Haunting Flames- Book Three in Flames Series

by DianneRose2016

Full Summary Inside: Three years have passed since Sasuke became a missing-nin. Kakashi's world is shattered when he learns some disturbing news. Now it is a race against time to save Sasuke from the Hell he has been trapped in. But Sasuke has a long road of recovery ahead of him. Add in Itachi now being back and Shikamaru's new boyfriend. Plus Sasuke's two young children.

1. Chapter 1

A/N: So this is the third installment of my SasukeXShikamaru Flame series. It is important to read Up in Flames and A Burning Flame first to truly understand the relationships of everyone involved and the past history. This story will be darker than the other two stories as it will deal with more adult situations like torture and mentions of rape.

Summary: Three years have passed since Sasuke was taken from Konoha with everyone believing he was a missing-nin. When a stranger goes to Kakashi with shattering news Kakashi then goes on the hunt to find and free Sasuke from his hell. But how will Kakashi and everyone handle finding Sasuke and two small children? How will Itachi handle being back in Konoha and taking care of not only Sasuke, but two children? Will Kakashi's and Iruka's relationship survive the stress and the return of Itachi, the first man that Kakashi ever kissed? Add in the fact that Shikamaru has a new boyfriend and you are in for one rough recovery.

Story Warnings: Mentions of past rape, mentions of torture, violence, swearing, sexual situations, mentions of past child abuse and infidelity

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 1

It had been three years since Sasuke had left. Three years since the day that Kakashi found the letter that Sasuke left behind along with his forehead protector. Three long years that were filled with pain for Kakashi. Kakashi had loved Sasuke like a son and for the past three years he had been without his son. After Sasuke left things had started to change. Jiraiya had returned a week later and had taken Naruto with him to be trained, they had just returned six weeks ago in time for the war. Sakura had been trained by Tsunade in medical training and Jitsu so not only was Kakashi a father without his son. He was also a Sensei without his students. Kakashi had spent the past three years going on one mission after the next. He had been working with the ANBU on their missions and drowning himself in paperwork. He was doing everything he could think of to keep himself busy and his mind off from Sasuke. Whenever he had the chance he would look for Sasuke when he was out on missions, but he had never heard any word of Sasuke.

Shikamaru had been miserable for a good year before he slowly began to move on from Sasuke and now he had been dating a new boyfriend for a year. He was finally moving on from his relationship to Sasuke and he was smiling again. Chouji and Shikamaru's relationship had improved as well with him no longer dating Sasuke. Chouji approved of his new boyfriend and the three of them had often went out for meals and movies together. Shikaku and Yoshino also liked Shikamaru's new boyfriend, but deep down they both missed Sasuke and what Shikamaru was like with Sasuke. The new boyfriend, Hurrio, was a ninja as well and came from a large family. He was a happy young man that was seventeen and an only child. He was a skilled ninja, but not one of the top. He was loyal to Konoha though and he was often active on missions. The only problem they had was the fact that Hurrio hated the Uchiha Clan and was very pleased that they were all dead and Sasuke was gone and hopefully dead. As a result they didn't talk about Sasuke or the Uchiha Clan, because despite Sasuke leaving Shikamaru still thought he was a good person and he missed the friendship they had together. Hurrio had also been with two other guys before Shikamaru so he was more experienced in that sense. They had been together for a year and had done everything, but have sex with each other. Shikamaru knew that Hurrio wanted to, but Shikamaru just didn't have the desire to do that just yet. For some reason it felt wrong to be having sex with Hurrio. Shikamaru just couldn't explain it, but he just didn't want Hurrio to be his first. It was something he was trying to figure out still.

Six weeks ago the world was rocked with another Ninja War with Madara and the few remaining Ataksuki. It was a tough battle, but with Naruto's power and with Itachi showing his true loyalties they were able to defeat Madara and win the war without too much damage and casualties on their end. All of their friends had survived and with Itachi they were all finally hoping to discover some piece of information on Sasuke. Only to have their hearts crushed once again when they discovered that Itachi hadn't even heard from Sasuke or anything about him. Itachi had been granted ninja status once again with his mission now over, but he had asked for some time off so he could go out and search for Sasuke. Tsunade agreed because she felt that she owed Itachi that much. As well as her concern for Sasuke was growing as no one had heard of him or had managed to find him in three years. Wherever Sasuke was he was hidden very deeply underground. And with needing to take medication daily Tsunade and the others were worried about where he was getting his medication for the past three years.

With the war complete and Itachi now out there searching for Sasuke Kakashi hadn't had much to do in recent weeks. The ANBU were still training and going on missions, but there wasn't a high demand for S-Ranked missions with the war over. The world was in a form of peace currently. Even with the other Great Nations not arguing with each other. It was going back to simple and easy missions for everyone and that was leaving not only Kakashi feeling bored, but some of the other higher ranking ninja as well. Kakashi thankfully had the ANBU to keep him a little busy with training and paperwork. Something he never thought he would be happy about.

Kakashi was in his apartment just doing some cleaning. Iruka had a class to teach as the academy was back on with the war officially over. Kakashi figured he would clean up and then cook them some dinner tonight as a way of saying thank-you. Iruka had been there for Kakashi through the past three years as Kakashi was depressed after losing not only Sasuke, but Naruto and Sakura as well. Kakashi could tell that Iruka had been annoyed on more than one occasion but he had stayed with Kakashi and pushed through the difficult patch in their relationship. Kakashi honestly didn't know what he would have done without Iruka in these past three years. Kakashi was brought out of his thoughts with a knock at his door. Kakashi put his mask back up and made his way over to his front door. He figured it was probably an ANBU with a question. He wasn't expecting a middle age man and a young teenager beat up on the other side of his door.

"Can I help you?" Kakashi asked doing his best to keep the confusion from his voice as he had no idea who these two were.

"You are Hatake Kakashi correct?" The man asked.

"I am. Who are you?" Kakashi asked now on guard.

"I am Misho Yuro and this my son Hasan. You are Uchiha Sasuke's father correct?" The man asked.

"I am. Do you know where he is?" Kakashi asked now very interested.

"May we come in please? It's a bit of a story and my son is injured he needs to rest." Yuro said.

"Of course." Kakashi said as he moved back and let them both into his home.

Kakashi knew it wouldn't be the smartest thing in the world, but realistically he could handle himself against anyone as long as they weren't Uchiha Itachi or a pissed off Nine Tails. A middle aged man and a beat up thirteen year old didn't register on his dangerous radar. The man helped his son sit down in one of the chairs as he sat down on the arm of the chair. Kakashi sat down on the couch and spoke.

"How do you know Sasuke?"

That was the only topic that mattered to Kakashi right now. Not who they were or what happened to the boy, but Sasuke.

"I don't know him personally. My son does, but only for eight weeks. Eight weeks ago I found this letter on Hasan's bed." Yuro said as he handed Kakashi the letter and continued on. "It stated that he was leaving. That he couldn't handle school anymore and the village. To not look for him that he would be underground and I would never find him. That he was never coming back. At the time it didn't sit right with me. We were very close. He told me everything no matter how awkward it may be for us. We talked about everything. Him just leaving like that it didn't make sense to me. I looked for him, but I couldn't find him. Five days ago he returned home, battered as you can see. I immediately took him to the hospital within my village and they did what they could for him. He had been in a series of fights and he was malnourished, exhausted and dehydrated from his time away. The first thing he told me was that he didn't leave willingly. He was taken while I was working the night shift that night." Yuro said with hurt and anger in his voice at not being there for his son.

"I'm sorry that happened to you. Did Sasuke help you escape?" Kakashi asked still not sure what was going on.

"Sort of. I was hit with a dart to the neck. It knocked me out right away. When I woke up I was in this room. The walls were dirt and the floor was cement. I had a collar around my neck and a chain attached to it and into the middle of the room. There was no windows and the door was solid metal with no handle on the inside. My shirt was removed and I was in the room with someone. Another man and two small children. A boy that was about two years old and an eight month old little girl. There was also this dog. The other young man was Sasuke." Hasan explained with a hoarse voice from the collar.

"What? You must be mistaken." Kakashi instantly said.

"I'm not. Please hear me out. He's in trouble and he's very sick. He told me to come to you. That I had to find you. That you would know what to do." Hasan said with panic in his voice.

"Tell me everything you know. Everything he told you no matter how small it might seem." Kakashi said with a serious voice as he made a hand seal to have Pakun appear.

"Hey boss." Pakun said.

"Go get Tsunade and tell her to come here. It's about Sasuke. Hurry." Kakashi said.

"Got it." Pakun took off out the window and Kakashi gave Hasan his full attention.

"He didn't leave willingly. He was hit with a dart like me. He said it was the last thing he remembered before waking up in that place. I don't even really know what it is or who they are. They always wore masks so none of us ever saw their faces. But Sasuke said there was a lot of them. That they were all different sizes and their voices were different. He remembered seeing some different tattoos on some of their arms and the back of their necks. Um… he said that a group of them had the same accent. That they sounded like they were from or around the Cloud villages. Does that make sense?" Hasan asked not sure if he was making sense or not as Sasuke wasn't making much sense either.

"It does. Anything else that he told you about them? About what they looked like or what they wore? Anything at all, even the smallest detail will help us find where they are." Kakashi said with patience in his voice.

"They always wore black and boots. Heavy boots, like they climbed a lot, but I don't know what. Sasuke has been there the whole time in the same room. In the room there is just a dirty thin mattress on the floor. The longer you are there the sicker the person becomes. They only feed you once every three weeks and water every three days. The room is always dark, all the time. You can barely see across the small room. There was a lot of us in that place though. Sasuke said he thought there was about a hundred teenagers there both males and females. He wasn't sure on the number though, because he hadn't seen everyone all at the same time and a lot died and new ones came." Hasan said before he started coughing.

Kakashi got up and went into the kitchen and grabbed Hasan a glass of cold water to help his throat. He went back over and handed it to Hasan. Hasan took a few small sips to help stop the coughing. He was about to continue when the front door opened and Tsunade walked in with Pakun. She closed the door and went over to the others.

"This is Tsunade, she is the Hokage of village. This is Misho Yuro and his son Hasan. Hasan went missing eight weeks ago. He was captured and placed somewhere. He was somehow able to escape and they came here. Sasuke was in that same facility that Hasan was in. He was captured three years ago from Konoha. He didn't leave willingly." Kakashi explained.

