside the village, lasting no longer than two weeks, if you can get a signed approval from
Kakashi,� Tsunade delivered the terms sharply.
�� Sasuke
frowned at the strict guidelines, but surmised that it had something to do with
the Council. It did not matter, he would have what he needed soon, and he and
Naruto would be able to slowly edge their way across the gap that lay between
them. That had to come first before Sasuke could begin to understand, and then
help Naruto acknowledge then heal, the wounds jaggedly crisscrossing through his
conscious and subconscious mind. Kakashi, for all his flaws and experience with
damages of the psyche in his own life, had been right to do this. Sasuke would
merely have despised them more had any of the older ninja responsible for
guiding and teaching the newer members simply foisted Naruto off inside some
facility to wither and fade away.
�� Fine,� the
Godaime concluded. Then, something Tsunade had said clicked inside his mind.
Sasuke turned away.
�� But . . .
,� he continued speaking while studying the dark whorls of wood in the wall
then turned to match Tsunade�s glare.
�� It will be
longer than two weeks. He will remain with me, outside of the village, for as long as I deem necessary or until
Naruto can literally tell me, himself, that he wishes to return. You have no
say in that, Tsunade.� Sasuke deliberately left off any title or honorific.
Such a woman, despite her ability to command true respect from hundreds, had
not earned it from him.��
�� Tsunade
shook her head and drummed her fingers on the desktop faster than ever,
frowning at him so hard Sasuke could trace the progress of the vein in her
temple. Sasuke continued to calmly inspect the wood accents of the room without
looking at her. Finally, he heard her sigh loudly and turned to nod his head in
answer to her own affirmation before striding sedately from the room. A ninja is easily overtaken if not for their
control.
�� Naruto
won�t have to know about any of this, but Sasuke found himself letting in a
small amount of relief at the prospect of leaving with him, for as long as they
dared. He hoped that Naruto would see it as some form of absolution, not that
Sasuke thought he needed any, not really. But, he did need Naruto to trust him,
even if only a little; and maybe . . . maybe he wanted it, the same way as he�d
been slowly awakening desires for other things. Or, was that also something
Naruto had been capable of and Sasuke had not? Sasuke moved through the
village, again donning his poor man�s disguise, in search of Kakashi.

�� Kakashi was
sitting in the gazebo not far from the Ninja Academy
that Sasuke had discovered during a training mission with his brother many
years before. He knew, from what Itachi had told him that it was kept there so
that Jounins could rate the current Genins� technique levels, strengths and
weaknesses. They also, every so often, according to what he�d heard whispered
throughout the school hallways, chose a student or two from the group and asked
that they be set aside for them to train further. Sasuke tried to envision Kakashi
doing just that more than three years ago as he must have cringed while
watching Naruto make a fool out of himself along with Sakura doing the same,
albeit for a different reason. He could not see it, but then, he never would
have believed a spiraling, spawning hopelessness would be the end of Naruto. He
still had trouble grasping just how it had happened. Sasuke knew about the
torture, or more accurately, he knew that Naruto had been tortured and burned.
But, Naruto had also suffered an entire body�s worth of skin being melted away
and replaced. Could it really have been worse than that? What could possibly
have happened to force him to run so far?
�� He cleared
his throat to warn Kakashi of his presence out of formality. There were so many
of those that he�d forgotten over the years as a renegade, in places that did
not care who your father was or whether or not you could spin a roundhouse kick
faster than it took for a raindrop to reach the earth. Sasuke watched Kakashi
turn his head idly and flit his lazy stare over him disinterestedly. He was
leaning against the rail, gazing at nothing. There were no Genins training here
today.
�� What do
you want?�
�� Sasuke
stopped a moment, suddenly hesitant to breech whatever Kakashi was using to
keep him away. Sasuke had thought that haughty indifference and arrogance would
work for him. He could not tell whether Kakashi�s lack of expression and blank
stare were the old techniques he�d used to try and help him cope with the
stress of ninja life or if he was truly beyond caring about anything other than
Naruto�s welfare. Well, whatever it was, Sasuke could at least clear some of
the tension. And, perhaps he could free himself from some of the nagging
queasiness in his stomach that flared up every now and then whenever he thought
of Naruto and his plans for the two of them. Not that he would do anything
aside from lighten some of the immeasurable weight Naruto seemed to be dragging
by his fingertips.
�� What do
you want?�
�� Sasuke
looked up at Kakashi, who seemed to be letting the tight threads of his will
fray at the ends.
