Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

The Sacrificed	By : Sasunarufan13 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Naruto/Sasuke Views: 5667 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor make profit of it. Kishimoto owns it.

Chapter List
- 1-Part 1
- 2-Part 2
- 3-Part 3
- 4-Part 4
- 5-Part 5
- 6-Part 6
- 7-Part 7
- 8-Part 8
- 9-Part 9
- 4
- 5
- 6
Author's note: Apologies again for the lateness. I'm still feeling tired for some reason, but I battled through it to finish the chapter today. It gave me a bit of trouble at times, but I hope it isn't too bad!
Warnings: Violence; character deaths; references to past non-con events (no rape, but there are mentions of unwelcome touching); mature content; minor time skips; quite the darkish chapter
I hope you'll like it!
Part 5
"Most of them just ignored me, pretended I wasn't there. No matter how hard I tried, they just – looked away, as if I didn't exist."
A nose nuzzled the hollow underneath his left ear, thumbs stroking his jutting hipbones.
"There – there was a man, a teacher, who – his name's Mizuki and he – he told me he could give me private lessons, teach me how to read and write." He couldn't help but tense up, nausea filling him as the memory surfaced again. He hadn't thought about it for so long, had pushed it to the deepest recesses of his mind, determined, desperate not to think about it anymore.
"What did he do?" Sasuke asked quietly, stroking his sides now, up and down, up and down; his hands like warm brands tracing searing heat over the thick shirt he'd chosen to wear today.
Staring into the fire, Naruto swallowed; his hands twisting the edge of his shirt violently together. "He – I was nine and every kid attended school, but I couldn't, because I didn't have the money for it. I didn't know how to read or write and – and that was only more reason for people to ignore me, because they – they considered me dumb or so, unable to learn anything."
He closed his eyes, bile rising up as he remembered all too clearly that particular day in early spring, Mizuki coming to get him, leading him to his house in one of the more quiet parts of the village. He recalled how silent the neighbourhood had been, not even the chirping of the birds audible as if even the animals didn't want to be a witness to Mizuki's planning. The door falling shut, how final the sound of it had been, like nails being driven into a coffin.
Nine year old him had been nervous, uneasy, already feeling like something wasn't right even when just setting foot inside the house, but oh so desperate to finally start belonging in the village, thinking that if he just learnt how to read and write people would finally accept him.
"Naruto? What did he do?"
Still keeping his eyes clenched shut, unwilling to open them, Naruto answered haltingly, "I – had to sit down on his lap, because there was only one chair. Well, he said that, but – I saw the others collected in the kitchen. But I did what he asked, because – he was the first adult to talk to me and who wanted to help me, and I thought – this had to be normal."
How hard he had tried to tell himself that Mizuki's request had been normal, that nothing was strange about it. Maybe those other chairs were ready to fall apart and that was why the older man had put them away, maybe teaching him would work better in close proximity … Nine year old him was so desperate to belong that he had agreed to sit on Mizuki's lap, even when it didn't feel good at all, even when doing so made his stomach roll violently, as if he was about to throw up.
"He – he began teaching me the alphabet, but – his hands were on my thighs." He opened his eyes, staring blankly at the flames. "He didn't move them at first, but then … He – he started stroking me – there. I tried to move away, but he just grabbed my wrists and told me to sit still. I didn't know – I didn't know what to do so I just sat there and then his hands, they - "
His stomach rolled with those awful phantom touches, the way those big hands had slipped higher and higher up his thighs, dipping between them, too hot, too heavy, his legs being forced apart. All the while Mizuki just kept reciting the alphabet, droning the letters, like nothing was happening, like he wasn't touching him in the wrong way.
He shook his head roughly and grabbed Sasuke's wrists tightly; the wolf immediately halting his stroking. "I – he tried to go further, but then someone knocked on the door and he stopped."
He would never forget the look on Kakashi's face when Naruto had emerged in the hallway, wanting nothing more than to escape Mizuki's clutches. Kakashi had taken him away immediately and had tried to get Mizuki arrested, but it had been the teacher's word against that of the unwanted orphan and Danzo had been staunchly on Mizuki's side. Nothing had resulted from it, though not for a lack of trying on Kakashi's part, and Naruto had spent the rest of his years in the village avoiding Mizuki at all costs.
