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Leader	By : mannahpierce Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 2163 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: This story has some of Masashi Kishimoto's characters from Naruto in a universe of my own devising. I do not own Naruto. I do not make any money from these writings.

Chapter List
- 36
- 37
- 38
Thank you to my beta and muse, Small Fox. This story grew from a plot idea he gave me.
Also thanks to Procrastination_is_key, melissen, SidonieStarr (twice), v (twice), sadie 237, prettypurlpletiger, Dawn, eunmook, Slynx, cynaga and disembodiedvoiceofthedying for reviewing after chapter 36 was posted.
Readers’ feedback, support and comments mean a great deal to me. Feedback keeps me writing.
Again, apologies for cutting down to a once-a-week posting.

Additional warning for this chapter: physical and mental abuse.

Leader
Part 5: Regroup
37: Captured

Kazuki was bundling him into the burrow and closing the outer barrier. Haru was about to object but stopped himself. They had no plans for being found by the Akatsuki. Running away without suits or weapons was not an option; it was better to be captured than eaten.
At least Haru hoped so.
“A party of ten or more,” Kazuki told Haku-san and Ran. “A mixture of nekos and minkies and at least one toad hybrid.”
Haku-san froze momentarily before responding. “They are being led to us?”
“Looks that way.” Ka-chan shook himself. “What do we need to hide for Kuuya and Dan-san?”
A list sprang into Haru’s mind, starting with his data crystal array.
“Kuu-chan and I made these,” Kazuki told them, pulling away the covers from Haru’s sleeping alcove and then lifting out what had looked like part of the wall.
There was a hole beneath. Haru wondered why Kuuya and Kazuki had thought of hidey-holes but not gone on to consider an escape route.
Not that he was in any position to criticise; he hadn’t even got that far.
“How many of the holes?” Ran asked.
“Three. One here, one in mine and one in Kuu-chan’s.”

They hid Haru’s data crystal array, the receiver/recorder, the disassembled laser rifle and most of the medical supplies.
At least Dan-san and Kuu-chan had been wearing their suits.
“We’re going to give ourselves up?” Ran checked.
“There isn’t another choice,” Haku-san confirmed. “Put on your suits.”

They waited. Finally it came.
“This is Neko Three of Squad Five. Please be aware that lifeless bodies are acceptable outcomes to Orochimaru-sama. If you do not come out, we will introduce poison gas. Leave your weapons inside.”
Haru thought about them closing their helmets and then attacking whoever came in for them once the gas had dissipated. Instead, Haku-san moved to open the tunnel and Kazuki sprang forward and helped him.
They filed out.

There were five nekos and eight minkies. Beside them was Gamabunta.
“He didn’t want to,” Ran whispered as the minkies jostled them towards the nekos.
“He still betrayed us,” Kazuki growled and snapped at a minky who had shoved him.
“Enough!” Neko Three ordered. “Stand there.”

They stood while she consulted with two of the other nekos. There was much pointing at them and referring to a sheet with writing on it. Finally Neko Three addressed Haku-san.
“Where are Dan and the fox hybrid with the reddish hair?”
Haru watched Haku-san transform into a completely different person. His eyes widened and filled with tears.
“They went out and never came back,” he answered in a soft, uncertain voice that made him seem fragile and defenceless.
The neko studied him. “Fine. Strip.”

Once they were naked, their underclothes and their suits were searched. Haru stood there, hoping that no one decided that they might have hidden something up their bottoms.
To his relief the nekos settled for them spreading their legs and lifting their arms, although one of them did check Haku-san’s hair. Then they were told to redress.
Haru felt less vulnerable with his suit back on.

Next they were restrained. Haru was first. A neko stood five paces away with a laser rifle while two minkies fastened the straps. A belt was fastened around his waist. It had two side loops that went around his arms just about the elbows, preventing him lifting his upper arms. His wrists and then his ankles were then strapped together; his wrists were touching but his ankles were far enough apart that he could take small steps.
Ka-chan was going to hate not being able to move.

Throughout, Haru watched out of the corner of his eye as the other six minkies bought everything out of the burrow. He didn’t see his data crystal array or any of the other stuff they had hidden, which was good.
The nekos did not look through the pile; instead they told the minkies to pack it all up for transportation.
“All?” one of the minkies queried, holding up the remains of the snake.
“Anything that isn’t local,” Neko Three clarified. Then she brought out a radio.
Haru wished he could hear what she was saying. He looked to Ka-chan and raised his eyebrows.
“Flyer,” Kazuki mouthed in reply.

