Chapter Three!
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Their ears rang loudly as they started to get up, looking around. The ground was scorched from the bombs, leaving black marks on the Earth. Eyes blinked rapidly to clear the dirt in them as the dust sorted out. Once the dust cleared, did then Naruto's eyes widen when he saw Hidan and Deidara standing over the unconscious body of the raven. The blonde tried to get to his feet, trying to get to his friend, but only stumbled on his weak legs. "No!" He yelled a little weak.
Hidan smirked at the spread out Uchiha, the wolf's body laying at his feet, and turned when he heard the yell of the blonde, only to smirk even more. He wondered what the kid would do if he ended the Uchiha's life. But did he want to deal with the wrath of Itachi? Everyone knew what Uchiha Itachi was capable of... Still, the offer was very tempting. So, he raised his blade, as Naruto was nearing, bringing it down on the Uchiha.
Only to hear the clink of something hitting metal and the pressure of something stopping him. "What the?" He looked down to see a pair of sharp teeth biting his weapon and pushing it up.
"How is it even alive?" Deidara screeched. The damn wolf was holding the blade back from even touching Sasuke, pushing its weak body from the ground, up.
Naruto stopped and watched the wolf stand up on shaky legs with Hidan's weapon in its' mouth, growling. Interesting... Kurama purred. This wolf just took a bomb to the side. A bomb! Wasn't it suppose to be dead? Or close to death? When Naruto looked to the ground, he saw a small pool of dark blood dripping from a large wound that indeed was from the bomb, but... oh this was too confusing.
Kurama watched the wolf push its shaking body to protect the Uchiha brat. He knew wolves could be very loyal to their packs. Even summonings, from what he has witnessed, are loyal to their summoner. But they only last for a short time. This wolf, each and every time Naruto manages to run into Sasuke, is always beside him. This was no ordinary summon of a wolf. Most defiantly not.
Midnight winced from the sting of the wound, but held her ground, pushing back. No way in hell was she going to let them touch Sasuke. Not a chance.
This shocked everyone there. They watched the wolf, the very one that was always by Sasuke's side, pushing back Hidan. Eventually, the large creature tightened its grip on the base, and swung Hidan and his weapon both to the side. Hidan landed harshly on his side with his scythe a few feet beside him, pissing both him and Deidara off. Turning his head from Hidan to the snarling wolf, Deidara reached back into his pockets to create another lethal bomb, or two. The wolf should have died the first time, but he would make sure it would this time.
Midnight pulled her lips back farther to show off her sharp teeth. She lowered her muzzle to the ground, not breaking eye contact with the enemy. Black fur stood up on edge as well as her tail, which seemed even much bigger than she already was. Legs were slightly bent to pounce at her next prey, having her shoulder blades pop out evenly. Black ears flattened against her head. A low, deep growl rumbled in her chest and erupted from her throat in a promise of hurt if he as so much as took one step towards her. Midnight was ready for battle. Even though her side burned with pain and dripped of her dark blood, she would fight until her heart stopped and she no longer could protect Sasuke. The one person she swore her life to. The one person she would die for.
But this slow, soothing feeling of her wound made her think that today was not the day.
Right before Deidara could even pull his hand out, his body went flying to the left. Midnight followed his movements with a no care look and turned her head to see the blonde kid, huffing and puffing. Naruto just taken out her target, but another one came running to her with his three bladed scythe.
Midnight growled, turned her head to him, and snapped her teeth at the silver haired man, before Naruto or anyone could move. A sharp painful cry was let loose from him. Midnight's teeth had sunk through his sleeves and into his flesh, her jaws locking on tight. "Stupid animal. Let go of me!" Hidan commanded.
And so she did. Throwing him to the ground first and ripped his tissue and muscles as she opened her mouth. Breaking the bone at his wrist and fracturing the rest. Hidan screamed in the agony it caused to move it and glared death at the wolf. His blood stained her white teeth and black lips, a pink tongue darting out to lick around her lips and have an evil glint in her eyes, though pitch black.
But that one action gave him a few seconds to swing his weapon with his good hand into her other side, deeply embedding itself in her skin.
Midnight yelp and staggered to stand up right. Only to have her legs give out and flop to the ground next to Sasuke. And before Naruto could reach Hidan, he disappeared as well as his blonde partner.
Naruto cursed and ran over to Sasuke. "Sakura!" He shouted as she ran over and knelt beside him. Glowing green hands went over his body, checking if he was alive. During this whole ordeal, not once did he twitch to get up.
Naruto held his breath for her answer and when she looked into his panicked eyes, she said, "He's alive. He just has a concussion and three broken ribs."
Naruto let his breath go in relief. "But we need to get him to Tsunade." Sakura informed him and his heart stopped. Sakura was right, they needed to get him to baa-chan, but he would be bringing him back. Back home like he promised. Unfortunately, Sasuke wouldn't be aware of it and would most likely try to kill everyone once he woke up.
Naruto weighed his options. Say no and leave him there or take him back and hopefully talk some sense into him.
"Take him, fast." He ordered Sakura and Sai. The two left along with Yamato as fast as they could with Sai using a hawk painting to carry all four of them. Naruto had said he would catch up once he did something.
Midnight panted in and out in harsh, uneven breaths. The world turning in circles of blurred images and colors. The wounds bled together, soiling the ground underneath her. She had watched the three in a haze take Sasuke from her view and she wanted to growl out and snap at them, but all came out was a weak whimper. Her body shook rapidly in coldness, the blood no longer keeping her warm as her eyes took in a hazy image of someone standing over her.