�� I need to
take him.� Again, as with Tsunade, he aimed for a simple approach, but he could
not help but soften his voice a little. He had not ever imagined that this
would be the outcome for his life before his parents� had been murdered so
ruthlessly. He had not predicted that he would be this kind of person when he
had met Kakashi and Naruto or when he allowed Sakura to become so much closer
than any of the other helpless, hapless doe-eyed admirers at the time. He just
could not help it; he had been drawn in, once again, by whatever it was Naruto
exuded so effortlessly and so freely.�
�� Take him?
Take who? And where?�
�� Sasuke
could see by the raised eyebrow and the complete lack of confusion or curiosity
that Kakashi knew very well what he was talking about. Anger bubbled warmly in
his stomach and managed to melt into his cheeks and faintly quivering arm
muscles before Sasuke drew it back. He remembered Kakashi�s face, his words,
and the way he had said them while they had visited with Naruto.
�� Naruto, I
need to take Naruto away from here. This place is bad for him. I can�t tell you
how I know this, or why the feeling is so strong, but it�s there. He needs
someplace open, and preferably far away. I know of one, to the south, near the
sea, a little village,� Sasuke rambled. He knew that it was happening as soon
as he heard himself recount a description as if he were trying to sell a hotel
tour. He took a breath before continuing.
�� Tsunade
said that I couldn�t leave without your written approval,� he mumbled. God, I can�t believe I�ve been reduced to
this. I�m actually having a conversation with this asshole. Naruto, you had
better . . .
�� Here.�
Kakashi handed him a slip of paper and Sasuke narrowed his eyes.
�� For the
first time since coming up on the man, Sasuke saw life in his single eye and
then watched it roll up and away from him, fascinated.
�� It�s the
approval,� Kakashi explained impatiently. �For your trip?�
�� Sasuke
nodded numbly and walked off. Had he really seen Kakashi leak so much of
himself, and in a single instant, than he had the entire time he�d been a part
of the team? The pangs of near regret and almost loss came again, a bit sharper
than before. For the first time since leaving, Sasuke wondered just how far
he�d managed to drive himself, really, if this was all it took. Again, he
shoved everything aside. Not now, later, there will be time for all this later.
The disguise once more in place, Sasuke strolled sedately back to the hotel,
just like any other visitor or currently vacationing villager would. The tiny
smile was just a bonus for any who happened to be passing in the other
direction, though Sasuke, unaware of it himself, would not have admitted how
much better he felt at that moment. The sound of footsteps from behind stopped
him in place just as he reached out for the door to the hotel.
�� Sasuke.�
�� Sasuke
turned to face Kakashi wondering if he was here to deny him what it was he
truly needed, wanted.
�� One more
thing before you go,� Kakashi said calmly.
�� Sasuke
shifted on his feet then gestured to the alley between the hotel and the
restaurant placed so conveniently next to it.
�� Make it
quick.�
�� Kakashi
nodded. Sasuke knew the importance of leaving Naruto alone longer than was
necessary had not escaped him.
�� There a
few things you should know in order to have the best chance at helping him. I
know that you are aware of the nature of his injuries and how they came about.�
�� Sasuke waited, holding his breath
just a little.
�� He was
tortured, but the physical injuries will heal, are already healing. I have no
doubt that had they been caused by anyone else, Naruto would not be in such a
desperate situation.�
�� Sasuke
narrowed his eyes, not liking where the conversation was going.
�� The man responsible
is a former member of the village. He was connected with the attack on the
village nearly sixteen years ago but not in the way you might think.�
�� Sasuke drew
in a quick breath but Kakashi had already continued speaking, overriding him.
�� His name
is . . . was, Tachibana Hiroku and he was the man who made Naruto a true
orphan. Naruto�s father died during the attack, helping the village, but his
mother . . .� Her murder is entirely the
work of Hiroku and his deranged imagination, the delusions his mind created in
order to encompass the loss of his own clan.�
�� Sasuke
wondered if this was some kind of trick, an attempt to drive home just how
reprehensible he was, and should be, for all that he�d failed to do and could
have done to drive the overpowering rage and despair from his own heart.
�� I told
you. This is not about you,� Kakashi reassured him softly. Damn him, the asshole.
�� I don�t
understand. Naruto�s never said anything about this,� Sasuke frowned in
confusion.