"Can we confirm that?" Tsunade asked with dread but also knowing they needed proof he was captured in Konoha and not a day after he left.

"This is the letter that was left on Hasan's bed. It's the same language that was in Sasuke's letter. Hasan was also roomed with Sasuke and Shadow." Kakashi said as he handed Tsunade the letter.

"And his two kids." Hasan said.

"What?" Both Kakashi and Tsunade said at the same time.

"The little boy and girl I had mentioned. They were his. Kai the boy and Yin the girl." Hasan said sadly.

"You need to explain. This is very important. I have labeled Sasuke as a missing-nin. We thought he left willingly and betrayed the village. Now you are telling us that he has been kept in this place for three years. We need to know everything." Tsunade said in a serious voice.

"Sasuke told him that the men always wore mask, black clothes and boots made for climbing. Some had tattoos on their arms and the back on their necks and a group of them had accents like the Cloud area. There is roughly a hundred other teenagers both females and males within the facility. There could be more or slightly less as they have died and some Sasuke might not have ever seen." Kakashi said.

"Why capture Sasuke and let him keep the dog though that doesn't make any sense." Tsunade said.

"It's a mean dog. He growls at anyone that comes near Sasuke or one of the kids, even me. It's a very mean dog." Hasan said.

"He's a King Sheppard breed they are meant as guard dogs and a family dog. They protect their own. It's been there for three years with Sasuke and having Sasuke hurt. It would have made him very protective of Sasuke and the two little ones. He would see them as his own pups. Dogs can be retrained once the violent situation is removed. What did Sasuke tell you about the facility?" Kakashi asked.

"Sasuke knew he was dying soon. It's what happens when a new person is placed with an older one. It's the older ones job to teach the new one what happens. His chakra has been sealed away just enough for him to not be able to use it, but not enough that he would lose his eyes. I guess from some technique or something that his body needed." Hasan said confused as he wasn't in the ninja world.

"Sasuke has a special eye bloodline. It requires chakra to go into his eyes. If it is blocked off fully it will eventually make him blind." Kakashi supplied.

"What do they want with all of these teenagers?" Tsunade asked.

"It's some kind of fighting ring Sasuke said. I didn't get to see it. The first few months they hurt you to make you submissive. Make you too weak to fight back and too afraid to go against them. They keep the females and males separated. They fight the males. Bets are placed Sasuke said and the winner is the one left alive. They fight to the death in this ring. If you refuse to fight they kill them both as an example to the others. Everyone watches. The ones that don't fight are kept on the chain and walked around like pets almost. The two fighting are in a pit that they can't get out of. Not until one of them is dead. The better the fighter the more they fight. Sasuke's an Uchiha so they made him fight a lot. It didn't matter if he was the best they all wanted to have the title of being the owner of the fighter that killed an Uchiha. Like a trophy.

The females were kept as breeders. The top fighters get drugged and taken to this room and chained to a bed. The females are drugged and brought into the same room. They are forced to have sex and they do it until the girl gets pregnant. They give them special drugs to help make them more fertile. They make sure the girls are taken care of while pregnant so they deliver healthy babies and then once they give birth they kill them. And the babies go to the father to take care of. Sasuke has two with two different females. I didn't hear about that from him. A guard told me while he was hurting me. Sasuke doesn't talk about it. He only told me their names. Kai, after his father and Yin after the only true mother he had ever met. He takes care of them, but you can tell he was only doing it because he had to, because it was what was right. His heart wasn't in it or his mind. The guards were talking about doing it one more time before he died. They wanted another boy. They used to tell me that when he was dead I would have to take care of them. He's really sick." Hasan said with tears in his eyes.

Yuro pulled his son into his arms and held onto him as he shook and held the tears back.

"How sick and injured is he? Sasuke had to take medication every day to help with clotting his blood. Is he still on it?" Kakashi asked with worry.

"He's not on anything. Once a week they give him a shot I guess for his blood. But it doesn't really work too well. He still bleeds a lot from a simple cut. He has trouble breathing and his lips are slightly blue. I think its pneumonia. It's really cold down there and he's really thin and weak. He doesn't really sleep because of the kids. He's afraid to leave them alone and they are both weak themselves and getting sick. They don't get enough food or water. Sasuke always gives them his. Shadow keeps them warm Sasuke makes sure of it. His head hurts all the time and he gets really confused and forgetful. He couldn't remember my name and he would ask me the same questions all the time. His hands shake and his back really hurts. He can barely lay down on it from the pain. He's not fighting anymore because of his legs. They get pins and needles in them and they go numb a lot. His left leg is worse from being broken. He can barely stand on it. His legs are always hurting and he can barely move them. He's dying. I think Kai and Yin are too. She doesn't cry. Apparently she never has and Kai his breathing isn't that great. They sound sick or maybe they are just too rundown. Shadow is thin and he's hurt from getting kicked or hit from protecting them from the guards. Sasuke always calls him back so he doesn't get hurt. They don't have long." Hasan said sadly.

"How did you escape?" Tsunade asked gently.

"Sasuke told me how. He figured it out a while ago, but he never had the chance to leave. He said he had the chance once, but he couldn't leave Kai behind and he wouldn't have made it with him. He told me when to run and where to go I followed his instructions and when the guard came to give us our water and food I ran. Sasuke had been able to make a lock pick with a piece of metal he found on the ground out in the pit. He tried to get his collar off, but his hands were shaking too much and they weren't strong enough to hold the metal. I got my collar off and when the door opened I stabbed the guard in the neck like Sasuke told me and I ran. Down three hallways and out the water grate that was used to wash down the blood from the torture room. I got outside and I just kept running until I knew where I was. I wanted to bring them with me. I wanted to help them, but Sasuke he wouldn't make it. That all of us wouldn't make it and that I was their best chance. That I had to come here to Konoha and tell Hatake Kakashi. That you would get them out. Home was closer to I went there first and got my dad and we came here." Hasan explained.

"You did the right thing. I know it might not feel like that right now, but you did the right thing. Their best chances of survival was you leaving on your own. They won't think you'll come here. They'll just believe you are going back home to your father. You aren't a ninja so they won't suspect anything. Would you be able to tell us what the area looked like when you came out of the grate?" Kakashi asked.

"It was surrounded by trees, but they weren't normal. They didn't look like the trees here or back home. They had needles as leaves and they were really tall, but thin. Made for the winter season. The ground was hard and the grass was a light brown color. I ran East for about three hours and then I knew where I was so I ran South for another three hours before I arrived back home at the village of Shui in the Rock area." Hasan said.

"That would put them somewhere between the village of Clouds and the village of Ice. A nine hour journey from here." Tsunade said.

"I'll need a large squad to go in there. We could be facing upwards of a hundred guards. Not to mention how many injured and potential children are there." Kakashi said.

"Hasan, would you be able to draw Kakashi a map of the route you took and the area so he could try and find it?" Tsunade asked.

"Anything I can do to help." Hasan immediately said.

"Kakashi, get anyone you can together and go. Take ANBU if you need to just get there. Leave within ninety minutes. Hasan, after you have that map I would like for you to come with me to the hospital so I can examine you and keep you overnight. You should still be in a hospital bed." Tsunade said.

"I appreciate that, but we come from a poor village. I cannot afford a hospital stay." Yuro said sadly.

"There will be no charge. Because of your son we have discovered one of our ninja has been held captive along with other young males and females. There is no charge at all. I want your son healthy as well. I will be at the hospital and getting everything ready for the return of the captives. Kakashi bring them all back here where we can guarantee they are looked at and well taken care of. We will also need to discover where their family is and inform them of the situation once we have everyone back." Tsunade said.

"Of course." Kakashi said as he got up and grabbed some paper and a pen for Hasan to being drawing the map.

Kakashi handed it to Hasan as he spoke.

"Try and make it as detailed as possible from when you go out of the grate so we can find it again."

"Ok." Hasan said as he took the paper and began working on it.

Kakashi and Tsunade went off to the side and Tsunade whispered.

"This bad Kakashi. He's been there too long and without his medication. His kidney could be completely in failure. And his legs. If they got injured he might lose all function in them. I need him here as fast as possible. When you find him, bring him and the children back right away. Don't wait for the others. Those three lives are the top priority right now."

"I will."

"Send a hound to find Itachi and let him know of the situation and have him back to the village. I don't know what evil this is, but we are going to need all the help we can get right now. The hospital is about to get slammed. I need to get it ready for this. In eighteen hours we are going to be getting a large number of victims. Get the map and be out front of the gate in ninety minutes, no later. I'll meet you there with a sedative that you can give to Sasuke to keep him asleep for the journey. He won't be in pain that way. Bring water and food for the kids and the dog. I'll also have milk for the infant to give you."

"Once I have the map I'll go tell Shikamaru and his parents. I'll send Pakun out now to start gathering ninja."

"Oh Shikamaru, I didn't even think about that. Good luck and bring them home."

"What about the children? Will Sasuke be able to keep them?" Kakashi asked with concern.

"Let's worry about that when they are healthy. If Sasuke wants them I am not about to break up a family. But if Sasuke wants them has yet to be determined. Let's open that can of worms later when we know they will all survive." Tsunade said not looking to get into that just yet.

Kakashi gave a nod and turned his attention to Pakun.

"Go and find the rest of our group and have them ready to leave and meet out front of the gates. Find everyone you can."

"Got it boss."

Pakun headed out the window once again and go round up everyone he could fine. With Pakun gone Kakashi went to start getting his pack together. His mind was going a mile a minute with questions running through it. He couldn't believe that Sasuke had spent all these years being in that hell hole. He had been tortured and raped for three years and as a result he had two small children that Sasuke may never want to keep. There was no telling just how sick and injured Sasuke was until Tsunade was able to look at him. Same as the children. Kakashi just couldn't believe this. For the past three years Kakashi had believed that Sasuke had left on his own. That he had given everything up when he discovered the truth behind the Clan's death. All of this time and Sasuke had been held captive. All this time that Kakashi could have been out there looking for Sasuke and anyone that might have something to do with his capture. All of the pain that could have been avoided by Sasuke. Kakashi couldn't let himself think about that just yet. He had to find Sasuke and get him out of there. Him and his two children and Shadow. After ten minutes Kakashi was ready and went back to check on Hasan's progress.

"This is the best that I can do. I hope it's helpful to you." Hasan said as he handed Kakashi the piece of paper.