The flyer hovered about five person-heights from the ground and they were winched up one by one. Haru was third; after Kazuki and Haku-san but before Ran.
It was scary to have so little control. He closed his eyes and hoped for the best. He did not know what was worse, tipping as he was swung up into the air or not being able to move his arms to compensate.
A neko pulled him into the flyer, unclipped the cable and passed him to another. She pushed him into the seat next to Haku-san’s and strapped him in.

Once Ran had been winched up, a ladder was lowered. Haru counted the nekos and minkies who climbed it; apparently two of the nekos and four of the minkies were being left to watch the burrow.
He smiled inside; it was a poor decision. Dan-san, Riki-san, Kuuya and a laser rifle were more than a match for two nekos and four minkies.
Not that Neko Three appeared to know about Riki-san; apparently the Gama had failed to mention him.

The flyer was noisy. Even if the nekos had allowed talking, Haru couldn’t have heard himself speak, never mind what anyone was saying to him.
It didn’t matter because he didn’t want to talk. He didn’t even want to think. All thinking did was throw up questions he couldn’t answer, like what the Orochimaru print would do with them.
It was easier to sleep than to think.
His last thought as he drifted away was that he was glad that he had left Sai with Su-chan.

Next thing he knew the noise had gone and Ran was nudging him. They were being unstrapped by minkies. Neko Three told them to get up and start moving.
He managed to stand up but forgot that his ankles were tied together and pitched forward on his first step. He fell as well as he could, given that his arms were bound.
Ka-chan was growling.
“Stay where you are, fox-boy,” Neko Three ordered. “Seven, carry him.”
One of the other nekos picked him and slung him over her shoulder.

It was difficult to see anything other than Neko Seven’s butt but Haru thought that they were at one of the abandoned spaceports.
He didn’t think it was the one where they had landed the Lancet but he couldn’t be sure.

Then it was up a ladder. If he lifted his head he could see the others standing at the bottom, unable to climb because of their restraints.
He wondered if they would be hauled up or carried; he didn’t think the nekos would untie them.

Both doors of the airlock were open. Haru was carried into though it and another doorway before being dumped on the floor. The neko who had been carrying him crouched down and began unbuckling the restraints.
There was no one else in the room. She obviously did not consider him a danger.
He wasn’t. He did not have a hope against a fully functional hybrid.

On a low trolley was a pod. In some racks there were more.

“Strip,” she told him. “Quickly or I will do it for you.”
Haru made his stiff arms move. His numb fingers fumbled with the suits fastenings.
The neko watched him. Her forefinger was tapping her belt. He tried to go more quickly; he did not want to be stripped by a stranger.
Once he was naked she gestured him into the pod.

As he lay down, he wondered where the others were. He hoped that Ka-chan wasn’t being difficult because Haru was sure that the nekos wouldn’t hesitate to shoot him.
Then the lid shut and there was the usual half minute of claustrophobic darkness before he slid away.

When he opened his eyes he found himself in a familiar infirmary. For one heady moment he thought he had been rescued.
Then he realised that he was on the Sakura and the person sitting next to the treatment bed was the Orochimaru print rather than Papa or To-chan.
There was something around his neck. He touched it. It was tight and as wide as a finger: a collar; a controller?
Orochimaru was studying him and he tried not to shrink away.
“I am meant to kill you, Haru-chan.”

Haru’s heart was thumping in his chest. His palms were sweaty. He wanted to run.
Orochimaru extended an arm. Haru watched Orochimaru’s hand coming closer. He clamped his jaw shut, knowing that speaking was a bad idea and determined not to whimper or yell.
A fingertip traced a path down his bare arm. The nail was perfectly oval and immaculately manicured.
He shivered; goose bumps spread from Orochimaru’s touch across his entire body.
“If you had been your brother I would not have hesitated for a moment,” Orochimaru continued. “He is merely Uchiha.”
Haru wanted to object. There was nothing mere about Uchiha. Only he knew that if he opened his mouth all that would come out would be a squeak.
“But you, Haru-chan, may be interesting. I am going to give you fifteen minutes to prove to me whether than is the case. At the end of fifteen minutes I shall decide if you are worth keeping.”
Orochimaru smiled only it wasn’t like any smile Haru had ever seen. He preferred the crocodiles.
“It will take a lot to convince me because there is something I very much want to do. Do you know what that is, Haru-chan?”
Haru managed the slightest shake of his head.
Orochimaru leaned forward and scraped his fingernail up Haru’s arm towards his shoulder. “I want to squeeze the life out of you while your father watches. I want to strangle you until you turn blue and stop struggling. Then I want to snap your neck so he knows it is no trick and that you are gone forever.”
Haru swallowed but for some reason the threat was less scary than the smile. Maybe because, like To-chan said, there were worse things than dead. Or maybe it was because Orochimaru still thought Itachi-san was Papa.