"One of the Hyuuga children, Neji, he saw me there and whenever he saw me after that, he kept – taunting me, calling me a useless, weak girl, because only girls were used by Mizuki and - " he cut himself off, shaking his head again.
He still didn't get why Neji had decided to taunt him every time they had crossed paths, for it had become abundantly clear to Naruto that he didn't taunt the girls in the same manner, even when Mizuki was bothering them.
"Were there others still?" Sasuke inquired, turning his hands around to tangle his with Naruto's.
The blond hesitated, but nodded; each and every taunt, shove, push, smack embedded in his memory.
"Tell me about them. Give me their names," Sasuke whispered, his voice like velvet, so soft and hypnotising that Naruto felt himself give in readily.
And so he told him the rest and offered the name of every single person who had ever hurt and abused him, who had made him feel lesser than the dirt underneath their boots. He gave them all up – and when he finally stopped talking, cradled against Sasuke's chest, warm and cherished, he felt blissfully empty.
Upon waking up, he realised very quickly that he was alone in the nest. A bit perturbed for Sasuke wasn't in the habit of leaving him to wake up alone, especially not now when he was expecting a child, he sat up, eyeing the cave confused.
The fire was still going, as strong as when he had gone to sleep, so that meant that Sasuke had put more wood in it recently. How recent, though? And where had he gone to that it couldn't wait for Naruto to be awake?
Not that Sasuke was obligated to stay in the cave until Naruto woke up, but it had been so long since he'd last woken up alone that he couldn't help but feel a tad lonely now.
He rose up, letting the blanket drop down, and had just set one foot outside the nest when Sasuke suddenly appeared, padding in his wolf form further into the cavern. He appeared satisfied for some reason and when he came close enough, even Naruto's human nose – much weaker than Sasuke's wolf one – was capable of picking up a whiff of copper.
Blood.
"Are you hurt?" he demanded urgently, staving off the panic threatening to overwhelm him for now. Sasuke didn't look hurt, but why did he smell like blood then?
"Should go for another dip in the water," Sasuke said nonsensically and transformed to his human form; the noise of bones cracking and stretching filling the cave for a moment. He looked down at himself as if checking something.
"Sasuke, what did you do?" Naruto asked, growing even more confused when Sasuke's naked form revealed no visible injuries that would explain the stench of blood.
"I taught a lesson," Sasuke answered simply and drew him closer, wrapping him in a warm embrace.
"A lesson, what …" Naruto inhaled sharply, pulling back abruptly to stare up in gleaming black eyes. "When you say lesson, you mean - "
"Nobody is allowed to hurt you," Sasuke said, brushing his lips across his forehead. "You've eaten yet?"
"Who?" Naruto swallowed, hands clenching down on Sasuke's forearms as he tried to figure out just who he had condemned to the fate of being killed by the wolf.
"The one who thought he had permission to touch you inappropriately," Sasuke replied frankly. "I made sure he'll never be able to do that again."
Mizuki. Was – had he killed Mizuki? Or was he still alive? If so, how badly injured was he?
But – did it really matter? Mizuki had done nothing but hurt children the entire time he'd lived there, always protected by Danzo, no matter how many parents came forwards. He'd tried to hurt Naruto and had most likely succeeded with some of the girls.
Did it really matter then what Sasuke had done to him? How many times hadn't Naruto wished that Mizuki would be punished? How many times hadn't he overheard other adults fervently wishing that Mizuki would drop dead, that Danzo would finally stop protecting him?
Too many times to count, really.
And now Sasuke had done just that: had punished Mizuki for his wandering hands and his deceitful promises.
Try as he might, Naruto couldn't find it in him to feel sorry for the older man. He had had years to redeem himself and had never done that. But now punishment had finally arrived in the form of a vengeful wolf shifter.
Tucking his face in Sasuke's neck, breathing in his familiar scent underneath that of faint copper, he murmured, "Thank you."
Thank you for punishing him. Thank you for believing me when so very few people have wanted to do that. Thank you for stopping the nightmare.
Cool fingers slipped underneath his chin, coaxing him to look up, and when he did, he met soft black eyes before his mouth was captured in an equally tender kiss.
"You're welcome," was all that Sasuke said before he guided him to the table, setting about preparing breakfast for the both of them.
Naruto sat there, watching Sasuke heat up tea and crack some eggs on a flat, broad stone in order to cook them, and warmth curled up in the pit of his belly, and he smiled.