Kakashi took it and looked at it. It was rather detailed and Kakashi was thankful that Hasan had at least paid attention to where he was after he had escaped.

"This will help. Thank-you." Kakashi said.

"He never forgot about you. He talked about you. He told the kids stories about you. He would sit there and watch the door for days straight without moving or sleeping. Just waiting for you to walk through it. He said you would find them one day." Hasan said sadly.

"With your help, now I can. Get to the hospital and rest. You've done your part." Kakashi said doing everything he could to keep the hurt from his voice.

"I'll take you there. Kakashi I'll meet you at the front gate with what you need." Tsunade said.

Kakashi gave a nod and Yuro helped Hasan get up. They all headed out of Kakashi's apartment and back down to the street. Kakashi immediately took off for the Nara home to inform them of the situation. Kakashi knew this was going to completely destroy them, but they had to know. They had to be prepared for what could happen. Kakashi ran the whole way there and once he arrived he knocked on the door. Shikaku opened the door and he was surprised to see Kakashi there.

"Kakashi, come on in." Shikaku said.

Kakashi walked in and saw that Asuma was there along with Hurrio sitting in the living room.

"What's wrong?" Asuma instantly asked as he could see the worry in Kakashi's eye. He had known Kakashi since the academy and he could easily tell when something was bothering him.

"We have a serious problem. We all made a huge mistake." Kakashi said with hurt in his voice.

"What's wrong?" Shikaku asked as everyone was now giving Kakashi their full attention.

"I just had a father and son come to me at my apartment. Yuro, the father, his son Hasan had been missing for eight weeks. One night Yuro came home from work to find a note on Hasan's bed stating that he couldn't handle being in the village anymore and to not look for him. He was going underground and he was never coming back." Kakashi started.

"That's the exact wording that was in Sasuke's letter." Shikamaru said.

"How do you know that?" Hurrio asked.

"I have it memorised." Shikamaru simply answered.

"Hasan was drugged by a dart and when he woke up he was in a dirt and cement room. He had a collar around his neck with a chain attacked to a link in the floor. There was a dirty and thin mattress on the floor. He also had someone else there. Sasuke was there." Kakashi said sadly.

"He helped kidnap the poor kid." Hurrio stated with disgust.

"No he didn't. He was chained up too. Along with Shadow. Three years ago when we all thought he left willingly, he didn't. He was drugged with a dart and taken there as well. He's been there for three years now same as Shadow. He also has two small children a two year old boy named Kai and an eight month old daughter named Yin." Kakashi explained.

"What?" Yoshino said with hurt in her voice.

"This whole time." Shikamaru said softly with hurt in his voice.

"Three years now. What are they doing with them?" Shikaku asked angry that Sasuke had endured this type of pain.

"Sasuke told Hasan everything he could think of about the operation. He also told Hasan how to escape. According to Sasuke, it's a fighting ring of some sort. There are roughly a hundred other teenagers there both male and females. They are kept separated. The males fight one-on-one against each other to death while the men that run it bet on who is going to win. For the first three months anyone that is new is tortured and broken in so they don't fight against the guards and are too weak to run. Sasuke has a seal on him to block his chakra, but it's not strong enough to make him blind. From what Hasan said, Sasuke's had to kill a lot of people." Kakashi said sadly.

"A kill or be killed situation. If he didn't his opponent would have." Asuma said.

"And if neither of them fight then the guards would kill both of them right there in this fighting pit. If you want to survive you win, no matter what. The females are used as breeders. They take the top fighters, drug them and chain them down to a bed. They then drug the females and send them in the room. They do that until the girl is pregnant. They give the girls fertility drugs to increase their chances. Once they give birth to a healthy baby the baby is placed with the father and the female is killed. Sasuke has two children from it now." Kakashi said.

"He's been raped. It's untraditional, but that's what it is. How are they?" Shikaku asked.

"According to Hasan they aren't good. Sasuke is really sick. He's dying. They put Hasan in with Sasuke so Sasuke can tell him the rules and when he dies Hasan was to take care of the children. They kids don't cry Hasan said. They are getting sick and are run down. The guards only feed the captives once every three weeks and they only get water once every three days. I don't know about the children if they get more Hasan didn't say. The room is cold as well. Hasan said their breathing didn't sound normal. They are probably sick and very malnourished. Sasuke is injured and very sick. He's not breathing very well and his lips are slightly blue. He gets confused and forgetful. He couldn't remember Hasan's name the whole time. His legs hurt. They go numb and he can barely stand on them. They hurt all the time. He probably has an injury to his back again. He hasn't been given his medication. They give him some kind of shot once a week to help with his blood, but it doesn't work very well. He doesn't have long." Kakashi said with hurt in his voice.

"Do we know where he is?" Asuma asked.

"Hasan drew a map of the area. He's about nine hours away, somewhere between the village of Clouds and the village of Ice. Pakun is rounding up as many ninja as he can find to be ready to leave within ninety minutes. I'll have to explain it roughly again then. Tsunade is at the hospital with Hasan and Yuro. Hasan is still injured and weak from being held captive for two months. Sasuke was able to make a lock pick from a piece of metal from the fighting pit. Hasan used it to get out of his collar and when the guard came in he stabbed him in the neck like Sasuke told him to. He then ran for the water grate that Sasuke told him about. He didn't want to leave without Sasuke and the children, but Sasuke told him they wouldn't make it. That their best chance was for him to leave and find me. Now we have to hurry. We have to free the other captives and Tsunade wants them all brought back here. We'll have to locate their families afterwards as well." Kakashi said.

"I'm going with you." Asuma stated.

"Me too." Shikaku added.

"I'm going." Shikamaru said with anger in his voice.

"You should stay here. You're not really a field ninja anymore. You're working as a Junior Advisor to the Council. I'll go and let you know what happens." Hurrio said.

"Junior Advisor or not I'm still a ninja and I'm going. I'm not leaving him in that place a second longer than he should be. Three years he's been in that hell being tortured, raped and forced to kill people. All because the people who claim to be his family didn't figure it out. I didn't figure it out. The last thing I'm doing is staying here and waiting for him to come home anymore." Shikamaru said with anger to his boyfriend.

"Seeing you though might make him more confused. It's been three years, he might not know how long it's been. Seeing you might make him confused. He could think that you are still together." Hurrio said back.

"So what?" Shikamaru said not seeing Hurro's point.

"So you're not and him thinking it won't be good for either of you." Hurrio said back.

"If Sasuke thinking that we are together still helps to get him out of there, then you're damn right I'll play along with it. Getting him out of there is what matters most. Getting him and his two kids out of there. If holding his hand and telling him I care is going to help make that happen, then I'm going to do it. It can be straightened out afterwards when he is in a safe place." Shikamaru argued back.

"Shikamaru is old enough to make that decision himself. If he wishes to go then he will. As his boyfriend it is your job to be supportive of him regardless of if you agree or not." Asuma said not liking how this conversation was going.

"Well I'm going with you." Yoshino said in her mother voice.

"You can't Hun. You are not a ninja. It is too dangerous to have you there. We don't know if these guards are trained in ninja skills or not." Shikaku said back gently.

"So you expect me to sit around here and wait?" Yoshino said with anger. "I can't do that. He named his little girl Yin. My nickname. I told him that once and he named her after me. I can't just do nothing." She added softly.

"Go to the hospital and help Tsunade get everything set up. I'm sure she would love all the help she can get. Pick up some dog food for Shadow he must be starving. Grab some clean clothes for the two children. The best thing you are is a mother, be a mother." Shikaku said gently.

Yoshino wiped a tear that came down her cheek as he spoke. "Alright. I'll get things ready for them. Will Sasuke be able to keep them?"

"Tsunade didn't know yet. She's not about to take them from Sasuke, but from what Hasan said we don't know if Sasuke will want to keep them. Hasan said that Sasuke was taking care of them more out of because it was the right thing to do compared to wanting to. There's a chance that Sasuke could hate them because of how they came about." Kakashi said sadly.

"Children that come from rape is always hard on the parents. There's a good chance that whenever Sasuke looks at them he remembers what happened. He could very well hate the sight of them. He could also love them and just not be able to handle that in the current situation they are in. We won't know until Sasuke is better unfortunately." Shikaku said.

"If he doesn't want them right now I'm bringing them home." Yoshino said.

"Hun." Shikaku started, but Yoshino cut him off.

"Do not hun me. Those children have been through enough in their short lives. I am not about to roll the dice of them getting a decent foster home. Not to mention they would be broken apart. Sasuke might not be able to handle having them right now, but he also might not always feel that way. He's traumatised himself and has his own problems he needs to work through and when he has he could hate himself forever for letting them go. I'm not about to do that to him or to those little children. So while you are out there finding them you work on accepting that." Yoshino said in a deadly tone.

"Yes dear." Shikaku said knowing better than to argue with his wife about something like this. He would just have to accept that he could be having two small children in his home until Sasuke was able to take them back or they were eighteen and moved out.

"I'll be at the hospital for when you get back." Yoshino said.

"Tsunade is going to meet us at the front gate with some milk for the baby and some food and water. She is also going to bring a sedative for me to give to Sasuke so he's asleep for the journey back. Hasan said he was in a lot of pain." Kakashi said,

"I'll go pack." Shikamaru said as he got up from the couch and headed upstairs.

"I'll come help." Hurrio said.

"No it's fine I got it. You should go home yourself and get ready. We need to leave." Shikamaru said.

"Okay. I'll see you at the front gate babe." Hurrio went to kiss Shikamaru, but Shikamaru stepped back as he spoke.

"Ya I'll see you there."

Shikamaru turned and headed for the stairs to get to his room. Hurrio headed out of the house and it was clear he wasn't happy about the rejection.

"That's a different side to him." Kakashi said, but he honestly wasn't sure it was. Kakashi hadn't spent much time with Hurrio as he had a hard time seeing Shikamaru with someone else.

"It was and it wasn't. Hurrio doesn't like it when Shikamaru goes out into the field. He was happy to hear that he received a position as a Junior Advisor for the Council. And he really doesn't like Uchiha, especially Sasuke." Shikaku said.

"Sasuke being back will test their relationship. Shikamaru never got over Sasuke and Hurrio hates him for no reason except that he's an Uchiha. I'm not sure they will survive this or if they should." Asuma said.