Orochimaru leaned back. “Do you see that console?” he asked.
Haru spotted the ordinary-looking display screen and user interface. He nodded.
“You are going to sit a test. If you pass, you will live. If you do very well I may decide you are useful. Who knows, if you are useful I may begin considering what would motivate you. What would motivate you, Haru-chan?”
Haru kept absolutely still.
“I have always want to vivisect a Bara hybrid. Perhaps one that has not turned out as hoped. Perhaps one with ears and a tail.”
This time the threat was worse than the smile.
“Do you understand me, Haru-chan?”
Haru nodded.
Orochimaru smiled again. “Good. Your fifteen minutes start now.”

Haru was off the bed and on the chair. On the display was a puzzle. It was easy. So were the next and the one after. Then they got trickier. He had to think but he solved it quickly.
Each one was harder and took longer. There was no indication of how long he had left. He refused to think about anything other than solving the problem on the screen.
Then, without warning, the display died.
“Time is up, Haru-chan,” Orochimaru told him.
Haru spun about. “Did I pass?”
Orochimaru shrugged. “Perhaps. Perhaps not. I shall analyse your performance later.”

It was a lie. The shrug was too slow. Orochimaru’s eyes were too bright and he had licked his top lip with the tip of his tongue.
Haru knew he had done better than Orochimaru had expected, but was that a good or a bad thing?

The piercing, yellow eyes were studying him. “There are rules, Haru-chan.”
Haru waited. Rules were good. Rules suggested enough freedom to consider breaking them.
“Firstly, you will not be punished for your misdeeds. It will be one of the fox-hybrids you think of as your brothers. Or the empath. Or one of my other guests.”
Haru did not like the thought of that one little bit.
“Secondly, you will treat me with the same level of respect as you would show a clan leader.”
It took Haru a moment to catch on and respond. “Yes, Orochimaru-sama.” To his surprise his voice sounded almost normal.
“This respect will be shown at all times, even when I am not present, even when you believe you are communicating in secret, even when you are alone. Is that clear, Haru-chan?”
“Yes, Orochimaru-sama.”
“Thirdly, you will obey me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Orochimaru-sama.”
“Good.” He pointed at a small pile of clothes in a corner. “Put those on.”

Haru dressed. The clothes felt strange. Not only was there no Uchiha crest but they did not fit properly and the fabric felt unpleasant against his skin.
As he pulled on the low boots, Orochimaru was sliding open the door.
“Follow me, Haru-chan.”

Crossing the infirmary, he spotted Rin-san. She had stopped what she was doing and stood politely, feet together and hands clasped before her. As Orochimaru passed she bowed but he ignored her.
It was shocking; Rin-san wasn’t even that respectful to Papa. Haru wondered what Orochimaru had threatened to do.
Or what he had done.

When they reached the ladder Orochimaru went up first. Haru followed. There wasn’t another option. Even if he had been willing to take a risk, out of the corner of his eye he could see a neko watching him.
They stepped off the ladder on the level above the crew room but below Papa’s office and the meeting rooms.
Haku-san was there. He was holding position in a deep bow. He had found or made a kimono. Around his neck was a collar like Haru’s.
“Haku-chan,” Orochimaru acknowledged.
“Orochimaru-sama,” Haku-san responded. He straightened but kept his eyes downcast.
He looked very different from the Haku-san Haru knew.
“You will not leave this level without permission, Haru-chan,” Orochimaru informed him. “Haku will be looking after you when he is not looking after me.”

Haku-san flushed slightly and Haru realised immediately what ‘looking after me’ meant. It did not surprise him; he knew that Haku-san would not hesitate to act the floozy for Orochimaru if it distracted his attention from Yoshimi or any of the rest of them.
He imagined what Kisame-san would do to the Orochimaru print when he found out.
It was a nice thought.

Haku-san led the way into one of the rooms, which had been fitted out as a small bunk room. Inside were Yo-chan, Ka-chan, Ran and, to Haru’s surprise, Kichi and Tatsu.
Each one was wearing a controller.
No wonder Gamabunta had led the nekos to them; Orochimaru had the Gama’s beloved youngsters as hostages.
“Ha-chan!” Yoshimi cried, delighted to see him.
And Orochimaru smiled indulgently, which was weird.

Yoshimi still looked strange without his whiskers and with golden fur but the collar with the writing had been replaced by a plain version. He didn’t look normal, his eyes were too bright and his cheeks too pink, but he did not look as sad as Haru had expected.
“Yoshimi-chan, I want you to take Kichi-chan and Tatsu-chan down to the gym.”
“But...” Yo-chan began, his eyes going to Haru.
“You can spend time with Haru-chan later. For now, I want you to take Kichi-chan and Tatsu-chan down to the gym where Neko Ten will supervise an exercise session.”
Yoshimi bowed. “Yes, Orochimaru-sama.”