It felt good to be loved.
Winter this year was one of the harshest Naruto had experienced so far, making him grateful for all the preparations they had done in advance. He could hear the wind howling something fierce nearly every night, snow seemingly piling up more and more every time he ventured outside to use the toilet, but inside the cave it was always pleasantly warm, both thanks to the fire burning brightly every day and to the giant wolf curling up with him in the nest whenever possible.
It had to be somewhere after New Year's, when Naruto was lying down in the nest, blankets pushed to the side, watching Sasuke nuzzle his stomach, pale fingers touching and caressing nonstop. Since a couple of days Naruto had noticed his stomach could no longer be called flat; instead a hint of a swelling was showing, palpable whenever he rested his hand against it.
The proof of his belly finally growing, finally filling out day by day, made the idea of expecting a baby finally concrete and he couldn't help but touch his stomach every morning now, excited to feel the swelling, tiny as it might be still.
Thinking about the little being growing inside of him had him thinking about something else, something that while not pressing at the moment would prove to be very important in the future and he needed to be prepared.
"I've been wondering," he started slowly, twisting onto his side when Sasuke looked at him and sat up, keeping one hand curved around his hip.
"About?" A dark eyebrow rose up.
"I know the Bite changed me enough to carry your baby, but …" he trailed off, biting his lip as he thought about the best way to form his question without growing too embarrassed.
A finger pulling his abused lip free had him gazing at Sasuke in surprise and the man smiled faintly, stroking his cheek. "But what?"
"I – I don't think it changed me that much physically and I was wondering – how the baby would come out," he finished haltingly, feeling his entire face burn with embarrassment, but not knowing how to word it otherwise.
It was a valid concern, however. If the baby ended up needing to be cut out of him, he wanted to know!
"You haven't touched yourself there at all?" Sasuke asked amused, making Naruto redden even more.
"Of course not, why would I?" he squeaked, flushing even harder when Sasuke smiled wickedly.
"It's simple," Sasuke drawled and his hand slipped between Naruto's legs, making the blond jump in surprise.
His cheeks felt like they were on fire when Sasuke's hand went higher and higher, slipping past his cock; his fingers resting right behind his balls. Two fingers pressed against his skin there; the sensation strange and on the verge of invasive, which Naruto didn't understand, because he'd never felt that way before around Sasuke.
"It's still rather small, so it's not noticeable unless you actively search for it," Sasuke said, almost thoughtful. "When your body accepted the Bite, it not only created the womb to host our cub, but it also formed an extra opening here." His fingers pressed more firmly against the mentioned opening and Naruto couldn't help but squirm when he felt one finger seemingly slipping inside him a bit.
"It will form completely once you're further along," Sasuke explained. "And once you're ready to give birth, it'll have formed completely."
Well, that sounded better than being cut open at least, even if it was rather embarrassing to hear. Still, it was rather incredible that the Bite managed to change his body this much.
Upon feeling Sasuke's amused gaze on him, he scowled. "What?" he asked rather defensively. He didn't appreciate feeling like he was being made fun of.
"I'm amazed you never touch yourself," he said; his eyes gleaming mischievously.
Naruto pouted and looked away. "Why would I when you do it?" he muttered, the words almost too inaudible to be heard.
Almost, because Sasuke definitely heard them with his sharp hearing and the way his dark eyes started to glimmer had Naruto involuntarily shivering slightly.
"And do you like it when I touch you?" the wolf shifter asked teasingly, pulling his hand back to glide it down Naruto's thigh.
"Of course I do, you know that," Naruto mumbled; the admission leaving him before he could think twice about it.
"I don't know," Sasuke said lowly and bent down, hovering above him. His bangs fell forwards, creating a curtain around his face. "Your body definitely reacts well, but it's nice to hear it confirmed too."
"As if I'm not loud enough already," Naruto shot back, willingly letting himself be turned onto his back; his legs spreading to cradle his mate between them.
His reply had Sasuke smirking and the tips of his fingers dancing across Naruto's thigh, leaving goose bumps behind in their wake. "Again, your body tells me a lot – but verbal confirmation is always nice," he murmured and kissed the blond before he could say something.