"They don't mesh as well as Sasuke and Shikamaru did. With those two it was like they had been with each other for lives already. Hurrio and Shikamaru don't have that connection no matter how hard they try. I hope they do breakup Shikamaru deserves someone better." Yoshino said.

"Don't get your hopes up. Even if they do breakup there is no guarantee that Sasuke and Shikamaru will get back together. Sasuke has been through a lot including multiple rapes. Doesn't matter it was by a female he is still a rape victim and that comes with its own problems. It's going to be a long time before Sasuke is able to handle being touched by someone again." Shikaku said.

"I know. But at least they can be friends again. They were good for each other. Sasuke brought out a strength in Shikamaru, a strength he didn't even know he had. They can at least rebuild that friendship." Yoshino said.

"They can and I am sure they will. I'll get ready and meet you at the front. Do you want me to round anyone up?" Asuma asked.

"Pakun is doing that now. If you see someone on the way mention it and see if they can join us. We don't know how many guards or victims there are. I'll also have a hound go and find Itachi and tell him to meet us at the hospital." Kakashi answered.

"That will be a sight to see." Shikaku said knowing the last time Sasuke was in the hospital Itachi was livid.

"It can't be helped. I can't keep this from him. I shouldn't keep this from him. Itachi will handle it and Sasuke will want to see him." Kakashi said.

"I'll get ready and meet you at the front gate." Asuma said as he got up.

"I'll head up and grab my things." Shikaku said as he headed for the stairs.

Kakashi made a seal and brought forth his best tracking hound. Once the instructions were given the hound took off to fulfill his orders. Shikamaru went straight to his room and closed the door. He placed his back against the door and closed his eyes as he fought back the tears. He couldn't believe that after three years he would find out that Sasuke was being held captive the whole time. That he had not only been tortured and forced to kill people, but had been raped and fathered two children. Shikamaru felt like he couldn't breathe. To know that Sasuke, the man that he once loved three years ago, had been going through hell while he was with another man. While he was kissing and lying next to another man. Shikamaru knew it wasn't logical. He knew that he didn't know that Sasuke didn't leave willingly. Yet he still felt like he had been cheating on Sasuke, on the man that he loved. It made no sense, but even after three years of believing that Sasuke left on his own, left him, he still felt for him. He still cared about him and he didn't know how he felt about Hurrio anymore. He thought that he loved him, but now with this new information Shikamaru wasn't so sure.

Shikamaru heard and felt the knock on his door. Shikamaru wiped at his cheeks to get rid of the few tears that leaked out before he turned and opened the door. Shikaku was standing on the other side and he gave his son a small sympathetic smile as he could tell that Shikamaru had been crying some. Shikaku walked in and closed the door behind him. He pulled his son into his arms and Shikamaru wrapped his arms around his dad. They stood there for a few moments just offering comfort to each other before Shikamaru moved back and wiped his cheeks once again.

"I feel like I betrayed him. I know I didn't know the truth, but I still feel like I betrayed him. I loved him and I thought that he left willingly. I thought the worst in him instead of fighting for him. And then what do I do? I start dating someone else for a year. All while he is in that hell being tortured and raped. And here I am kissing and lying next to another man. I feel like I've cheated on him and it's crazy and stupid because we aren't together and I didn't know the truth. Yet I feel like this and I don't know what to do. I don't know how I feel about either of them now." Shikamaru ranted and his father could hear just how conflicted he was.

"First of all, you didn't betray him. You didn't know he was kidnapped, none of us did. If anyone should have thought to rethink the situation it should have been the four adults in the situation. You were thirteen, it wasn't your responsibility or job to see the signs that something was wrong. Second of all, Sasuke would understand that you moved on in your life. He wouldn't have wanted you to go around being miserable for these past three years, especially because you didn't know the truth. Now you do and now it's confusing because all of your past feelings for Sasuke are coming back to you. The best thing you can do right now is to block it out and focus on getting Sasuke and those kids to the hospital. After that you can take the time to figure it all out. Don't make any decisions now, not when you are too emotional to think clearly Son." Shikaku said.

"You're right. It's not time for this right now. We need to get to them before they are hurt more or too sick to make it. The rest can be figured out later. It's going to take nine hours to get to them." Shikamaru said as he forced his mind to focus on what needed to be done more than anything.

"Just over eight if we can all push it. The sooner we leave the better. I'm going to pack my pouch and when you are ready we can head out." Shikaku said.

"I'll be ready in a few minutes."

"I'll meet you downstairs. I love you Son."

"I love you too Dad."

Shikaku headed out of the room and down to his so he could get everything ready. The father in him was screaming for them to get going and get on the road. They were easily eight hours away, assuming they didn't run into trouble along the way. Not to mention they only had a rough idea where a grate was for them to get in. They didn't even have a set location. They had a long road ahead of them and the sooner they got on that road the better off Sasuke and those two kids would be. Once Kakashi, Shikamaru and Shikaku were ready they headed out and made their way towards the front gate. They didn't know if anyone would be there yet, but they wanted to be there so when the ninety minutes were up they could leave. Just as they expected they were the first ones there and they had no choice, but to wait for the others to arrive. It was a long forty minutes but they finally had all of Sasuke's old comrades here at the front gate along with Gai, Asuma and Hurrio. They were all waiting for an explanation with the exception of Asuma and Hurrio. Kakashi figured now was as good of a time as any to give them the brief update.

"As the majority of you are wondering what the situation is I'll tell you before the others arrive, assuming anymore are coming. Three years ago Sasuke was declared a missing-nin when I found a letter he wrote and his forehead protector in his room. Turns out we were wrong. That night Sasuke was kidnapped and the letter was placed there as a means of distracting us." Kakashi started.

"What?" Naruto asked shocked and confused.

"Are you sure?" Gai asked.

"The information came from a young boy who was trapped with Sasuke for the past two months. It's some sort of fighting ring with kidnapped teenagers both males and females. It's a long story, but basically Sasuke was drugged three years ago in his room and then taken to the facility that he is being held in now. Shadow is also still with him. Why they didn't kill the dog I don't know maybe they thought they could train it to kill I don't know, but he is still alive and so is Sasuke. For the first three months all captives are tortured so they are too weak to fight back and too afraid to. Each captive is held in a small room with a thin and dirty mattress on the floor. They have a collar around their neck that is attached to a chain in the middle of the room. Once the captive is broken in the men pick two and bring everyone to a fighting pit. Everyone watches as two male captives are forced to fight to the death. If they refuse one of the guards will kill both of them to teach the rest of the captives a lesson. Sasuke has had to kill other teenagers in order to survive. The best fighters are then drugged and chained to a bed. The female captives are drugged and given fertility drugs. They then proceed to have sex with the male until they become pregnant by them. Once the baby is born they kill the mothers." Kakashi said.

"That's disgusting." Ino said with rage in her voice.

"And Sasuke's been there this whole time?" Naruto asked with hurt in his voice.

"He has. He also has two children. A two year old boy named Kai and an eight month old daughter named Yin." Kakashi said sadly.

"Oh God. He was…" Sakura said with tears in her eyes.

"He was." Kakashi said softly.

"How are the children? And Sasuke physically? Did this other captive know?" Neji asked.

"They were in the same room together. From what he could tell the children were both rundown and getting sick or already sick. He said they didn't cry so something is wrong with them on some level. He said that they got food every three weeks and water every three days. Sasuke would give his food to his children when he could. Sasuke is very sick and close to dying. He has pneumonia, memory problems and confusion. His hands shake and his legs will go numb and tingle. He can barely stand on them. He's no longer fighting they are just waiting for him to die. They had been giving him a shot once a week to help clot his blood, but the young man said it didn't work very well. Sasuke still bled a lot. They may have stopped giving him the drug as they don't wish to fight him anymore."

"If they aren't giving him that shot he doesn't have long. His body won't clot his blood naturally and it will turn to water basically. It will damage his organs and he only has one kidney. If his kidney is in failure he could die before we could ever get him another one. The confusion and memory problems could be a concussion to even brain damage from repeated hits to the head. Once you add in the fact that he isn't on the right medication it could cause bleeding in his brain. His legs not working properly could mean his previous injury is irritated or he's losing feeling in them and slowly becoming paralyzed from repeated nerve damage. It could also be why his hands shake. Add in being exhausted, malnourished and dehydrated, he doesn't have long left. How long ago did this other captive leave?" Sakura asked with worry.

"Three days ago. He was able to escape thanks to Sasuke and he went straight to his village as it was closer. He went to the hospital and then he came here with his father. Sasuke's location is roughly nine hours away." Kakashi answered.

"That doesn't leave us much time to get Sasuke the help he needs. Not to mention those children could die at any moment. His daughter is still young enough her lungs could simply stop working. If she is sick she's at an even greater risk of that happening." Sakura said.

"Would cold make it worse?" Kakashi asked with concern.

"Absolutely. The cold will repress a person's body and blood. It will make them breathe slower as it gets colder and colder. It's why when someone is found in the middle of winter with no pulse you have to wait until they are back up to normal temperature to declare them dead. The body goes into a hibernation in a way. The smaller the body the faster it happens and the harder it is to get them back once they are at normal temperature." Sakura said.

"The young man said the room was cold. That Shadow would lay on the kids to keep them warm. Sasuke's lips were also slightly blue." Kakashi said now more worried than ever.

"Then we need to leave now and get there to start warming them all up. Literally every second counts for their lives right now." Sakura said.

"Tsunade is on her way here to bring me a sedative for Sasuke and some supplies for the others. We also have to wait for the rest to arrive. Once we hit twenty minutes from now we're going." Kakashi said.

"Even if Tsunade is here first you get what you need and go. We can wait for the rest and follow behind you." Gai said.

Kakashi gave a nod as now everyone knew just exactly what was at stake here.

"What about Itachi? Does he know?" Kiba asked slightly worried.

"I sent a hound to let him know we found Sasuke and to meet us back at the hospital. I didn't tell him anything more than that." Kakashi answered.

"That'll be a fun conversation." Kiba said more to himself.

"How many guards and captives?" Gai asked.

"The young man wasn't sure. Sasuke thought at least a hundred captives and just as many guards if not more. I have a map from the young man of where he escaped from. He came out of a water grate it's not ideal, but if we can find the grate we can at least get into the facility. It's underground somewhere as the walls were made of dirt. That's all we know right now." Kakashi said.

