Consequences

Consequences for every mistake,

Consequences for every want,

The consequences will tear you apart.

Chapter 4

The Journey Begins

Sasuke hadn't been worried the first day Naruto hadn't returned from his work

Sasuke hadn't been worried the first day Naruto hadn't returned from his work. He figured that Naruto had fallen asleep, again, while at work and Iruka had, again, been too nice to wake him up. But after the second night, Sasuke started to feel concerned. By the third day, he was very worried.

That worry had brought him outside of Iruka's shop.

"Iruka?"

"Iruka?"

Iruka looked up at the obviously worried boy in front of him. This made him uneasy; the Uchiha was not one to show emotion so easily. He must be very upset about something.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"Has Naruto been at work recently?"

"The last time Naruto was here was two days ago, why?"

Sasuke ignored Iruka's question.

"Thanks."

Sasuke walked out of the shop, the door closing behind him with a slam. Iruka flinched and wondered what could be going on.

The hospital doors opened and Sasuke walked in.

"I want to talk to Tsunade. Now." He stated harshly to the girl behind the counter. She eeped and ran off to find Tsunade. The girl came back with Tsunade walking behind her.

"What do you want brat?" she asked, a scowl on her face, "I'm busy."

"Is Naruto here?" he asked.

Some indescribable emotion swam behind her eyes.

"No."

Sasuke turned to go, but Tsunade's voice stopped him.

"But I can tell you where you can find him."

Sasuke turned to face her.

"Where?" he demanded. She gestured for him to follow him. They walked a long ways up stairs and down hallways into her office. They were silent the whole way there. People stared at them as they walked. Sasuke ignored him. As soon as they were in the office, Tsunade turned on Sasuke.

"What did you two do to get the Lamor after you?!"

Sasuke looked emotionless to this bit of news, but on the inside thoughts and emotions were swirling.

'The Lamor was after us? Was that why Itachi was here?'

"The Lamor was after us?" he asked, echoing his thought.

"Yes," she hissed, "What law did you break that was so big they handled it themselves?"

"The only one I can think of is that I'm alive again."

There was silence for a few minutes before Tsunade spoke again.

"What act did your bother perform to become a sprit?"

Sasuke looked at her blankly.

"People have to something very big for them to become sprits. I was wondering what Itachi did to earn the right to be a sprit, and then be part of the Lamor. If it has something to do with you, that might be why this was a much bigger deal than normal. Normally they would have just sent me after Naruto."

"He killed me and the rest of the Uchihas. Before he killed me, he told me that he had to."

Tsunade nodded.

"That could be why Itachi and his partner were sent after Naruto, even though Naruto isn't under our rule."

"What?"

"Sprits, Demons, Ghosts, and stuff like that are ruled by the Lamor, while the humans rule themselves in kingdoms and such. Half-demons are both humans and demons. A long time ago there was fight over who would get to rule them. Eventually it was decided that they would rule themselves. Naruto doesn't have to answer to the Lamor. Not that they're not going to try."

"You said you knew where Naruto was," Sasuke said, changing the subject.

"He's in the prison, in the bog south of here." Tsunade opened a drawer in her desk, and pulled out a map.

"Here. This is a map of the prison. To get to the prison, just follow the path until you get to the crossroads. Take the left route, the one that goes farther into the swamp. Don't go off that trail for anything. Even if Naruto appears out of the prison, make him walk to you. Don't go off the trail. The journey is a two daylong trek trough mud. Be careful."

She handed the map to him.

"Thank you." Sasuke said.

"Now get out of here and bring the kid back!" said Tsunade, ushering Sasuke out the door.

Naruto listened to the guards' conversations. He knew that they might be important somehow, and he had nothing better to do in the prison.

"I heard Itachi sent out the will-o'-the-wisps to make sure no one came after his capture."

"The will-o'-the-wisps? Really? They haven't been sent out in a long time. I bet they're just waiting to catch somebody!"

"I saw one once."

"Their lanterns?"

"No, a real one. It was really ugly, and had these huge hands! And it was holding a green lantern."

Will-o'-the-wisps? Naruto had heard of them before. They were lights that lead travelers into the swamps, and their graves. But he had never heard them talked about as if they were actual things, not just imaginary lights made up by the weary explorer's head.

"I could eat a lot of things," continued one of the guards, "But I don't think I could eat humans, like the will-o'-the-wisps."

"Itachi-sama, the will-o'-the-wisps are out guarding, and said that they would lead away any human that went down the path here," said a very nervous, female, shapeshifter servant.

He nodded, and she quickly walked off, quiet happy to get away.

'Sasuke, if you do come after the half-demon, the will-o'-the-wisp will lead you away, and eat you. And if the will-o'-the-wisps eat you, your soul won't survive, and I'll never have to worry about you again.'

Sasuke had been on the trail for a day, and it was getting dark. He had taken the left fork – which he had come to much sooner than he had expected – and had been walking for a long time. He thought he saw lights in the distance, but shook his head, thinking he must be really tired. After the sun had gone down fully, he saw the lights again. He rubbed his eyes, and decided that he should probably find some place to rest. He looked around and found a small, hidden place only a few yards from the trail, and went to sleep.

Author's note: Oh my gosh! Sasuke went off the path! He didn't listen to Tsunade! –gasp- You have to thank "Pumpkin Scissors" for this chapter. It wouldn't be done right now if I hadn't read the first volume of it. And sorry for the late update. My friend decided to have a weekend-long birthday party, and I never had time to write it. So it's late. The next update will probably be late too. I have finals coming up, unfortunately. But as soon as those are over, I can probably update more often! –smile-

Black-Dranzer-1119: It did? Really? –is amazed- I've read part of the mediator series, and it's good, isn't it?
Ditchiestar: Of course I'm going to put more! I wouldn't just leave it at a cliffhanger like that! But, then again, I am sorta flaky…
Mochiusagi: I mean that Naruto didn't return home!
UchihaUzumaki baby: I'm glad you all liked it! But, don't cry! It'll all work out, possibly…
KitsuneNaru: Oh no is right!