A/N: First ever story so please read! c:

Enduring The Pain

Prologue

It's been months since he'd seen Sasuke and Naruto had been growing very frustrated by the way things were going. Over and over they'd get tips about Orochimaru's hide-outs and he was sick of getting there to find another place void of the Uchiha. He could feel Sakura and Kakashi getting ready to give up anytime soon. Sakura's feelings already faded away and Kakashi had accepted the loss of his prized student, he had Naruto who was exceeding far better than he expected. What aggravated them both was that Naruto's determination still hadn't wavered even after countless failures to find Sasuke.

Now, they were once again in front of a freshly deserted hide out. Naruto screamed angrily, "Fucking Teme! Why can't you just stay in one place!"

"Naruto," Kakashi sighed, the wasted time would've been for Naruto's training. They should've mastered some more jutsus by now but the blonde seemed persistent in going on this mission, "It seems that Sasuke isn't here either, we better get going. It's midday and if we hurry, we might get back by the day after tomorrow."

Naruto sighed but grinned, "Don't worry Kakashi-sensei, we'll find him. Even if it takes another year or two."

Kakashi and Sakura gave each other knowing looks. The perverted teacher just gave the kunoichi a gesture for her turn to talk to the blonde. the pinkette stepped forward and looked down at the ground, afraid of her best friend's reaction to what was about to be said, "Naruto, I think it's time to move on and let go. I mean, it's been months since we've seen him. Aren't you tired of chasing a lost cause. Sasuke," both of them flinched at the name of their lost teammate, "chose what he wanted, he doesn't want you to interfere with his plans anymore."

"Sasuke's just lost in the depths of his revenge," Naruto retorted, he was getting a little angry. It was Sakura who made him promise to bring him back and now she's the one who wanted him to stop, it was getting on his nerves, "The Sasuke that I know as a brother and the one you're in love with is still there deep inside and I intend to find him."

"Just face it dickless and stop running away from the truth," Sai interjected, he was getting annoyed of this cat-and-mouse race he was forced to be part of. He won't admit it but he was also worried that this obsession with catching Sasuke and dragging him back to Konoha against his will is being a hindrance to his training in becoming the next Hokage, "Why can't you just accept the fact that he doesn't want anything to do with you anymore."

Naruto gaped at his friends in disbelief, 'Everyone's ganging up on me? Have they really given up on getting the old Team 7 back together?'

He looked away from them and felt the wind push through his face, it made him close his eyes in response. He felt so at ease that moment, his chest rising as he inhaled the cool air. The scent of wild flowers and trees not escaping his senses. His mind fantasizing about the day when all three of them would be together. Like the family he'd never had, calmly standing side-by-side doing the same thing. Relishing the thought of friendship and being carefree to any extent. He finally opened his eyes, no, he was not going to give up. He was Naruto and no one can change who he was.

Blue eyes snapped back at Kakashi and he groaned, he knew that look. The look that impressed him countless times before but now, just gave him a feeling of pity for the blonde. Why was he so stubborn? Didn't he see that all of them were just thinking about him and his lifelong dream of recognition from the village that shunned him for most of his life? Sakura had moved on, she didn't even care about the raven anymore because she realized that it was just a childish crush she had experienced. At the moment, she was more troubled about her feelings for Naruto.

Sakura had been the one to reject Naruto when he had obviously taken a liking to her before. The multiple times the blonde had asked her out, they were harshly ignored in preference to the pale stoic boy she was teamed with then. Unfortunately, she now felt a feeling of regret after all those years. Now that they had grown up and matured, Naruto forgot about his past attraction for his female teammate and focused more on his training to become a very powerful shinobi, which was doing rather well.

Naruto leveled everyone's gazes at him with a glare, "You don't know how much Sasuke means to me! He's my best friend-"

"Was your best friend! Aren't we enough for you Naruto? You've got friends and comrades back in Konoha, where you should be, friends that wouldn't repay your eternal flame of friendship by distinguishing it with an intent to kill you. Your best friend tried to take your life over and over yet you still show him acceptance that he doesn't deserve!" she screamed at him. Why can't he get it through his thick head! What was he trying to prove?

"At that time, 3 years ago, when you told me to get Sasuke back by all means. I promised you that I would get him back, even if it meant putting my life on the line. Well I did, we battled it out, we used our all. I used Kyuubi and he used the damned curse that that snake bastard gave to him. I lost, he had the opportunity to permanently and completely destroy everything we've been through by ending my life then and there," Naruto told him, his eyes flashing with streaks of red repeatedly as he glared at Sakura. His voice was became a whisper when he ended it, "But he didn't."

"You are one very powerful shinobi Naruto and I beg you not to waste your skill over something so stupid!"