"Twenty minutes then we get him back. He's been there too long already. I'm not about to let him die in that place or his kids." Naruto said as he started to move around ready to get going.

"What is going to happen to his kids? I mean he's not going to keep them right?" Ino asked slightly unsure if she should.

"Why wouldn't he?" Tenten asked.

"Because he was raped and had them forced onto him. They have to be bringing up bad and painful memories for him. There's no way I could do it." Ino said back.

"It's not the children's fault what happened to Sasuke or the situation they are in." Neji said.

"I know that. I do. My point was if Sasuke could handle looking at them and not someone else." Ino said.

"Or if he's even stable enough to. I mean he's going to be sick and in the hospital for who knows how long. He's not going to be able to take care of them." Chouji said.

"He shouldn't be taking care of them. Uchiha really should stick to not having kids. They deserve a home with a mother and father and not in one with a mass murderer like Uchiha Itachi. They deserve a better life than that." Hurrio said.

"Itachi was on a mission he did what he had to do." Naruto argued. He didn't exactly like Itachi but he was Sasuke's older brother so Naruto was trying to move passed what happened while Itachi was on a mission.

"He still slaughtered his whole family, including other children. He should never be around children. Those kids deserve better." Hurro said.

"Ya, but those kids have only ever known that world and Sasuke. We're taking them out of that world, how would it be fair to take them away from the only parent they have ever known?" Kiba said.

"The one is two and the other isn't even a year. They won't remember him." Hurrio said.

"That doesn't seem fair though." Kiba said.

"What's not fair is having this conversation right now. Sasuke has literally been in hell for three years while we've gone about our lives. He doesn't deserve us all standing here debating on if he should or shouldn't keep his kids. His kids. His son and his daughter. We're talking about children here. Sasuke's children that he's had to raise and try to keep alive for two years now. All while being tortured, raped and forced to kill other teenagers, some of which have most likely been younger than him. We're supposed to be his comrades he doesn't need us debating on if he should be allowed to have his kids after this. He needs us to get him and his kids out of there. He needs us to support whatever he decides to do about his kids. They're human beings. He doesn't deserve us having this conversation. So unless it's about being supportive of him or coming up with a way to get them to Konoha faster, shut the hell up." Shikamaru finally snapped.

Everyone was shocked, including his father. They had never heard Shikamaru yell or snap before. Shikamaru was lazy and laid back by nature, he always had been. He didn't snap at people. He went with the flow and was very easy going. This was a clear sign to them just what stress this situation was taking on Shikamaru and he was the closet to Sasuke before this happened. They had dated for six months. This was a lot on Shikamaru especially when you factor in Sasuke have two kids now.

"This is why I wanted you to stay behind. You're too close to this. You're too emotional you can't make a non-biased judgement right now. It's too dangerous for you to be out in the field." Hurrio said gently to Shikamaru.

"I'm going it's just that simple. I'm emotional because he is my friend and I abandoned him when he needed someone there for him. I knew him the best. I should have known something was wrong. But I didn't and he paid for that. I'm not about to abandon him again. I'm going just accept it." Shikamaru said in a tone that was clear he was dismissing the rest of the conversation.

"Sasuke and those two children is the main priority. They are mine, Shikamaru's, Shikaku's, Sakura's and Naruto's priority. The rest of you and anyone else that shows will focus on the rest of the captives and getting them back to Konoha. My group will get Sasuke and his kids and get them back to Konoha. They are top priority and that is coming right from Tsunade." Kakashi said.

They all gave a nod and stood there waiting for when the others would arrive so they could get going. They all just wanted to go and get to Sasuke and those kids. They had to get them out of there and back to the hospital before it was too late. Over the next fifteen minutes ninjas began to gather around the front gate. By the time Tsunade arrived there was sixty ninja standing there waiting to discover where they were going. Tsunade went over to Kakashi and handed him a small bag with some supplies in it as she spoke.

"There is some water and bottles in here. As well as a few granola bars for the little boy. The sedative is in there. It's a pill that he'll need to swallow, but it will only take seconds to kick in. He'll be asleep for a good twelve hours."

Kakashi took the pack as he spoke.

"I explained to a few of them what is happening. I've been waiting to explain it to everyone else. I don't know what you want everyone to know."

"I'll take care of it." Tsunade said as she turned her attention to the large group of ninjas, eight of which were ANBU.

"New information has come to us less than two hours ago. Uchiha Sasuke was kidnapped from his home three years ago. He did not leave willingly. He was taken by an unknown organization. What we do know is roughly where they are located approximately nine hours from here between the Cloud village and Ice village. He is being held with other captives. We do not know how many other captives there are. From the information we have gathered there could be a hundred or more teenagers both males and females. There may also be small children with some of them. There are at least a hundred guards in this facility. They are using the male captives as fighters. They fight them against each other until death. The female captives they use as breeders. They have the females rape the males until they become pregnant and once they have given birth they are killed. Kakashi and his squad will focus on bringing Sasuke back to Konoha. The rest of you will be responsible for the other captives. Bring them back to Konoha, even if they are dead. We will identify them and find their families. Let's shut this organization down and free these teenagers. Kakashi is in charge. Good luck." Tsunade said.

"We don't know how large this facility is. Divide up in groups and when we arrive stay with your group. I want the facility checked over three times to ensure we haven't left anyone behind. We need to hurry. Every second they are not in a hospital their chances of death increase. Let's go." Kakashi said.

None of them needed to be told twice. They all took to the trees and pushed as fast and as hard as they could to reach the facility faster. There were a great deal of lives on the line, including one of their own. They weren't about to fail any of them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was eight and a half hours later when they finally arrived at the water grate that Hasan had escaped out of. It was well hidden, but with the map they were able to find it.

"This is where we go in. We don't know where the main entrance is. We entre here, once inside try to locate the main entrance. It will be easier to get the captives out through it." Kakashi said.

Kakashi made a hand seal and summoned Pakun. The little dog appeared once again at Kakashi's feet.

"Once we get in I need you to find Sasuke or Shadow's scent." Kakashi explained.

"You got it boss." Pakun said.

Two ninja went and opened the grate and the ANBU went in first to take care of any guards that might be on the other side. Once the clear came Kakashi went in next followed by his group and then the others. There were no guards right there and Kakashi didn't know if that was because they weren't worried about someone getting in or if they had abandoned the facility. Pakun immediately put his nose to the ground and started smelling. He could smell a lot and he was trying to dig out which scent belonged to Sasuke or Shadow. After a minute they came to a divide in the tight hallway. Pakun smelt both sections before he went to the right as he spoke.

"It's faint. The pup that was at your place must have been around Sasuke long enough to pick up part of his scent."

"Everyone divide. Half go left and half of you go right." Kakashi whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear him.

They hadn't come across any guards yet and Kakashi was hoping to be able to keep the element of surprise. They continued down the hallways following Pakun's nose. The closer to the scent he got the faster he was going. They were now running down the hallway, still not having seen a single guard. When Pakun stopped in front of a thick metal door he spoke.

"In here Boss."

Kakashi tried the handle and he wasn't surprised that it was unlocked. According to Hasan there was no handle on the inside. Kakashi opened the door carefully as he didn't know where anyone was. Once it was open enough he walked in and he couldn't believe the sight that in front of him. The room itself was small and freezing. You could almost see your breath. There on the very thin and filthy mattress was a dirt covered Shadow. He was thin and looked weak, but he was still strong enough to stand up and growl and bark at the intrusion. Behind him was a very thin little boy in filthy clothes filled with holes. Next to the mattress sitting on the floor slightly angle towards the door was Sasuke. He had his legs slightly bent and they were covered in cuts and bruising. There was dry blood down the left side of his face. His left eye was swollen shut and his right was almost just as bad. His whole torso was covered in bruising and cuts. They could see each and every single rib and vertebrae on him. His hands were both torn and bloody. There was a metal collar around his neck with a chain attached to the floor. In his arms against his chest was a very small little baby girl. She was barely covered by a cloth it looked like. She didn't look healthy at all, none of them did. Kakashi went to take a step forward, but Shadow wasn't having it. He got off the bed and stood in front of the others and snapped and snarled at them.

"Shadow it's okay. It's me. I'm a friend." Kakashi said.

The problem was Shadow didn't remember them. He didn't remember their scent because he was so young when he was taken.

"Shadow stop. Come." Sasuke said weakly and they could all tell he was barely hanging on.

Shadow backed up and sat down in front of Sasuke.

"They're friends. Down." Sasuke said.

Shadow laid down, but kept his eyes on the others. Kakashi immediately went over to Sasuke and bent down. He removed his jacket as he spoke.

"It's okay Sasuke. I need to take her from you so Sakura can look her over."

Sasuke just gave a small nod and Kakashi picked up Yin and gently handed her over to Sakura. Shikamaru removed his jacket and handed it to Sakura so she could wrap up the baby. Naruto went and removed his own jacket and went over to Kai and placed it around him as he spoke.

"It's okay I'm not going to hurt you."

Kakashi removed his jacket and wrapped it around Sasuke's shoulders. He then went and began to pick the lock on the collar.

"I'm going to get this off from you. Just hang on." Kakashi said gently.

Sasuke spoke very softly that only Kakashi really heard it as he laid his head against the wall.

"Dad."

"I'm right here Son. I'm right here." Kakashi said softly back.

"I knew you would find me." Sasuke said weakly.

Kakashi got the collar off from Sasuke and Sasuke began to cough from finally being free from it. Kakashi opened the bag and took out the sedative and a water bottle. He went around so he was behind Sasuke and placed Sasuke's back against his chest.

"Open your mouth for me. This is a sedative it's going to put you to sleep so you don't get hurt on the journey home." Kakashi explained.

Sasuke slowly opened his mouth and Kakashi put the pill inside. He then opened the water bottle and held Sasuke take small sips. With that done he wrapped his arms around Sasuke gently and spoke again.

"Don't fight it just close your eyes and sleep. When you wake up you'll be safe in Konoha. All of you will be. Just sleep."

Sakura handed Yin to Shikamaru as she spoke.

"Keep her wrapped up and hold her to your chest to try and warm her up."

Sakura then turned her attention to Kai. He was shaking and clearly afraid of the group in the room.

"It's okay sweetie. I just want to look you over so we can get you and your sister and your daddy out of here." Sakura said gently.

Naruto wrapped his arms around Kai as he spoke. "It's okay she's going to make you feel better."