Both of them were naked; Naruto's clothes having been flung out of the nest a few hours ago when he had smelt too irresistible according to the wolf and Naruto hadn't seen the need to get dressed again afterwards. That ended up being a good decision when Sasuke's fingers easily slipped inside of him, guided by the natural slick his body had started to produce since he had accepted the Bite.
He was still fairly stretched and Sasuke's fingers slipped out of him; unwillingly eliciting a disappointed moan from him. He was definitely blushing when Sasuke smirked at him and his gasp was swallowed by a deep kiss when the wolf pushed inside of him, stretching him out further.
Sometimes it felt like no matter how many times they would make love, it still wasn't easy to accept Sasuke in him all at once, but it wasn't enough to deter him. On the contrary, he had come to love the feeling of being stretched out around his mate's cock, even when he would never dare to admit so aloud, and he slung his arms around Sasuke's shoulders, using the support to throw his legs around his waist. That had the other man sinking even deeper in him, if that was even possible still, and he groaned approvingly, loving the sensation of being completely filled by his mate.
"You can move," he whispered, nipping at Sasuke's ear. Sasuke still waited for his permission to move every time, even when it had only been a couple of hours since they had done it last, like he was afraid that he would hurt Naruto.
He couldn't, though, Naruto was sure of that. He trusted him not to hurt him and so far his trust had been rewarded each and every time.
His teeth on Sasuke's ear shell had the wolf shifter grumbling lowly, his eyes flashing red, and he began to move, pulling back slowly, so slow Naruto couldn't help but whine, and then slamming back inside fluently, tearing a choked moan out of the blond boy.
The rhythm Sasuke set was fast, but deep; every stroke inside hitting that one special place inside Naruto, one which had him seeing stars, pleasure coursing through every vein, every time that particular spot was struck.
"Look at you, so gorgeous," Sasuke murmured huskily; his eyes flickering between black and red, one hand gripping Naruto's hip while the other one snatched Naruto's hand and pressed it down next to his head, keeping it immobile there.
His thrusts were growing more forceful, harsher; a sign, Naruto had learnt by now, which meant that he was close to knotting him. Seeking out Sasuke's mouth, he moaned when he felt the wolf's knot catching at his entrance, before Sasuke pulled back again; the knot not big enough yet to lock them together.
"Come on, give it to me," he pleaded, teeth catching at Sasuke's lip, drawing a bit of blood.
Sasuke grinned, eyes hooded, as he pulled his head back and asked, "What? What do you want me to give to you?"
"You know what," Naruto whined, using his free hand to grab onto Sasuke's arse and press him closer.
"I'm not a mind reader," Sasuke reminded him; laughter audible in his voice and Naruto huffed, throwing his head back in frustration.
"I want your knot!" he snapped, hissing when Sasuke bit his neck, snarling; hot breath rushing against his heated skin.
"Because you ask so nicely," he smirked; his thrusts turning even rougher now, his eyes a permanent blood red colour now.
"Oh, oh, th-the-re." Blue eyes rolled back, his back arching, when Sasuke's knot finally caught, his entrance burning slightly when Sasuke pushed through, filling him completely.
That was all it took for the pleasure to become too much and he was yelling something incomprehensible when he came, spilling between their stomachs, muscles tightening around the wolf's knot.
Sasuke actually howled when he came, filling Naruto's channel to the point he could feel it dripping out of him, and his mouth was caught in a bruising kiss; their teeth almost clacking together.
Exhaustion taking over soon, he felt drained from the pleasure and the aftershocks he was still experiencing, and he let Sasuke turn them around so the wolf shifter ended up on his back with Naruto lying limply on top of him.
He fell asleep before the knot was even half way down.
Despite what most villagers had always thought, Naruto wasn't dumb. He was very much aware of the fact that some nights Sasuke sneaked out of the cave, coming back within two hours of leaving every time.
Naruto never asked what he had been doing or where he had been, because the scent clinging to the wolf was more than obvious. He didn't always carry the scent; it mostly depended on how well he'd been able to wash it off.
"You don't have to do this for me, you know," he said quietly one night when Sasuke slipped back in the nest with him.
There was no obvious stench of copper this time, but the forest scent clung even heavier to the older man than usual, which was a dead give away of what he had been up to in the short time period he'd been gone.
"They deserve it for how they've been treating you for all these years," Sasuke murmured, slotting into place behind him, curling one arm around his stomach. "It's time they learnt that they're not above you."
