In Sickness and In Health
Chapter 6
Kurama stood beside Naruto's bed, silently watching him sleep. He couldn't imagine what must be going through Naruto's head right now. How scared he was that he might never be able to see again, and the more that Kurama thought about it, the angrier he grew at Sasuke. What right had that kid had to attack Naruto when hadn't done anything to him? In fact, Sasuke had absolutely nothing to do with the situation at all, and he still went after Naruto. Sasuke was going to be lucky if Kurama didn't find a way to kick his ass, at this point Kurama didn't care that Sasuke was a teenager, he wanted to go after the kid himself, and considering how pissed Itachi seemed to be, Kurama didn't think Itachi would care. Naturally, Kurama wouldn't go after him because in his eyes two wrongs didn't make a right, but that didn't mean that Kurama was any less protective of Naruto and it didn't mean that Kurama didn't want Sasuke to get what he deserved.
"I don't care what Sasuke thinks." Kurama murmured as he finally grew tired of standing and sat down beside the chair beside Naruto's bed. "You didn't do anything to deserve to get treated like this." Kurama reached out and touched Naruto's cheek, hoping his brother would know that Kurama had no intention of leaving him, even if he had to mess up his own perfect attendance to sit with him. Naruto deserved to have someone who cared about staying with him after all, Minato couldn't be trusted to do what was right by Naruto. Kurama wished he could find a way to take Naruto away from his father, just so that Kurama knew that Naruto's needs were being met in the way that they should be.
"I wish this wasn't happening." Kurama murmured. "At least not to you, someone as innocent as you are, doesn't deserve to have to deal with this."
"Is he ready to go yet?" Minato asked impatiently from the doorway. "I don't have all day to wait to take him home."
"Then I will take him home," Kurama replied stiffly. "The doctors want to keep him here for observation for now."
"For what? They already know there isn't anything going on with his brain." Minato said. "What could they possibly be waiting for."
"He has a concussion, they want to make sure he isn't having any other side effects from that, that's what." Kurama said. "That's going to take a little while, they want to make sure he's okay to be released. They don't want him to have any more seizures since they know that you aren't going to take care of him." Minato glared at Kurama not missing the insult in the comment.
"He doesn't need medical treatment, he's just doing this for attention." Minato said, and Kurama rolled his eyes. Leave it to Minato to believe that Naruto getting attacked was a plea for attention.
"He got attacked, how is that his fault?" Kurama asked. "It's not like he asked for the kid to attack him."
"He probably paid the kid to attack him and if I find out that is the case, there will be hell to pay for Naruto." Minato replied.
"What the hell." Kurama said. "Why the hell would he do that? He's not that desperate for your attention. If anything, Naruto wouldn't mind less attention."
"Think what you want, but I know that Naruto is an attention seeking whore." Minato replied before turning and walking out of the room. Kurama shook his head, how could one person be that much of a douche bag? Kurama wouldn't ever understand it, but one thing was clear he needed to find a way to get Naruto out of Minato's home, Kurama could see his father bullying Naruto to the point of Naruto killing himself. Kurama could not allow that to happen. He had to protect his little brother at all costs, which meant he was going to need to have to speak with Sasuke about this little mess that he created.
"I don't want to leave you alone." Kurama said. "But I really want to go beat some sense into Sasuke. I don't know what he was thinking, making assumptions like that. But I promise he's not going to get by with doing this to you. I'm betting his father just lets him get by with anything he wants. Sasuke is going to learn that that isn't the case. Just hang in there, there are brighter days up ahead, that I can promise." If Kurama had to, he would take his father to court to somehow get custody of his little brother.
Sighing, Kurama watched Naruto sleeping peacefully for a few minutes, he didn't want to leave Naruto, but Kurama wanted to have a little chat with Sasuke to make sure such an occurrence like this didn't happen again. Kurama wanted to make Sasuke regret having ever messed with Naruto.
"I'll be back soon, I promise." Kurama said. "Hopefully, I will be back before they release you from the hospital." With one last glance at Naruto, Kurama turned and headed towards the door. He wouldn't put it past Minato to try and do something while he was gone, which is why he wanted to get back as quickly as possible.