�� Because he
was never told. The Sandaime lied to him about his family, made up some story
about a village by the sea and a fisherman and his wife with too many children
and tool little money. They died when Naruto was three. Well, they were
fiction, it�s true, and so they didn�t really die. Though, I�m sure there�s a
family like that somewhere.�
�� Sasuke
bared his teeth, clenching them tightly and aimed a practiced fist at Kakashi�s
head. Kakashi dodged it without a thought. The graceful, easy movement only
made Sasuke angrier.
�� How dare
you! How dare you joke about something like this! And, just when I thought
you�d managed to grow a soul!�
�� That�s not
fair!� Kakashi had used that speed again to come up in Sasuke�s face, his
breath mostly hidden and his voice muffled in that odd way caused by the mask.
�� I did all
that I could, all that I was capable of, for you, for him and even for Sakura.
You don�t think I know that it wasn�t enough?!�
�� Sasuke,
unable to move though his hands itched to rip the man apart, breathed heavily.
Kakashi shook himself and lowered his gaze to the floor.
�� You need
to hear this and not because it�s forbidden to speak of it just as it was
forbidden for any of us that knew to tell Naruto about the demon he carries,�
Kakashi continued bitterly.
�� Things
have changed. I�ve realized . . . ,� he stopped to take a breath, �He�s
important to me, Sasuke. You both are. Had it meant something different
happening to him, even if he were injured in the effort, having you here, with
us, means more than you would believe. Now, we need to help him. So, you need
to listen and listen well.�
�� Sasuke,
after a few tense moments, finally nodded. He wanted to crawl away to the
hideout he and Taka had picked out for the assault on Konoha. He wanted to
breath air that was not infected with the despair and hatred he had felt from
the first moment he�d set foot inside the confines of this place. Naruto would
tell him it was only his imagination and that it didn�t matter anyway. Worse,
Sasuke wanted to hear him say it.
Maybe he could believe it then.
�� Hiroku
killed Naruto�s mother and nearly killed him trying to hurt his father. The
rule is still in affect, but if Naruto knows, which is what Tsunade and I
suspect, then it is moot. You will need to get him to show you that torture in
some way. I know it will be hard, no matter what you say, for you to see it. I
also know it won�t be just because of your own loss. Find out what happened,
and then, you can start to help him past it.�
�� Sasuke
nodded once not able to trust speaking. His throat had suddenly gone dry. He
told himself it was the dry heat of the atmosphere. He told himself it was just
more useful information to complete a mission. It�s only a mission.
�� Oh, and,
in case you don�t have any idea how to treat catatonia, here,� Kakashi threw a
scroll toward Sasuke who caught it easily. Kakashi left then and Sasuke
continued on his way, as though he was floating in a world not his own.

�� Naruto,�
Sasuke called into the quiet suite. Naruto could hear a faint muffling sound
coming from outside the door. He supposed it was Sasuke. He didn�t care. He
didn�t care because it didn�t matter. Nothing mattered, though he felt
strangely soothed at the thought of someone like Sasuke being close. He didn�t
move to answer though. The air had gone stale and neutral; the feeling of the
sheets beneath him had slipped back to a place in his mind he could not break
into, not that he was going to try. He was so tired, and that muffling,
mumbling was back along with a warm pressure on his hand. Naruto refused to
focus on anything, refused to answer to the tingling in his hand or the warning
in his head that someone was close, someone who could very well be dangerous.
�� Naruto,�
Sasuke called again. Naruto heard his name, a faint ringing in his ears
covering over most of it. The pressure on his hand had increased, become
insistent.
�� Come with
me,� Sasuke was gentle now. Naruto�s fragility and the full catatonic state
made Sasuke nervous. He shrugged off the unease and the anger before it could
manifest in any way. The last thing either of them needed was for it to get out
of control and risk Naruto being injured again or collapsing into a vegetative
state. Naruto felt the tugging at his elbow now and realized Sasuke wasn�t just
leading him but lifting him. The thought of having to be carried should anger
and embarrass him beyond limits. But, he didn�t move, not once, never again.
�� I have
you,� Naruto could hear the words, softly caressing his ears. Strangely, that
warm sensation was seeping back into his mind, but the fear and pain eclipsed
it once again.
�� I�ve got
you. We�re going now. Remember? I said I�d take you from here, someplace
better. We�re going,� Naruto heard him and Sasuke continued the litany until
he�d managed to get them safely past the edge of town, and then, he began to
walk. It was a long way to the coast and Sasuke would not allow for rest until
he was sure they were at a safe distance from the shadows enveloping them both.
- 10
- 11
- 12
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The Fall of the Dogs of War