Finally

Chapter 4

"Sasuke." Naruto said softly. Sasuke looked up, to see the blonde standing with Kakashi and Tsunade. "We need to talk about what you said yesterday…about the others?" he said. Sasuke looked down and nodded, his shoulders tensing a little. "It's ok, we're gonna help them, I promise." He said, sitting beside him. Kakashi and the Hokage sat on the other sofa, facing the boys.

"We need you to tell us about them, where they're being kept, so we can send a rescue squad." Kakashi said. Sasuke looked at him, eyes wide.

"You're…you'll help them?" he asked. Kakashi nodded, as did Naruto and Tsunade.

"Of course. Now, we just need to know a few things." Tsunade said with a small smile.

"I didn't…say about the others until I was sure…you would help.." Sasuke said softly, glancing at her.

"That's ok, I completely understand. Now, do you know where it was you were kept?"

"Not exactly…but I know I came West…three days' walk…"

"Would you be able to find it again if you went back?" Sasuke nodded.

"I think so.."

"Lady Hokage, you can't be thinking of taking him back there?" Naruto asked, shocked and a little angry. She levelled her gaze with his and nodded.

"If it means saving the rest of the prisoners and potentially capturing Orochimaru once and for all, then yes, Naruto, I am." She said, then looked at the Uchiha. "Do you think you will be able to leave tomorrow, Sasuke?" she asked. He looked at her and nodded.

"Yes." He said, the old determination flashing momentarily in his eyes.

"I'm going too." Naruto said. Tsunade nodded.

"I can't argue with that. Now, Sasuke, how many others were there in this place?"

"There were…10 of us, including me. Haku was there.." Sasuke said, looking at Naruto, whose eyes widened and mouth dropped open.

"Haku?! I thought he was dead!" Sasuke shook his head.

"Deidara was there too…from the Akatsuki, and Hidan."

"I thought all the Akatsuki were dead... It must be part of Orochimaru's MO, taking MIA ninja." Tsunade said thoughtfully, writing this down. "Did you get anyone else's names?" Sasuke nodded, his eyes down.

"Suigestu…Sai, Bakuto, Sumaru, Arashi and Jugo…" Kakashi nodded, writing them all down. "Deidara said there were others before but…they're gone."

"Gone? You mean they died?" Kakashi asked, Sasuke shrugged, still looking down.

It was obvious he was scared, desperately worried about his friends. Naruto gently touched his shoulder and Sasuke looked at him.

"Don't worry, Sas, we'll rescue them." He said, determination in his eyes. Sasuke nodded, looking down with a small smile.

"Thank you…" he said softly.

"We'll get a team together immediately." Tsunade said.

"I want to help choose who's on the team, Madam Hokage, especially if Sasuke is going too." Naruto said.

"Of course, Naruto, I'd already assumed." She said with a smile. "We'll need to leave soon… I'd say Sasuke is able to handle that kind of travel now, we'll be taking wagons anyway in case your feet start hurting." She said to Sasuke, who nodded.

He wanted to help his friends, needed to. He didn't feel like he deserved freedom until they were all safely away from that terrible place.

"We can leave in a couple of days, as soon as we have the team and supplies sorted out. This is a priority mission." Kakashi said and Sasuke looked at him, smiling gratefully.

And so, plans were made to find Orochimaru's hideout, and rescue all of his captives. Sasuke was consulted often about preparations for the mission, asking how he imagined his friends were in their health, how deep into the fortress they were kept, how many guards there were, et cetera.

Sasuke often felt overwhelmed by how much they asked of him, but Naruto was always be there to request a break for him, take him outside in the cool air to calm down and they would talk about the questions more gently. They would then return to the council room, and Naruto would relay the answers with confidence.

2 days later, they were ready.

They left just before dawn, as the sky began to lighten, the moon fading. They had 4 wagons, holding supplies and room for the rescued hostages. With Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi came a 20-strong security team of ANBU and Shinobi, including some of their old friends. Kiba had joined up as soon as he heard about the mission, dragging his now lover Shikamaru with him. Sasuke had expressed to Naruto that he'd been scared they'd all hate him now, but in truth they were angry for him, pitied him even. He was so different to the boy they'd known it was impossible for them to resent him now.

Sakura also volunteered, as part of the medical team. She had been excited when she heard about Sasuke being back, but she almost cried when she saw him in person. She'd expected him tall, muscular and handsome. He still had the looks, he always had delicate features and large, beautiful eyes, but he was much more pretty than handsome, and so small. She could have sworn he'd hardly grown since she'd last seen him, and horribly thin to boot. But she was gentle to him, kind and careful, and he seemed to warm up to her eventually.

Sasuke knew some of them would be injured and they were all on the verge of starving when he left. He hoped Orochimaru hadn't punished them too badly when they discovered him missing. He wondered if that guard would tell anyone that he helped him escape, maybe he was dead. Maybe they were all dead...

The night before the mission, Naruto sat Sasuke down and asked if he definitely wanted to go back there.

"They won't be able to find it without me…" he said, frowning slightly. He knew Naruto was against him going on the mission, but he thought they'd decided it would be best.

"I know, but do you want to go?" he asked gently, his eyes concerned. Sasuke didn't really understand but he looked down, thinking about it.

"I…I'm scared to back there…" he said softly. Naruto sighed softly and nodded. "But…I have to. I need to find my friends, and help them get out of there…e-even if I'm scared." He said, looking up at Naruto with tears in his eyes but that same old strength he had when they were young. Naruto grinned and hugged him.

"Ok…that's fine then. I just didn't want you to feel forced into going.." he said. Sasuke nodded, smiling weakly when they parted. He'd grown used to contact with Naruto as long as it wasn't skin-to-skin, he was still wary of that. "Are you hungry? We need our strength for tomorrow. We're leaving just before dawn, ok?" he asked and Sasuke nodded, smiling. He always got up before dawn anyway, he liked watching the sunrise and it was nice and quiet then.

They made dinner together, something they'd started doing often as it gave them both something to do and a way to chat easily. Sasuke also enjoyed cleaning, so Naruto's apartment was the cleanest it had ever been – Kakashi and Iruka had found this very amusing last time they visited.

After dinner, they went to bed. Sasuke had been sleeping in Naruto's bed since he collapsed in the doorway those few weeks ago, but recently Naruto had started joining him. Sasuke's nightmares were so common now that Naruto ended up comforting him until they both fell asleep anyway so they decided it would be better for him to be close at all times. Plus, though neither of them would admit it, it was nice to sleep close to someone, snuggled up and warm. It had even helped reduce Sasuke's nightmares, which was definitely a good thing.

So they went to bed that night, huddled together in Naruto's cramped bed, warm and safe. They were both nervous about the mission, though Sasuke seemed to be handling it well. Naruto was worried for Sasuke, scared he'd panic or freeze when he returned to that terrible place, or worse faced Orochimaru again. He hoped his resolve and determination would drive him to be strong, but Naruto vowed he'd protect Sasuke from that monster, no matter what. They fell asleep, arms around each other under the comforter, dreamless.

Quick filler/information chapter before the real shit goes down! Favourite/follow for updates! Please review!