They waited. After a while Haru realised that they were waiting until Yoshimi was out of earshot. He studied the others. Ka-chan looked sullen while Ran was being careful to have no expression at all.
“Shut all the doors on this level, Haku-chan, and then return,” Orochimaru said finally.
Haku-san bowed and left the room.
“Ran-chan, what will happen if one of you attacks me?” Orochimaru asked.
“The nekos have instructions to retaliate, Orochimaru-sama,” Ran replied. “If you are attacked they will kill Akemi. If you are injured they will kill Akemi and one other. If you die, they will kill all of us.”
“Very good, Ran-chan. You learn quickly. Unlike fox-boy here.”
Haru quaked inside. What had Kazuki done?

Haku-san returned and shut the door behind him.
“Unfortunately for you, Haru-chan, fox-boy finds it difficult to obey. What was the first rule I explained to you, Haru-chan?”
Haru swallowed. His throat was dry and his gut twisted.
“That I would not be punished for my misdeeds, Orochimaru-sama. Another would bear the punishment.”
Ka-chan’s eyes widened and he bristled. “No!”
“Do not make it worse, Kazu-kun,” Haku-san pleaded.
Orochimaru turned on him. “Did I ask you to contribute?”
Haku-san’s eyes went to the floor. “No, Orochimaru-sama.”
“You are lucky, Haku-chan. I enjoy your punishment far too much to administer it to another.”
“Thank you, Orochimaru-sama.”
Haru imagined and shuddered.

Orochimaru turned back to Haru and the others. “Fox-boy you will stand here. If you move or if you make a sound I will double the punishment. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Orochimaru-sama.” Kazuki answered although Haru thought the honorific might choke him.
“Haru-chan, take off your shirt and drop your pants and underpants.”
Haru did what he was told. He was shivering and he knew it was from fear rather than cold.
“Ran-chan, you will hold Haru-chan’s hand. If you let go, the punishment will be repeated on another occasion until you manage to keep hold of his hand throughout.”
Haru put his hands behind his back. Ran would experience the whole punishment second-hand through the empathic link.
“Please don’t make Ran hold my hand, Orochimaru-sama,” he begged.
Orochimaru studied him. “A polite-worded request, Haru-chan. This time, he must hold your hand. On future occasions I shall reconsider. Give Ran-chan your hand.”
There was no way out. He put out his left hand and Ran took it.

Orochimaru extended his right arm and suddenly there was a prod in his hand. Haru guessed he carried it in a sprung-loaded holster on his forearm. He made a show of studying the slider that controlled its intensity.
“You are small,” he acknowledged. “I do not want to do any permanent damage and I would prefer not to have to tank you.”
He adjusted the slider.
“You will mention this to no one. Is that clear?”
“Yes Orochimaru-sama,” Haru replied with the others.

When the prod touched it was bad but not unbearable. Haru screamed because that’s what you did when someone was torturing you; not reacting would make him more vicious.
It wasn’t as bad as the killer plants, at least not at first.
Then Orochimaru decided to concentrate on his nipples and the screaming was for real.
Ran was gasping and weeping. Haru thought about pulling his hand away but he didn’t; he wasn’t going to be responsible for putting them through this a second time.

The prod moved off his nipples and there was momentary relief. He made the mistake of looking at Orochimaru instead of anywhere else.
As soon as their eyes met, Orochimaru smiled and the prod dipped downward.

The pain was worse than the poison vines; worse than when Hana was pulling out the barbed needles.

Then, suddenly, it was over. He was on the ground. Ran was holding him. Their hands were still clasped together. Haku-san and Kazuki were kneeling, their foreheads pressed to the floor.
“You are surprisingly tough, Haru-chan,” Orochimaru observed. “Next time I shall remember to use a higher setting.” He flexed his arm and the prod went back into its holster. “Haku-chan, you will accompany me. It is time for your punishment.”
He left and Haku-san followed, sliding the door closed behind him.

Haru made himself release Ran’s hand giving Ran the choice of moving away. Instead Ran held him closer.
Kazuki crawled over and began grooming him. “There won’t be another time, I promise,” he whispered.
“It wasn’t your fault, Ka-chan, it was his.” Haru croaked; his throat raw from screaming.
“We will never behave well enough,” Ran told them.
Ka-chan paused and Haru waited.
“He will always find an excuse because he enjoys it.”
- 36
- 37
- 38
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