Sakura began looking the little boy over and checking him with her chakra. She wanted to make sure he would survive the trip to Konoha. Once she was confident that he would be alright she spoke.

"Naruto you carry him. When we get out of here he needs water and Yin needs milk. But you can do that while we travel."

"Come on little man. Let's get out of here." Naruto said as he picked up Kai.

"Both of you start heading out." Kakashi ordered.

Shikamaru and Naruto both looked at Sasuke who was now asleep in Kakashi's arms before they headed out of the room and back down the way they came. Shadow growled, not liking them being taken away.

"It's okay Shadow. They are friends. We're going with them." Kakashi said as Sakura bent down and started to look Sasuke over. She shook her head at the level of damage he was in.

"He's in real bad shape. There's not much I can do for him right now. He needs the hospital and probably surgery. His kidney isn't working very well and he's bleeding internally. I can slow it down, but he needs a hospital. We have maybe eleven hours before he's too far gone." Sakura said sadly.

"We better hurry." Kakashi said as he moved and picked up Sasuke bridal style.

Shadow stood up as Kakashi moved Sasuke and they all headed out of the room and back down the hallway. They didn't know where the main entrance was so they just headed back the way they came. Shadow kept up with them, but it was clear he was sore and tired as he struggled to walk and keep up with the pace. Shikaku walked a little slower so he could stay with Shadow as he didn't need to rush back to Konoha like the others did. Once they reached the grate they all got out and Shikaku got out first as Kakashi passed Sasuke to him through the grate. Once Shikaku had Sasuke, Kakashi grabbed Shadow and helped the dog out before he himself got out. Once he was through the grate Kakashi picked Sasuke up once again and they took off as fast as their body could allow them.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It took them nine hours to finally get back to the village. After an hour Shikaku had to pick up Shadow as the tired and starving dog couldn't handle it anymore and he had collapsed. Shikaku had given Shadow some water and one of the granola bars that they brought with them. Naruto had fed one to Kai with a water bottle and Shikamaru had fed Yin three bottles now while they were running. They all knew they were on a clock; that Sasuke's life was on a clock. By the time they arrived at the hospital Tsunade was there at the front door waiting for them. Along with a team of nurses and Yoshino. The second they were close enough Tsunade spoke as Yoshino went over to them.

"Get Sasuke in exam room one. Sakura, take the children and bring them to the Pediatric wing. Place Yin in an incubator immediately. I want full blood panels for both children as well as scans done whether you think they may need it or not." Tsunade ordered as they entered the hospital.

"Yes Sensei." Sakura said as she took off for the pediatric wing with a couple nurses behind her, and Naruto still carrying Kai.

Kakashi placed Sasuke down on the bed as he spoke.

"Sakura said he was bleeding internally and his kidney wasn't working properly. She said he had maybe eleven hours of life left."

"Let's get his blood taken and an I.V bag going. Make it wide open. I need all of the O negative blood we have and get me a shot to start clotting his blood." Tsunade said as she went to go and check Sasuke out.

Shadow wasn't having any of it though. He jumped out of Shikaku's arms and onto the bed. He stood right over Sasuke's body and started snarling and snapping at everyone that came close to him.

"That's a mean dog." One of the nurses said with fear in her voice as she backed away.

"Shadow, you need to let these nice women work on Sasuke. He's sick Shadow. He needs help Shadow." Kakashi said in as calm of a voice as he could manage.

Sasuke didn't have much longer they didn't have time for this. At the same time though Shadow was traumatised himself and just trying to protect Sasuke from strangers. Kakashi approached the bed with his hands up. He had dealt with traumatised dogs before and he knew they just needed time.

"Shadow he's dying. It's okay they can save him. Shadow down boy. We'll get you some food and get you cleaned up and then you can be with Sasuke. Shadow down." Kakashi ordered.

Shadow hesitated, but he took to the order like he was trained to and got off from the bed. Kakashi immediately held onto Shadow so he couldn't go back on the attack. Tsunade and the nurses went to work and they worked fast to do everything they could to save Sasuke's life.

"How is he?" Yoshino asked from the doorway where she had been watching the whole time.

"He needs surgery, but with his blood not getting the proper medication it's risky. We don't have a choice I need to operate and try and save his kidney. Let's get him hooked up to the IVs and the blood we need to move now." Tsunade said as she unlocked the wheels of the hospital bed.

The one nurse hung the bag of IV and they all ran out of there and took Sasuke down the hallway and out of sight. Kakashi stood up and Shadow whimpered with Sasuke now being gone. Kakashi petted his head to try and comfort him.

"It's okay boy. He's going to be okay."

"You got him here that's all that matters. I'm going to go and check in on the children and see if there is anything I can do to help." Yoshino said.

"I'll see if there is anything that the nurses need help getting ready. They are about to get slammed." Shikaku said.

"I'll help too." Shikamaru said.

"I will after I take care of Shadow. I need to get some food and water into him and get him cleaned up." Kakashi said as he continue to pet Shadow.

"I guess this is all we can do for now. Just wait and try to help anyone else who comes in." Shikamaru said still feeling lost and remorseful.

"It's all we can do until Sasuke is out of surgery. There will be plenty to help him with once he's out of surgery and awake." Shikaku said to his son.

"Pakun, can you go and tell Iruka what's happening and that I'm at the hospital please." Kakashi said.

"Sure thing Boss. The pups are gonna be okay. They're in good hands now." Pakun said trying to comfort his owner.

"Thanks." Kakashi said.

Pakun took off and Yoshino spoke.

"I'll go and stay with the children. Hopefully they will be okay."

"Sakura is very talented. I'm sure she is doing everything she can." Shikaku said.

"I'm sure she is. I'll come find you when I know something." Yoshino said.

Shikaku gave a nod and Yoshino headed out of the room and down to the Pediatric wing of the hospital. Shikaku, Shikamaru, Kakashi and Shadow headed out of the room. Kakashi took Shadow off to an empty bathroom to get him cleaned up before he would give him a small amount of food and water to start getting his stomach back up to normal. Shikaku and Shikamaru headed over to the Nurses' Station to help them in any way that they could. They knew it was going to be a long wait and the hospital was going to get very busy once the first group returns with the captives.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was three hours later when Hurrio walked into the hospital. He had been with one of the last few groups to leave the facility. When he walked into the hospital he couldn't believe how busy it was already and there was still more captives to come. Not to mention about ten other small children. It was going to be a very busy couple of weeks while they figured out who was who and where their family was, assuming they even had one. Hurrio hated these types of things. He loved going on missions, but he hated having to deal with families and victims. He just wanted to go in, save the day and then go home to collect his pay cheque. He cared about people's safety and well-fare, but only to a certain extent. He didn't need to be there during the healing process or even helping it out. Hurrio was really looking forward to seeing Shikamaru and getting out of here. The captives were now at the hospital so his job was done, their job was done. Now they could go grab something to eat and get some sleep.

Hurrio saw Shikamaru standing off in a waiting room with his father, Kakashi and the rest of their group of friends. There was also a rather large dog there that Hurrio figured was one of Kakashi's. Hurrio walked over and into the room and headed straight for Shikamaru. He didn't get very close to him when Shadow started to bark and snarl at him.

"Control your dog Kakashi." Hurrio said.

"He's not mine. He's Sasuke's and it appears he really doesn't like you." Kakashi simply said.

"If he's aggressive like this he should be put down. It's not safe for him to be in the village." Hurrio said without a slight bit of care.

"He's not aggressive he's just traumatised. He was with Sasuke the whole time in that place. He just needs some time to heal himself. Shadow its okay. He's a friend." Shikamaru said with exhaustion in his voice.

Shadow growled once more clearly voicing his opinion in the matter before he went and sat down right in front of Shikamaru and kept his eyes on Hurrio.

"How many more victims did you bring in?" Naruto asked.

"My squad and I had thirty. There was still three squads behind me. The flow in is almost over. The whole facility was empty when I left and there never was a guard there." Hurrio answered.

"They either left them unguarded knowing they couldn't escape or they took off once Hasan got away. Either way we'll need to search and find them. Hopefully Sasuke or one of these other captives will be able to give us more information on them." Iruka said knowing what has happened after speaking with Kakashi.

"For now the mission is over. Why don't we go grab something to eat Babe and then you can head home. You're tired." Hurrio said gently to Shikamaru.

"I'm not going anywhere. I need to know how Sasuke and the kids are doing." Shikamaru automatically said.

"Here comes Sakura now." Neji said as he saw Sakura walking towards the room.

Everyone turned their attention to Sakura as she walked into the room and over to them.

"How are they?" Kakashi asked.

"They are going to make it. It's a miracle in itself, but they are both going to be alright with some love and rest. Yoshino is with them now. I have them both in the same room. Yin is in an incubator still until her body temperature can stay up in a safe range. She's having a more difficult time keeping it up on her own. It's normal though considering where she has always been and the temperature in the room. She is dehydrated and malnourished, but not too badly. It seems like the guards had an interest in keeping the infants and children fed, not well fed, but fed enough to fight off illnesses and survive. She doesn't have any injuries and her scans came back clean. She is an otherwise healthy baby girl. Kai is also healthy and doesn't have any injuries. He is very thin and there seems to be some stunted development in the way of talking and walking really. He's not talking and he doesn't walk very well on his own. He doesn't have much strength in his legs and that is just from not being fed enough and having the chance to walk around. He doesn't have any mental problems though so he will learn very fast once he is healed up. Both of them are suffering from lack of sunlight and the vitamins it gives off. We have them on IV's to help with that and the dehydration. The kids will be okay though with some love. Yoshino has given them both a bath and into some clean new clothes. She gave them both a blanket and a stuffed animal. She's reading to them now with Kai half asleep in her lap. I don't see her leaving any time soon." Sakura said with a small smile.

"I knew she wouldn't be the second her eyes laid upon those little ones." Shikaku said.

"They're going to be okay though? Aside from some late development." Shikamaru asked looking for confirmation that Sasuke's children would be alright.

"Yes they will be fine from what we can tell. Now they are children so they will still get sick along the way. But from what happened to them they just need rest and slowly get used to food and being active." Sakura confirmed.

"Shouldn't the boy know how to walk even with the room being small? I saw the rooms there was enough room for a little boy to walk around in. Isn't it more likely that Sasuke just didn't care to teach him?" Hurrio said.