Hurrying down the hall, Kurama chose to take the stairs instead taking the elevator. From there he headed straight towards the exit, he wasn't sure if Itachi was still working or not, or even if he should let Itachi know he was going to have a talk with Sasuke, but he didn't really have the time to search Itachi out and make his intentions clear. He was sure Sasuke was probably home, enjoying the life of luxury that his father gave him, enjoying the fact that he wouldn't have to face any consequences of his actions. Oh, if Fugaku hadn't said anything to Sasuke, Kurama would be pissed, and he would probably end being extra rough on the other teenager. One way or the other lessons would be learned this night Kurama would make sure of that.
Exiting the hospital, Kurama made his way towards his car, which he was thankful wasn't very far away. He was also grateful too that the Uchiha's didn't live very far from the hospital, which meant that Kurama could get back to the hospital should something happen with Naruto. Not that Kurama really anticipated anything happening, but Kurama really wouldn't put it past his father to try something.
Arriving at his car, Kurama unlocked the door and climbed in. Putting his seatbelt on, Kurama placed the key in the ignition and turned it, the engine roared to life and Kurama backed out of his parking space. Three minutes later, he was pulling into the Uchiha mansion. Parking, Kurama threw his door open and climbed out, he really wished things hadn't come to this but being what they were Kurama knew that he had to do something. Crossing the yard quickly, Kurama knocked on the door. He huffed out a breath wondering how he was going to get his point across without physically abusing the teen. The last thing he needed was to get thrown in jail on child abuse charges.
Suddenly the door was thrown open, and Kurama was face to face with Fugaku Uchiha, the man glared at him, and Kurama swallowed hard.
"Can I speak with Sasuke?" Kurama asked. "I've got an issue with him that needs to be taken care."
"Sasuke's not here right now." Fugaku said sneering at Kurama. "He's at some party that his friend is having." Kurama glared at him, it's what he had thought. Sasuke didn't have to face the consequences for what he had done to Naruto.
"You can tell the prick, that he won't get by with what he done to my little brother." Kurama hissed. "I don't care how powerful you are, he's not going to escape justice."
"How do you know that what happened to your little brother wasn't deserved?" Fugaku asked. "Sasuke doesn't do anything without a reason."
"Naruto was minding his own business when Sasuke came in and attacked him." Kurama said, glaring angry that this father didn't seem to care that his son had physically injured a classmate, and potentially messed the kid up for life. "Tell me what reason Naruto would have had for asking to get thrown against a wall?"
"Perhaps Sasuke didn't like him because he's an Uzumaki." Fugaku replied. "We all know what a self-righteous bastard that your father is. I'm sure his youngest son is the exact same way since he looks exactly like him."
"That's bullshit." Kurama replied. "Naruto is a sweet kid, he's nothing like our asshole father."
"Yeah right." Fugaku snorted before slamming the door shut in Kurama's face. Kurama stood there glaring at the door, it was no wonder Itachi didn't want anything to do with his father, he was a bigger asshole than his own father, and that was saying something. Scowling, Kurama wondered what party Sasuke was at, because Kurama didn't have any problem going there and finding him and dragging him to the hospital to force him to get a look at what he had caused, force him to realize that there were going to be consequences for his actions.
Sighing, Kurama turned and stormed off the porch, he was reaching into his pocket for his keys, when he heard his name being called and he looked up to find Itachi standing behind his car.
"I hope you don't mind," Kurama said. "But I wanted to have a little talk with Sasuke."
"I was coming over to do the same thing." Itachi said. "Although I'm still pissed at him. I take it the talk didn't go well?"
"According to your father, Sasuke is at some party right now." Kurama replied, "apparently he thinks it's okay to go do whatever he pleases and thinks he can get away with it."
"Are you serious?" Itachi asked. "I knew my brother was a prick, but I didn't think he would actually do something like that. Does Dad know what party he went too?" Kurama shook his head no.
"But I bet it's written in his schedule somewhere." Itachi said. "And I know that he always keeps that on his desk in his room." Kurama frowned and followed Itachi back into the Uchiha mansion.
"What did I do to deserve the almighty Itachi Uchiha showing up on my doorstep." Fugaku Uchiha sneered upon seeing his eldest son enter the house.
"I'm here to find out what party Sasuke went to so that I can drag his ass over the coals for what he done to Naruto." Itachi said. "Which doesn't concern you."
"I have to get back to work anyways, I don't have time to stay and chat." Fugaku replied, "if you see your little brother tell the asshole he can sleep on the streets from now on for all I care." Itachi shook his head and started down the hall again.