Naruto's head snapped to her, anger prominent in his features. A few more seconds of silence until he exploded, "STUPID! HOW COULD YOU CALL THIS STUPID! WHAT DO YOU THINK ALL MY TRAINING WAS FOR! I DID IT SO THAT SASUKE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE ME AS AN EQUAL AND FOR ME TO KICK HIS ASS IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO KONOHA WITH US! AFTER EVERYTHING! YOU THINK THIS IS STUPID!"

He was shaking uncontrollably, he felt the Kyuubi's chakra itching to enter his own, 'C'mon Kit, you can have as much power as you want. You can easily tear her limb from limb if you want to. She's a bitch anyways.'

'Kyuubi, I know I'm really mad at her right now but just try and calm me down okay. I don't want to do something I know I'll regret later.'

'Ugh, here comes your damn selflessness again. Can't you just be selfish this once and pummel her face in? It'll be an improvement for all I know.'

'Kyuubi.'

'Yeah, yeah. Fine!'

He felt his body relaxing and his blood-red eyes came back to it's original sapphire. Breathing slowly and deeply he thanked Kyuubi.

'Hmph, and I thought I was going to smell blood again. Now don't bother me. I'm going to sleep.'

'Seriously, it's like a drug to you. Does it get you high or something?'

The fox gave a final snort before curling into a fur ball at the back of his cage.

Sakura was speechless, she had more words she could have used to retort but she stayed silent. They stood there, glaring at each other intensely until Kakashi snapped them from their battle of wills, "Maa, maa. Can we go now? I still have paperwork that needs to be submitted to Hokage-sama."

She crossed her arms over her chest and jumped out of sight. Naruto still had his hands balled, a deep frown on his face. It was really rare that they fought so seriously. Kakashi let out a tired sigh and followed after. Giving Naruto another one of his creepy smiles, Sai gave a two finger salute to his blonde friend before disappearing.

Naruto shook his head and cursed. Guess he really was the only one who wanted Sasuke back. But it didn't hinder his determination, looking up at the sky, he thought, 'Sasuke, even if your not here, you're always causing me trouble.'

Then he ran, trying to catch up with the trio. Not noticing three pairs of eyes staring at him from behind.

They entered Takigakure, the hide-out they just raided was near the borderline of Iwa so they had to pass this country to get to Konoha. The sun was setting and the sky was beginning to darken. It was then that Kakashi decided to take a break and set up camp. Sakura avoided and ignored Naruto and the latter was still seething about the arguement between them so it was pretty much quiet that evening.

"Kakashi-sensei, I think I'll take the first watch," Naruto said as he jumped up and landed on a high branch above them. He needed time to clear his mind. Watching as his teammates entered their respective tents, Naruto's eyes locked on an emerald pair. They both stared at each other until Naruto gave a grin and a wave, Sakura smiled a little and waved back before entering her tent.

Naruto released the breath he didn't realize he was holding. At least him and Sakura were in good terms again but he wished the topic about Sasuke never came up once more because it wouldn't be good if he lost control of himself again with the ones he cared about surrounding him. Sometimes he wished Sakura was back to being the lovesick girl she once was who was head-over-heels about the Uchiha, but he knew he was just kidding himself. She grew into a fine and much more mature woman. He wouldn't be surprised if she became the next Tsunade. He shuddered, wondering if he should be happy or peeing his pants right now.

'Kit, I think we aren't alone. I sense three chakra signatures to your left and their awfully familiar. But I've gotta say, they're pretty good at hiding themselves.'

'Are they a threat?'

Silence answered his question.

'Kyuubi?'

More silence.

'KYUUBI!'

'Kit RUN!'

But before he could even register what was happening, hands that came from nowhere lifted up his jacket and a voice hissed, 'Goguoufuuin!'

Five fingers slammed to his exposed chest and everything went black.

"I don't understand why we have to waste our time with them," the raven sneered as he watched four ninjas exit the place where he once resided. His former team, a blonde idiot that never knew when to give up included. Why won't they leave him alone? It wasn't their business if he wanted to take revenge against his brother. Why did they even bother? What really angered him was that the only thing keeping this charade going was his once best friend, Naruto.

"It doesn't help our plans if we keep being followed by your former comrades Sasuke. Tsunade keeps ANBU on us just for the jinchuuriki's desire to take you back," Orochimaru said as he licked his lips. He had to admit, he'd grown into a very fine boy. He wasn't the brat that had always been such a pest whenever he encountered him. His whiskered face became much more desirable and his body was almost as slender as his female companion. The sweat glistening on his neck sent shivers down the Sannin's spine, what he'd do to just lick it off him.

"Does it bother you if we eliminate them once and for all?" Kabuto asked the Uchiha who was also looking at the blonde in annoyance. The white-haired medic was tired of finding new places for them to hide in such a short notice. It wasn't as if it was hard from for him, he'd just rather be in his lab doing experiments than looking over maps and old undetectable caves or underground tunnels.