"Considering Sasuke was constantly injured and his legs being too weak to support himself most of the time. Not to factor in the chain he was attached to. I'm going to say that it wasn't because Sasuke didn't care enough to teach his son, but the fact that he couldn't physically handle anymore than what he was already being forced to do. Kai will learn how to walk and run properly very quickly. Just like he will learn how to talk. It's not that easy to teach a child when you barely have the strength to keep your eyes open." Sakura said in Sasuke's defense.

"What about the other children? Do you know if they are healthy?" Iruka asked.

"I'm not sure yet I haven't seen them all. I am going back there to check them over. From what I have gathered from the nurses it's a lot of the same thing. They need rest, food and water and they will be fine. A good number of them are having late development issues as well. The environment was just not healthy enough for the children to thrive. And again the parents looking after them are too weak to do much of anything extra. There are a lot of victims right now that we are just trying to prioritize and get through." Sakura answered.

"What about Sasuke? Have you heard anything?" Shikamaru asked.

"Not yet. I'm sure Tsunade will be out soon with some news. If it's alright I need to get back to work. It's going to be a long few days." Sakura said.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Kiba asked.

"The nurse are trying to keep up with the demand and finding out who everyone is. If you want to help the nurses out by going around with some paper and getting what information you can from the victims that would help. We could use some help in Peds with just holding the children while we look them over. A lot of them are terrified." Sakura answered.

"I'll come help with the kids." Tenten said.

"Me too." Ino said.

"I'll come as well." Hinata added.

"I'll go help a nurse with taking down some information." Kiba said.

"We all will." Gai said.

Shikamaru stood up as he spoke. "Come on Shadow."

"Babe you really should get something to eat and get some sleep. You know the children will be fine now." Hurrio said.

"I'm not leaving. Not while Sasuke is in surgery or while there are still close to a hundred victims in here that need their family. You go if you want, but I'm not leaving anytime soon." Shikamaru said.

"I'm not leaving you here." Hurrio said.

"Come on Shadow let's go see who we can help." Shikamaru said.

"Should he be around victims or children? He's not exactly the most stable of dogs." Hurrio said.

"He'll be fine. He only acts that way when he thinks someone is dangerous or around Sasuke. He knows these are victims and need protecting." Shikamaru answered.

"I'll stay close to you just in case something happens." Kakashi said to Shikamaru.

Shikamaru gave a nod and everyone got up and went about helping wherever they could. Some went with Sakura to help out with the children while the others went around to see which nurse they could help and how many victims they could identify. Hurrio stayed by Shikamaru, but he was not happy about it. He didn't see how dealing with victims that were safe was his responsibility. He did his job by getting them safe and here. He didn't need to be here. This was a nurse's job, not the job of a ninja like himself. Yet Shikamaru was stubborn and refusing to leave until he knew how Sasuke was doing so Hurrio was stuck here until then. All he could do was hope the time would go by fast and then he could leave with his boyfriend.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was a long six hours before Tsunade finally came out of surgery. She headed down to the waiting room to see if she could find everyone. She didn't know if they would be all over helping or not. When she got there she saw them all spread out throughout the emergency room helping different people.

"Kakashi." Tsunade called out.

Kakashi and the others turned to see Tsunade standing there. Tsunade gave a nod in the direction of an empty waiting room. Tsunade headed over to it while the others quickly told their captive that they would be right back. They all went into the waiting room, except for Yoshino and Sakura who were still with the children. Once everyone was in the waiting room Kakashi spoke.

"How is he?"

"He's alive. It was close, too close, but he's going to make it. He's got a lot of problems though and a long road a head of him on many levels." Tsunade said with exhaustion in her voice.

"What are his injuries?" Shikamaru asked slightly afraid to find out.

"What aren't his injuries would be a shorter list. His throat is severely bruised from the collar. He'll barely be able to whisper for a good couple of weeks and then after that his voice will still be hoarse. It will always be slightly hoarse for the rest of his life and the more he talks the softer his voice will get. The collar did permanent damage to his vocal cords. His left hand is broken and in a brace along with his left wrist. He punched more with his left than he did with his right from what I can tell. Why when he is right handed, my best guess would be because he was dominate on his right hand he didn't want to risk damaging it and not be able to take care of Kai and Yin. His right hand is swollen and bruised. His four main knuckles are broken and his hand will be sore to move for a good week. He is covered in bruising and both wrists and ankles have bruising around them from being chained down. There is also scaring so Sasuke fought back against the restraints. I ran his blood and took a hair sample so I could see which drugs were given to him. The only sedative was when he was first taken. There was sexual enhancement drugs in him some as recent as three days ago. He was awake and aware during every time he was raped."

"He was raped three days ago?" Naruto said sadly.

"He was. Every female captive is being tested for pregnancy. If one is then we can run a DNA to see who the father is. We'll know in a week if there is another baby on the way. However, most of the girls that are able to from what I have heard are looking to terminate their pregnancy. We may never know if Sasuke has fathered another child right now or not. He has enough to deal with so it's probably for the best. He also has ten broken ribs. I've healed them, but they are going to be very sore for the next three weeks while the bruising around them heals. He has cuts all over his body most of them were partly healed and they didn't bleed much, but they would have been painful. He has whip lashes across his back. Twenty of them right now. I've healed them as best as I could, but again they will be very sore and they will scar. He has about two hundred scars on his body varying in different sizes. He has some damage done to his spine."

"What type of damage?" Kakashi asked.

"He has Degenerative Disc Disorder. Simply put the discs in between his vertebrae are getting weaker and fading away. The discs work so that you can move freely without pain. With Sasuke he already has four discs completely gone and the rest are getting weaker. It's from the conditions he has been living in. It's taken a toll on his body. Lack of food and water has made his bones weaker, same as lack of sunlight. Add in the abuse and constant whipping and it's weakened his spine. It's serious at his age. With it he will have constant back pain on some level each and every day. It will get worse if he is running or walking for long periods of time. Physical activities can be painful and it will flare up. Some days he might barely be able to get out of bed with it. With pain medication it can be controlled, but it will get worse as he gets older."

"Is there any way to make it better?" Kakashi asked.

"Back surgery. I would need to operate on his back and place metal discs in his back where the ones that are missing or too weak currently are. However, he is in no condition to survive a surgery like that. Not to mention that until his body is fully healthy and strong his body will just reject the discs or he'll get an infection and he won't be able to fight it off. Surgery will need to happen at some point, but I would like to make sure he is strong enough to handle it. He also won't be able to do much for two months afterwards. It's not something that I see being able to happen in the next six months."

"Is that what is wrong with his legs?" Shikaku asked.

"No it's not. His previous injury is acting up because of the condition his body is in and again the whipping to his back. His legs will get better and stronger as he does. They will be weak so he will need to walk with a cane again. His left leg was broken in three spots and it didn't heal perfectly. It's too late for me to be able to fix it. I would have to break it in those three places again for it to heal properly. It's not worth the added pain. His leg will be able to function normally it will just be easier to break if hit in those places. If he was going to be a ninja I would be concerned, but with the DDD he can't physically be one. There is no point in causing him more pain at this point. He has pneumonia and a pretty severe case of it. He's had it for a good six months now. His lungs are a little weak right now and I have him on an oxygen line to help him breathe. I've drained the fluid from both of his lungs and he is on an anti-biotic IV to help fight it off and any other infection he might have. His kidney is damaged. It's not failing just yet, but it was very close. He will need dialysis three times a week for a few months to clean his blood out until his kidney is able to strengthen back up and function normally. He had massive internal bleeding from his liver. He was hit too many times and it was damaged. I had to remove three quarters of his liver just to save his life. The bleeding was made worse by Sasuke not having a spleen and not been given his medication. The liver is the only organ that will repair and regrow. In a few months his liver will be back to normal size. But for right now his eyes are yellow and his skin has a slight yellow tint to it. That is from his liver and not getting any sun for three years. With time and vitamins his skin will go back to normal. Don't be alarmed though if some days there is more of a yellow tint than normal. It's from his liver healing. He does have thirty stitches just underneath his belly button from the surgery. When he is awake he will need to be careful with moving around for a few days until they are healed."

"Please tell me that is all of his injuries." Iruka said sadly.

"Not quite. His hands shake because of the level of exhaustion in his body. He is weak and that is making his hands shake. His left eye is swollen shut and his eye socket is bruised. He will have a black eye for a good couple of months and at times his vision could be blurry out of it. He took thirteen stitches to the side of his head for the cut. He has a severe concussion as well as bruising in his brain. He also has temporary brain damage from the number of blows to his head over the past three years. The brain damage will go away within the next six months roughly. But with those three conditions he is going to be very confused. He will suffered memory problems and be forgetful. He will get severe headaches and migraines. He'll get dizzy spells and have days where he can't even get out of bed. Realistically for a good six months he can't be left alone. He could accidently hurt himself or one of the children. He could forget to feed them or to turn the stove off. It seems silly, but with those three conditions his mind just can't be trusted right now. He will also get very easily overwhelmed right now. Not to mention the mental and emotional problems he will have from the trauma. He could get anxiety or panic attacks. He could get flashbacks, locked memories where he believes he is actually back in that place and can even see and smell it. It will be like it is happening perfectly all over again. He could get phantom pain from it as well. I really don't want to say he can't be trusted alone, but he can't. Especially with the little ones. Until his mind starts to heal he needs supervision twenty-four seven I'm afraid." Tsunade said knowing just how much of a demand that would be for someone.

"So he goes to some facility when he is released from here. What about the children?" Hurrio asked.

"He's not going to a facility." Kakashi said with pure anger in his voice at just the suggestion of it.

"He needs around the clock care basically for six months. A care facility would be best for him." Hurrio said.

"I can be there for him and take care of him. I'm not shipping him off to some facility. He's severely injured and traumatised I'm not going to abandon him somewhere. He needs to be home." Kakashi said.

"And the children? And your responsibility of being a ninja? What about that?" Hurrio said.

"Until I am told by Sasuke otherwise, the children will be with me while I am there for him or with Itachi. Once Itachi arrives we can discuss it. My responsibility is to Sasuke. The village will be fine without me. We are at peace after all." Kakashi said with an edge to his voice. He was really starting to not like Shikamaru's new boyfriend.

"Yoshino and I will help as well." Shikaku said.

"Ya me too." Naruto said.

"We all will. Sasuke is our friend and comrade. You help your friends and comrades." Gai said.