Naruto remained quiet, wondering what the villagers were thinking now that they were being hunted down one by one. Had they made the connection? Did they assume those were merely random attacks? If they knew the Beast was back to hunting them all down, would they know why? Or would they think the Beast had broken his promise?
"Do you want me to stop?" Sasuke asked curiously; his hand idly caressing Naruto's stomach. He didn't sound offended nor angry about it, not even resigned. Just a simple question and he would abide by whatever Naruto said.
Naruto thought he should want Sasuke to stop attacking the villagers. He shouldn't want him to keep continuing attacking them, most likely killing them even. He didn't have the right to want that. Didn't have the right to decide their fate like he was some kind of god.
He should tell him to stop – but he didn't. Because a part of him, a dark part, liked that those villagers were finally experiencing the pain and fear he had been put through throughout all those years. He liked that Sasuke loved him enough to want to get rid of those people, even though they had never personally offended him.
What did that say about him?
"That you think like a wolf," Sasuke answered; his voice a near grumble as he sniffed the back of Naruto's neck. "What they did to you – they deserve every bit of pain I inflict on them."
"Only the ones I told you about," Naruto said, curling his fingers around Sasuke's wrist, wondering if that specification made him even worse or just the tiniest bit better.
"Only them," Sasuke agreed, almost purring. "The rest are safe, but those who hurt you – they will pay the price, one by one."
It said something about him, Naruto thought, that hearing that actually made him fall asleep easier.
He did not care to figure out just what exactly it said about him.
It must be somewhere near the end of February when the last traces of snow finally melted away and the first stirrings of early spring made themselves know in the form of early flower buds tentatively starting to grow.
Sasuke had debated leaving at the start of spring, because it would take several months to reach the place where his family lived, but in the end Naruto's pregnancy put a hold on those plans; the wolf shifter unwilling to travel for so long with an expecting mate. Especially when travelling meant that Naruto might end up giving birth before they had even reached Sasuke's family; something the older man didn't want to risk.
"Does it bother you that we can't leave yet?" Naruto asked, a bit nervous, feeling like he had made a mistake by asking for the Bite so early on.
If he hadn't asked for it, then he wouldn't be pregnant now and they would have been able to leave. Sasuke would have met his family much earlier then, than now when they would have to stay here for probably another winter.
How long would it have been then since he last saw his parents and his brother? Was he regretting Biting Naruto now?
Sasuke eyed him curiously, stretched out next to him in the nest like a really big cat instead of the wolf he actually was. "Why would it bother me?"
"Because you'll have to wait longer to see your family again," Naruto replied, rubbing anxiously over his stomach. It had grown to a more noticeable swell now and since a week he could feel their baby fussing around; his or her kicks feather light still but already palpable.
The first time he'd felt their baby moving, he had dropped his cup of tea on the table in shock, startling Sasuke out of the doze he'd fallen into just a few minutes before. The wolf shifter had been next to him in an instant, his nose pressed into Naruto's stomach and he'd growled happily when he'd realised what had been happening.
He looked up startled when his hands were grabbed, fingers tangling with his. He worried his lip between his teeth when soft black eyes met his own blue ones and Sasuke clucked his tongue gently.
"I don't know why you're worrying so much now," Sasuke remarked, bringing his hands up to nuzzle the back of them. "It's not like it will be years before we see them. Just one more winter and then we can start our journey; that's not terribly long. I want you and our cub to be safe; that means staying here until next winter has passed."
"But your family – won't they think it strange if you show up with not only me but also a baby already? They're only expecting your mate, right?"
"You really have the oddest conceptions about my family," Sasuke commented, huffing through his nose. "They won't think it strange; they'll only be excited, trust me. Instead of just one, they get two new members to dote on. They'll be ecstatic for sure."
"If you say so," Naruto mumbled, still a tad apprehensive.
"I say so," Sasuke said decisively and pecked his lips. "You don't have to worry about a thing, all right? Everything's going to be fine. Worrying's not good for you anyways, especially not now." His right hand dipped down to cup Naruto's belly; a smile curving around his lips when their baby responded to his touch.
"I'm not worrying," Naruto muttered petulantly, but the rest of his protest was swallowed up by a deep kiss and he didn't feel like complaining further after that.
The wind whistled in his ears, playing with his hair and his shirt as Sasuke ran swiftly through the woods, jumping over bushes like it was nothing.