Naruto stood over the beast with a sad look. Sure he knew nothing of this wolf, but one thing. It protected Sasuke till its' last breath. He didn't know why or understood how, but felt pity for it was dying slowly. Blood slowed down to a simple drizzle of liquid. Flesh torn from the blades tearing out of its massive body. A creature such as this, protected the one he loves and he was thankful to it. He had watched it fight beside Sasuke. And fight for Sasuke, even with a wound weakening it.
So he squatted down and placed a large hand on its soft black head. He heard the soft growl, but didn't pull away. It's a shame. Here I thought the beast would actually live. Kurama put in, but Naruto ignored it.
"Thank you for your protection." He whispered. "You can rest now. I'll protect him." Naruto promised as he ran his hand over her silky head.
Midnight whimpered and growled again, her body too weak to do anything but that. And as the blurred image of him getting up, she barked softly and his body froze.
Like hell you will.
Naruto and Kurama both were stunned to hear a third party in his head. A female voice, responding back to his promise.
And the blonde look back to see the wolf glaring death at him before he remembered where he had to be and took off.
Night had fallen in it's blue-black color dotted with little white and yellow stars. Creatures of the day fell into a blissful sleep as the creatures of the night woke from theirs. The half moon provided little light for those awake. The air was silent as a man cloaked in black sped through the night. He had been gone far too long from his family.
Uchiha Itachi jumped from one tree branch to the next, stopping when he heard several twigs snap to his right. Pulling out a kunai from his pouch he activated his sharingan. Only to be confused when a large, injured wolf stumbled out and leaned against the tree trunk like a person would when out of breath.
Itachi slipped the knife back, the simple sound of metal hitting metal caused the wolf's ears to perk up and look right at him. Itachi didn't move as the creature stared at him. Why a wolf this size even existed didn't make sense to the Uchiha, but a wolf nonetheless. If the wolf feels he is a threat to it, then no doubt it would try to kill him.
Try is the key word. It was injured badly from what he could see on how it leaned to one side and its uneven breathing. That would be his advantage. But the wolf sniffed the air and point its black muzzle down, pushing off the tree and staggering forward. Itachi watched it careful not to make sudden moves and narrowed his eyes. Didn't Naruto mention something about a massive wolf that was always beside his little brother?
So, if this is the wolf, and he was certain that it is, then where is Sasuke? Itachi's heart sped up in fear. If this beast is injured and away from Sasuke, then where was it... Itachi looked past the wolf and saw that it was indeed heading for Konoha, five miles from where he stood.
Without a second thought, he jumped from the branch and to the next in Uchiha speed. Something told him his little brother was there. And if it happen to be true, all hell would break lose.
Tsunade closed the door behind her and took in a deep breath. Today's events were exciting to say the least. Sakura comes rushing in with a bloodied and unconscious Uchiha Sasuke. Traitor to his village and the last, along with his older brother, Uchiha in the clan. Also killed her former teammate, Orochimaru. And also hurt her figurative grandson. Tomorrow would be a long day and she needed something to get her through tonight. No doubt the council would be very pleased to discuss his execution.
The Hokage walked down the hallway to see her grandson sitting on a bench with his head down and arms hanging over his legs. His eyes seemed darker now and she couldn't help but put a light hand on his shoulder, awakening him from his thoughts.
Blue eyes met honey and looked fearful, but not of what happened. "How is he?" Naruto whispered and that hurt even more. Since she knew him, he was always bright and loud. But bring up Sasuke and that was a mask to cover up the pain.
Tsunade gave a small smile, knowing it'll ease something in him. "He's doing just fine. He should be healed in a few weeks." If Sasuke lived that long in the first place.
Naruto's eyes seemed to lighten and a smile almost formed on his face. But dropped with his next question. "What's going to happen to him?"
Tsunade's face turned serious and her hand dropped from his shoulder. "You know very well as I do what's going to happen." She said coldly and his eyes dropped. She didn't want to say it, but he had to learn to accept it. Sasuke chose his fate the moment he left, and unfortunately he had to pay for that.
The blonde woman saw Naruto's features slack and soon twist up in anger. He wouldn't accept it, she knew. He would do everything to keep him alive. His rival, friend and lover. That's all he had at the time close to his heart. So, she knelt down in front of him and cupped his whiskered cheeks, scrunched up and close to tears. "I will do everything possible to help him." She whispered, "But you have to let me do my job, Naruto. Do you understand?" She pressed her thumbs slightly hard on his cheek bones to make her point.
Naruto sniffed and nodded. He didn't want to, but he knew deep down he had to. He wiped his tears and let air pass through his lungs evenly. The Hokage smiled and kissed his forehead, standing up. "Can I see him?" He asked before she walked away. Turning her head towards him, she nodded and turned back to go to her next task.
Naruto stood up slowly and walked to the white door, gripping the handle and pushing it open. He stepped inside quietly and stared at his friend. His black mane a mess. His face relaxed and asleep. His arms slender, yet strong. His chest covered in white bandages.
The blonde didn't remember how he got to Sasuke's bedside, but he found himself staring at that face he loves so much. The perfect eyebrows and perfect lips that would judge him and smile at him and kiss him and form such wonderful words-
You do remember I am in here and can hear your perverted thoughts, right? Kurama cut in and made a gagging like sound.
They're not perverted, Kyuu. Naruto responded sadly and a single tan finger slid down the side of Sasuke's face. So soft and delicate, just as he remembered.
Ewww, gross! Stop, just stop! More gagging sounds followed by light laughter. Kurama was just trying to ease the tension and Naruto was grateful for that.
Naruto leaned closer to his face, feeling the warm breath blowing onto his cheek and sighed. "Please don't hate me for this." He pleaded softly and moved away back to the door. Taking one last look at him and leaving.
Tomorrow...is a day he didn't want to face.
~End Chapter Three~
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Yours truly, OnceDeadTwiceShy.