"Until I am told by Sasuke, he has custody of his children. It will be up to him what he decides. The problem is legally until his brain injuries have healed I can't take him at his word. If he doesn't want them legally they will still be his until he can make that decision with a healthy brain. They can go to family if Sasuke doesn't even want them in the same house as him. I don't see that happening though." Tsunade said.

"Yoshino has already decided that we are taking them should Sasuke not want to." Shikaku said.

"I believe that Sasuke will try and do what is right and keep them. I think it is going to be a long road though. And he might not realise how much he cares and loves them until they are gone. It might be better if you did take them so he has the chance to miss them and realise that he loves them and wants to be there for them. I could be wrong though and Sasuke might not want to ever see them again. They became a part of his hell it's natural to want to be rid of anything that reminds him of that. He's going to be in the hospital for at least three weeks until he is physically healthy enough to leave. The children won't need to be here that long. Where they go that will be up to Sasuke or Itachi as he is legally next of kin right now. Figuring that part out will have to wait until Sasuke is awake and Itachi is here."

"A problem for another day." Kakashi said.

"Very much so." Tsunade agreed.

"Can we see him?" Shikamaru asked.

"A few of you can. He is still open to getting an infection so I would like to limit who goes in there with him. He won't be awake for a good eight hours at least right now. He's in a private room and I have two cots in there as well. There is also a private bathroom again as well. I put two cots in the children's room as well. From what I have heard Yoshino is not leaving any time soon." Tsunade said.

"That's fine. We can sleep in the children's room tonight." Shikaku said.

"What about Shadow?" Shikamaru asked.

"For now he can stay with Sasuke. As long as he doesn't attack anyone then it'll be fine. I have a feeling Sasuke will need him once he is awake." Tsunade said.

"I'll make sure he behaves." Kakashi said.

"Try and get some sleep yourself while Sasuke is sleeping. He'll be out for at least eight hours and much like last time he won't be awake for long. He's on pain medication that is being administered through his IV for now until we are better able to see just how bad the pain is in his back. He might try to fight it to stay awake, but he needs to just relax and let himself go under. The more sleep he gets the faster his body will heal." Tsunade said.

"I'll make sure he sleeps." Kakashi reassured Tsunade.

"I still have a long night ahead of me. I'll check in throughout the night on both Sasuke and his children. Sasuke is in room 314 and the children are in room 18 in the Pediatric Wing." Tsunade said.

Kakashi gave a nod and Tsunade turned and headed back towards one of the rooms with victims in it. She would be very busy along with the rest of the doctors and nurses for the next couple of days.

"I'm going to go back and help identify some of the victims. I'll come by later to check in on Sasuke. I'll give you guys some time with him alone first." Kiba said.

"We should get you home Babe. It's been a long couple of days for you." Hurrio said to Shikamaru.

"Not yet. You can go if you want. I'm going to sit with Sasuke for a while." Shikamaru said.

"He's going to just be sleeping Babe. You can come back tomorrow sometime and see him. He doesn't need you sitting there all night just watching him." Hurrio said not even interested in being stuck here any longer.

He wanted to grab some dinner go home take a shower and sleep. He wanted to be doing that with Shikamaru. They hadn't had much of a chance to do anything in the past month with him being on missions and Shikamaru being busy with his work. He wanted some alone time with his boyfriend.

"I'm staying with him. He might wake up in the middle of the night and be disorientated. Besides I want to stay and make sure him and the kids will be alright. You don't have to be here. I know you're tired you've been on missions almost non-stop for the past three weeks. You should go home and get some sleep. Come back in the morning and we can grab some breakfast." Shikamaru said truly just looking to have some peace.

Hurrio was a good man, but he didn't like being around victims. He didn't like doing any charity work like this. To Shikamaru this was part of being a ninja, but to Hurrio it was beneath him. His job was out in the field and not after a mission has been completed. Shikamaru wanted to be able to sit with Sasuke and just be there for him without having to worry about what Hurrio was thinking or dealing with him trying to convince him to leave all night. He was going to be here with Sasuke until he woke up and until Sasuke told him to leave. Even then he would be back to check in on him and the children. Sasuke was still his friend. He still meant a lot to him and he wasn't going to just walk away while he was struggling. He was there for him once and he was going to be there for him again.

"This isn't your job." Hurrio said softly to Shikamaru.

"I know that. Sasuke's my friend and he needs me. I'm not going anywhere. Not until he tells me to leave. It's what you do for friends. I'm staying. You should go though and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." Shikamaru said just looking to end the conversation.

"Fine." Hurrio said tightly. It was clear he wasn't happy about any of this, but he wasn't in the position to argue about it either. He wasn't going to start making a scene or an argument in the middle of the hospital waiting room or around all of Shikamaru's friends and his father.

"I'll come with you both to see Sasuke before I go and update your mother. I'm sure she is worrying herself sick by now." Shikaku said.

"I'll come with you as well." Iruka said as he put a supportive hand on Kakashi's shoulder.

"We'll come by tomorrow to check in on everyone. Give Sasuke sometime to sleep and rest. We don't want him getting sick from one of us." Kiba said.

"Or overwhelmed." Neji added.

"I'll go check in on Sakura and the kids. Make sure she knows how Sasuke is doing." Naruto said.

"Come on Shadow. Let's go see Sasuke." Shikamaru said sadly as he petted the dog's head.

Shadow had stuck by Shikamaru this whole time. It was like he could just tell that Shikamaru was sad and hurting. That he needed some comfort. Shadow also only seemed to really listen too Shikamaru or Kakashi right now. They both knew that until Sasuke was able to leave the hospital that one of them would need to keep Shadow with them. But also let Shadow be around Sasuke as much as he wanted as it was good for the both of them. Shikamaru, Shadow, Kakashi, Shikaku and Iruka headed down the hallway to the elevator so they could go up to the third floor where Sasuke's room was. The others all went off to help the victims again except for Naruto who went to see Sakura and Hurrio who decided to get out of there and go grab some food before going home. He was not happy at all that Shikamaru was picking Sasuke over him already. He knew that Sasuke was just now in the hospital after three years of being gone, but still. Shikamaru was his boyfriend and not Sasuke's. Shikamaru was going to need to set his priorities straight again. They had spent the last year working great together. Hurrio would go out on missions and Shikamaru would stay in the village working as a Junior Advisor. He was safe in the village and Hurrio didn't have to worry about him going out on missions and being hurt. He wasn't a field ninja anymore and that made it work between them. Shikamaru and him would be sexual with each other and spend the night at the other's place. Shikamaru would always place their relationship first and even cancel on his friends just so they could spend more time together. They didn't have fights and Shikamaru always followed his lead. This was a different side to Shikamaru and Hurrio wasn't sure he liked it. He was hoping that once Shikamaru got over the fact that Sasuke was in the village and had two children then they would go back to how things were. After all Sasuke had his own problems plus two kids. That wasn't the life that Shikamaru wanted to get involved with. Hurrio knew that Shikamaru would see things his way once he got over the initial shock. Hurrio was going to make sure that Sasuke understood though that Shikamaru and him were together and that Sasuke was nothing more than just a friend.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Shikamaru walked into the room that held Sasuke first with Shadow closely behind him. Once in the room Shadow jumped up onto the bed and went over to Sasuke and laid down right beside him and began to whimper. The others came into the room and could see just how sick Sasuke looked. Not only was he covered in bruising and had an oxygen line going into his nose he was also slightly yellow like Tsunade had said. He looked very sick and so small on the bed. He was in need of some serious sleep and care. It was going to be a long road to recovery for Sasuke and Kakashi knew that he was going to need some serious help along the way. Kakashi was hoping that Itachi would be here some time tomorrow and they could come up with a plan on what to do about the situation. Shikamaru went over to the bed and petted Shadow as he spoke.

"It's okay boy he's just sleeping. He needs a lot of rest right now that's all."

"He'll get better each day that he is out of that hell." Iruka said sadly.

"Are you going to stay here tonight Son?" Shikaku asked.

"I was planning on it if that is okay."

"Of course it is. I'll be with your mother in the children's room helping her. I'm sure they are both going to have a hard time tonight." Shikaku said.

"Why don't I go and get some dinner for everyone. You've all been running on empty and it could very well be a long night. You all need some food." Iruka said.

"Thank-you." Kakashi said with a small smile to his boyfriend.

Iruka went and kissed Kakashi's cheek as he spoke.

"Take all the time you need here. But please rest."

"I will. I promise." Kakashi said back.

"I'll be back with some food for everyone. Does Shadow need anything?"

"We have some dog food still that he can have." Kakashi answered.

"Ok I'll be back shortly." Iruka said as he headed out.

"Are you both alright?" Shikaku asked with concern.

"I will be." Kakashi answered.

"Same." Shikamaru said, but his eyes never left Sasuke's sleeping body.

"He's going to be okay Son. He's got a long road ahead of him, but he will be okay. We've done it before." Shikaku said as the memory of the last time Sasuke was in the hospital was all still too clear.

"I know. I just hate that this is happening to him. He doesn't deserve it. I just wish we had known sooner. So much pain could have been avoided. His back might not be like it is now. There's a lot of injuries that could have been avoided. He can't even be a ninja anymore. His whole life is different." Shikamaru said sadly.

"It is, but Sasuke will adapt to the new life. Itachi will be here too don't forget. He'll help get Sasuke through this. There is only one person in this world that Itachi loves and that person is Sasuke. He'll love those two kids just because they are Sasuke's. He'll be there for them and he'll help get Sasuke better." Kakashi said confidently.

"I hope so. He's going to need all the help he can get." Shikamaru said.

"All we can do tonight is be there for them. The rest we can start to figure out once Itachi is here. Sit down and relax Son. That's all we can do while we wait." Shikaku said.

Shikamaru gave a nod and Shikaku spoke again.

"I'm going to sit with your mother if you need me don't hesitate to come down."

"I will." Shikamaru said.

Kakashi gave a nod and Shikaku headed out of the room and back to the elevators so he could go down to be with his wife and the two children. Shikamaru and Kakashi both grabbed a chair and pulled them up to the bed. They sat down and did the only thing they could do, they waited. They waited for when Sasuke would wake up and they could be there for him. Until then they were going to sit down in those chairs and just be there for him. Both trying their best to not think about all the times that Sasuke needed them in the past three years and they weren't there for him.