He couldn't help but start laughing when their baby started kicking up a major fuss in his belly, growing excited like past times when Sasuke went running in his wolf form with Naruto riding on his back. Just as much as Naruto enjoyed riding on Sasuke's back, just as much seemed their baby to enjoy it too, kicking and pushing as if he or she was trying to mimic the running.
Sasuke slowed down to a stop when they reached one of the meadows deeper into the woods and as Naruto carefully got off his back, cradling his belly with one hand, he questioned lightly, "What has got you so happy all of a sudden?"
"The baby," Naruto grinned, patting his stomach gently. "He or she seems to enjoy me riding you just as much as I do."
The wolf bared his teeth in a wicked grin. "Wonder which form you mean: my human or my wolf form?" There was no mistaking the smirk in his voice and Naruto gasped, cheeks aflame, as he slapped Sasuke's shoulder.
"Sasuke!" he squeaked embarrassed. "You can't say that like that!"
"What? It's the truth," Sasuke retorted innocently, pushing his snout into Naruto's stomach.
He'd grown into the habit of doing that, admitting that he loved how closely that allowed him to hear their baby moving within Naruto.
"No, it's not and - "
The only warning they got was a sharp whistling sound and then an arrow suddenly struck the ground right in front of Sasuke's left paw; the feathers on it a bright white. They both froze for a moment until another whistling noise broke through the silence and a second arrow landed straight between Naruto's feet; the shock when it hit the earth straight on palpable for a second.
"Get behind the tree!" Sasuke snarled, instantly breaking out of his stupor and he shoved Naruto towards the tree, not even letting up when the blond stumbled.
"Wait, what's going on?" Naruto asked panicked and with one last push he was shoved behind a thick, old tree; the bark looking like it had been a victim of arrows in the past.
"Stay there!" was all that Sasuke snarled at him before he jumped away, rushing away from the tree to draw the attention of whoever was shooting at them.
Perhaps the plan had been to lead the attacker – or attackers – away from Naruto, Sasuke using himself as a distraction, but the wolf didn't get that far before a sudden barrage of arrows forced him to stop, twisting away at the last second before one of the arrows could hit him.
Immediately Naruto realised they were in big trouble. There was no way one single person was able to shoot that many arrows – he counted at least twenty, if not more – all at once, which meant that they were dealing with multiple attackers now, hunters most likely. The arrows looked too sophisticated to belong to farmers or non-professional hunters.
How many were there? How had they managed to find them? Had they been tracking them down all this time? No, couldn't be, Sasuke would have known if a group had been following them.
Just pure luck on their side then?
A piercing howl snatched him abruptly out of his thoughts and he watched horrified how one of the arrows had found its goal, protruding out of Sasuke's shoulder.
"Sasuke!" he yelled, ready to dash forwards, but Sasuke snarled at him, his eyes a fierce red, and all the strength abruptly left him as if the sound had stolen all of it.
He could only sit there, watching horrified and helpless how arrow after arrow was shot at his wolf, his Sasuke; the barrage never stopping, never even giving the wolf shifter the slightest opening to run away or attack.
All Sasuke could do was try to avoid the arrows as much as possible, but he was growing slower as more and more arrows starting hitting their target. By now there were three embedded in his shoulders, one in his thigh, and he already had ripped out several others. He was bleeding visibly and was starting to limp; the attackers focusing on the leg in which he had an arrow sticking out of.
Naruto had to do something! But what? The attacks didn't stop and there was no way for him to rush over and drag Sasuke to safety before arrows would hit him too. But he couldn't just sit here and watch his mate die!
Desperately he started looking around, wondering amidst growing panic what he could do to save Sasuke, when he suddenly saw it.
A man sitting in a tree; his attention focused on Sasuke completely as he aimed his bow and shot an arrow. The uniform he wore was familiar even when Naruto had only seen it once before: the hunter belonged to an elite corps, one which was usually hired to track down dangerous criminals and take them down. Kakashi had worked with them once before and had told Naruto he preferred to never have to do that again, for these hunters were of a particular cruel sort, worse than most hardened criminals even. They didn't stop until they had found their target and most of the time their target didn't live to tell the tale.
They were handsomely paid, but nobody liked to see them arrive. Why were they here?
That didn't matter now. He had to find a way to somehow disrupt their attack, give Sasuke a chance to find an opening.