"Hn, whatever. Just get it done so that we can continue with more important things," he mumbled, he didn't seem to notice the momentary flash in his teacher's eyes.

"It would be a waste if we kill the jinchuuriki, wouldn't it? Maybe he'd serve better on other..purposes."

Kabuto and Sasuke stared at the long haired man, wondering what was going on that sick mind of his. Kabuto adjusted his spectacles and just watched as the team in front of him argued. It seemed that the other three was teaming up against the fox vessel which he found very amusing. Sasuke on the other hand didn't like it one bit, not that he didn't like to see them spout words of anger towards each other, he just hated it because he was the cause.

"..he had the opportunity to permanently and completely destroy everything we've been through by ending my life then and there.." he heard the blonde say, he smirked. He was just a kid when he out matched the jinchuuriki and his arrogance rose. Naruto was a pretty tough opponent when he was possessed with one of Bijuu but he had won. The smirk easily fell and gave way for a scowl when he heard, "But he didn't."

'That's why he never gave up? Just because I gave him a small amount of mercy? Hn, typical Naruto. I should've killed him when I had the chance.' he thought angrily as he watched Sakura yell at him some more until Naruto finally went berserk.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK ALL MY TRAINING WAS FOR! I DID IT SO THAT SASUKE WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE ME AS AN EQUAL AND FOR ME TO KICK HIS ASS IF HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO KONOHA WITH US!"

That's it! He had had enough of eavesdropping on some fight between idiots, "Orochimaru, can't we hurry this up. We don't have all day."

Kabuto glared at the raven, why was his respect for the man who helped him gain the power he has now so low? It sent him on edge whenever he spoke to his sensei like he was an equal, which to him was not the case. But Orochimaru just smirked, eyes still on the boy who was calming himself down. Then he saw the red fill in his once beautiful blue eyes and frowned. This was not good, he knew the strength of the Kyuubi. He had fought Naruto possessed by it in the Bridge of Life and Death. If he wanted to get the blonde for himself he needed to place the seal that can't allow Naruto to tap into the demon's chakra, and he knew just what to do. All they needed was the opportunity.

"Be patient, after all Naruto-kun is the only person who wants you back. It seems the others have their own opinions," he said calmly, he had been listening to the argument even if he was still staring at the blonde. It would be easier if they would only capture the jinchuuriki. Their precious time would only be consumed if they bothered with the other three, since they just needed to get Naruto alone.

Sakura finally left, followed by Kakashi and that creep Sai that gave Sasuke the chills. What was he, some sort of doppelganger who replaced him? It was just wrong in a way he couldn't comprehend.

With a pause, Naruto stayed for a moment. Sasuke was almost ready to attack him, the sooner they got the dobe the sooner his training would continue. Only to see that he was out of sight the next moment. A nerve ticked, Orochimaru just chuckled which earned him a trademark Uchiha glare, "Kukuku, don't be so impatient Sasuke-kun. Now, let's follow them."

They trailed behind the four ahead of them. They were still faced with a demon fox and didn't want to be detected before necessary. After a few hours or so, the sun slowly descended in the horizon and darkness replaced it's bright rays. Finally, they sensed them stop.

They waited until the team set up camp, praying that the blonde took the first watch, which he did. He jumped up a nearby tree. Waiting for the last nin to get out of sight, they readied themselves. Sakura and Naruto locked into each other's gazes, they smiled and gave small waves, 'Guess they're deciding truce, how childish.'

Sasuke ignored the clenching of his chest when he watched how really close they had become. He wondered what would happen if it was him with them now, not that asshole Sai. Why was he so jealous of Naruto's teammates? He mentally slapped himself, Uchiha's never get jealous. Their pride stopped them from doing so and their appearance and skills were over the roof so they didn't need to be.

But why was he?

Finally the tent closed, leaving only Naruto in plain sight. Orochimaru signaled them and the plunged to attack, "Kabuto, push up Naruto's jacket so that I may perform the Five Part Seal."

It was easy enough, he didn't even have time to recognize who they were before he was unconscious in the snakeman's arms. Kabuto and the Sannin smirked while Sasuke just fathomed a bored expression on his face. At least he was freed from further encounters with Leaf shinobi for the time being. As he gazed at Naruto's sleeping face, he momentarily glared at it. He felt as if his time was just wasted on him, resentment surfaced as he thought about the blonde's constant butting in with his life.

The Uchiha glanced back at the still calm tent, wondering what its occupants' reactions would be once they woke up next morning, Naruto gone. He followed the other two as they departed, unknown to the raven that he might've just made one of the biggest mistakes he had ever done.

A/N: Please review! c: It's my first fanfic so PLEASE take it easy on me but if you find some errors please say so..