Wildly he looked around, hissing in victory when he found something suitable enough. The rock was slightly bigger than his palm, making it a bit difficult to grasp firmly, but he succeeded and with the rock clenched in his hand, he slowly rose up, trying his best not to attract the hunter's attention.
They appeared to think that the only threat was Sasuke, which in a way he supposed was true. Why consider a human a threat when you were attacking a Beast? He was going to take full advantage of their mistake now.
Pulling his arm back, he narrowed his eyes, estimating how far the distance was between him and the first hunter. Putting as much force behind it as he could, he flung the rock straight at the hunter with a furious scream.
The rock smashed into the hunter's head and he fell off the branch, smacking down on the ground harsh. Naruto ran over to him, snatched the rock off the ground and slammed it down on the man's head again when he looked like he was about to move.
Again and again and again he smashed the rock onto that bastard's head, wanting to hurt him as much as he and his companions were hurting Sasuke. There was yelling all around him, but that was only a background noise to him; all his focus zeroed in on the man lying crumpled beneath him, blood forming a steadily bigger pool around him.
Again and again and again and –
"LET ME GO!" he screamed when strong arms wrapped around his chest, dragging him away from the hunter.
They were going to kill Sasuke, then their cub, they were going to kill all three of them, and he wouldn't get to see Sasuke again, he wouldn't get to meet their cub, their baby, and –
"Naruto, Naruto, it's me, it's me!"
Sasuke's voice was like a bucket of ice being dumped on him and he froze before he whirled around, eyes wide as he took stock of how Sasuke looked like.
He was in his human form now, no arrows sticking out of him anymore, but he was still bleeding; several wounds sluggishly pumping out blood, colouring his pale skin a rusty red. His dark hair was matted, plastered against his forehead, and his eyes were slowly turning black, the redness draining away bit by bit.
Behind him the meadow was littered with the bodies of seven hunters, all in various stages of being ripped apart, their bows and arrows broken and scattered around them.
He looked down then at his hand, clenching the rock smeared with blood, so much of it that it was dripping down on the ground, soaked up by the earth like it was rain, and dazed he went to turn around, to look at the remaining hunter.
Before he could fully turn around however, Sasuke embraced him tightly, clutching him against his chest; one hand cupping his head, keeping his face pressed in Sasuke's neck and the other cupping the side of his belly, thumb pressing into his stomach.
The rock dropped down with a dull 'thud' and Naruto started trembling, though he didn't understand why, because it wasn't so cold, not with how firmly pressed he was against Sasuke, and yet he couldn't stop trembling, couldn't stop shaking and his chest was starting to hurt with every exhale he did.
"Wh-wh-what d-did I – I d-do?" he stammered, shock settling in, his vision growing blurry.
"You saved me," Sasuke said simply.
He had saved … He started laughing hysterically, his hands clutching Sasuke's shoulders; his whole frame shaking with his laughter before that soon turned to screams and those turned into sobs.
The whole time Sasuke just held him close; a steady rock in the sudden storm they had found themselves in.
When they finally reached the cave again, Sasuke being supported by Naruto, his injuries too severe to heal immediately, Kakashi and Tsunade were waiting for them; their faces pale and drawn tight with worry.
Tsunade gasped when she saw them and hurried over to them, stopping only when Sasuke snarled warningly at her.
"They found you," Kakashi said, looking so pale he might as well have turned into a ghost.
Naruto stopped, staring at him. "You knew about this?" he asked, feeling sick at the thought that he had been betrayed by the one person he had thought would never hurt him.
Had Kakashi deceived him for all these years? Had his gratitude towards Sasuke been nothing but a lie?
"I was only just told about this," Kakashi answered, tempering Naruto's growing panic. "I returned from a mission when I noticed the sigil of the hunters on the saddle of their horses. I went straight to Danzo who told me the council had decided in my absence that the best way to deal with the Beast would be to hire the hunters. As soon as I was told, I came straight here to warn you."
"I followed because he looked too concerned for my liking," Tsunade added, though her focus was entirely on Sasuke's injuries; her lips thinning when she noted the amount of blood covering them both. Her hand went to her satchel. "Do I have your permission to treat you?"
"I'll heal," Sasuke grunted; his eyes narrowed until mere specks of black were visible.
"I know," she said dryly, "but those look bad enough on their own now, let alone if they get infected. Do you really want to risk letting an infection settle in?"
Sasuke glared at her, his lips pressed together, and he didn't appear willing to give in.
"Sasuke, let her help you," Naruto whispered urgently. "She knows what she's doing and you lost a lot of blood already."
Sasuke stared at him, his dark eyes like bottomless pits; his skin paper white. He had been losing blood the whole journey back to the cave and Naruto could only hope rain would arrive to wash out their tracks.
"Fine," Sasuke said tersely, startling all three of them. "But you make one wrong move and I will snap your throat with my teeth."
"Understood," she said, raising an eyebrow. "How about we get you settled in your home before you completely bleed out on us?"
Tsunade and Kakashi stayed for several hours; the doctor attending to all of Sasuke's injuries. She rinsed out the wounds first, which nearly earnt her a swipe of long claws before Naruto snatched Sasuke's hands and pressed them tightly against his stomach. Their baby was tumbling agitatedly inside of him, clearly feeling something was amiss, and he hoped that their baby's movements would calm down Sasuke long enough for Tsunade to continue her examination.
If either Tsunade or Kakashi noticed the peculiar way Sasuke held on to his belly or even how swollen his stomach looked like, they were smart enough not to remark on it.
"What happened to them?" Kakashi asked. He was lingering near the entrance, though he wandered over at times to give new bandages to Tsunade whenever she demanded them.
Sasuke bared his teeth, but didn't look up, even though he twitched when she started cleaning the deeper wounds on his back. "Got rid of them all," he answered through clenched teeth. "You're going to tell that bastard that?"
Kakashi paused, looking thoughtful before he shrugged. "No, let him figure out on his own that even elite hunters are no match for you."
"Best not to repeat this encounter too much, though," Tsunade remarked, winding a bandage around Sasuke's left arm. "Strong you may be, they clearly did a number on you."
"You should see how they look like now," Sasuke said darkly, exhaling a shuddering breath when she started stitching close the biggest wound.
She clucked her tongue, focusing on threading the needle through his skin. "I'm sure they're quite the sight to behold. Now hold still; I don't want to hurt you any more than you already do."
He snorted, but obeyed surprisingly, holding as still as he could.
She and Kakashi left soon after, promising they would keep their ears peeled and eyes open in case Danzo would plan another attack as soon as he realised the hunters had failed.
Sasuke sat up as soon as they were gone, appearing restless. Nearly his entire torso was wrapped in bandages and his thigh was as well. He was sporting some smaller cuts on his forehead and his hands, but they were slowly healing on their own; dark red lines fading to pink gradually.
Naruto stood up, going to the small basin in which hot water had been poured earlier on. It had cooled down somewhat, so that it wasn't scorching hot anymore and he dipped a cloth into it, one Tsunade had left behind. Once it was completely soaked through, he retrieved it from the basin and squeezed out the excess water.
He made his way back to the nest with the now damp cloth and carefully started cleaning the blood off Sasuke, watching skin bloom pinkish before the colour faded away again, leaving nothing but pale skin behind.
He rinsed the cloth four times before all the blood had been scrubbed off, all too aware of the heavy gaze resting on him as he was doing so.
"Do you think Danzo will try something again?" he questioned lowly, rinsing out the cloth one more time before he draped it over the edge of the basin. He would pour out the water tomorrow; he didn't think he had any energy left to make the trip through the tunnels again.
"I don't know, I underestimated him clearly," Sasuke admitted chagrined.
Biting down on his lip, Naruto slowly sank next to him on his knees, resting his hands on his lap. "How long until you're fully healed?"
Sasuke had been attacked once before by the bear, but his wounds hadn't appeared so severe back then.
Sasuke glanced down at himself. "Give it a day and I'll be healed," he muttered, stretching out his arms carefully. He then reached out to pull Naruto against him, sticking his nose in his hair and breathing in deeply.
"What are we going to do now?"
Sasuke's voice when he answered was so deep, Naruto could feel it reverberating in his own bones. "We can no longer stay here. We're going to move."
AN2: Yeah, this turned out a bit darker than the previous chapters *coughs*
Please leave your thoughts behind in a review; should you spot any mistakes, please point them out to me.
I hope to see you all back in the next part! Please stay safe and take care of yourselves!
Cuddles
Melissa
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The Sacrificed