"Is your dad always like that?" Kurama asked. Fugaku hadn't seemed to particularly care about what happened to Sasuke. Kurama had thought that his father was heartless, but it sounded like Fugaku Uchiha was the exact same way. Itachi shrugged.
"He's never really cared about either of us, but he's been for us more than your father has been there for you. He's always provided us with the things we've needed, even if we didn't want to go down the path that he wanted us to go down."
A few seconds later, Itachi turned and entered Sasuke's bedroom, flicking on the light and heading over to Sasuke's desk. He found Sasuke's schedule sitting on his desk, but noticing the only thing penciled in was study time. Itachi frowned, he knew that Sasuke liked to keep everything organized and the fact that he didn't have any parties written down told Itachi that Sasuke hadn't been planning on going to any parties lately. Which made Itachi wonder where Sasuke was right then if he wasn't at a party.
A few seconds later a low pained moan sounded from across the room and both Itachi and Kurama turned to look over at the bed, and they both went pale at the sight that lay before them. Sasuke lay on his stomach barely conscious with his back torn to ribbons.
Kurama's anger faded to be replaced with horror as he watched Itachi walk over to the bed, and drop down onto his knees beside the bed, and reached out and touched Sasuke's back, making the other softly cry out in pain.
"He's burning up." Itachi said, taking note of Sasuke's sweat covered brow. "He must have been like this for hours for infection to have set in. He's going to need some medical attention, likely more than I can give him. Not to mention he's likely going to need a blood transfusion for having lost so much blood." In fact, they would probably have to get Sasuke a new blanket because there was so much blood covering his blanket that Itachi doubted the blanket could be saved. How had his little brother gotten to be in this condition? Did he get into it with someone and then sneak past his father without Fugaku Uchiha noticing? Who else had Sasuke pissed off so bad that they could beat him so badly? Itachi wasn't even sure if he should feel any kind of sympathy for Sasuke at this point, just the thought that he had angered someone to the point that they would beat him so badly made Itachi wonder about his little brother's sanity. Sasuke couldn't keep pissing people off like he was and not expect to get by with it.
"I'll call the ambulance." Kurama said. "You stay with him and see if you can get what happened from him." Itachi nodded and returned his attention to his brother. Sasuke's eyes were open only a crack, almost as if Sasuke didn't have the energy to keep his eyes open.
"What happened?" Itachi asked, but Sasuke only moaned as Itachi's finger poked a rather painful welt on Sasuke's back. "Who done this to you and does Father know what happened."
"He doesn't care." Sasuke moaned out, his words stuttered out in a short pain filled sentence. "He doesn't care if I'm alive or dead." Itachi frowned, something in his brain nagging at him. His father had been sure to make a quick exit after Itachi had told him he was coming to talk to Sasuke, which meant that he already knew that Sasuke's back had been ripped to shreds and he had done nothing to help him, which also made Itachi wonder if it was possible that Fugaku was responsible for Sasuke's condition, which could also explain Fugaku's hasty retreat. Itachi had known that his father would be pissed about the situation with Naruto but getting physically abusive with his own fourteen-year-old kid, Itachi wasn't so sure about. Fugaku Uchiha had never laid a hand on him growing up so why would he start hurting Sasuke now? Unless he had been doing it for a long time and Sasuke had never said anything about it, which in turn made Itachi wonder if that was the case just how bad the abuse was to keep Sasuke silent.
"Who done this to you?" Itachi asked, noticing that Sasuke was about to lose consciousness again. Still Sasuke didn't say anything, only moaned when Itachi's hand poked a rather painful spot on his back.
"The person responsible can't be caught if you don't say anything." Itachi said.
"He said he would kill me if I told anyone who it was." Sasuke moaned softly."
"Why?" Itachi asked, frowning. "Why was it so important that his beating Sasuke so badly not get found out?
"Because he stands to lose a lot if he is found out." Sasuke moaned. Sasuke lost consciousness a few seconds later, and Itachi noticed the way that Sasuke's chest heaved, he wasn't entirely sure it was from the amount of pain that he was in either. He was sure pain was part of the reason, but he didn't think it was the entire reason behind Sasuke's heavy panting.
Is there something wrong with Sasuke or is it because of his back? Thanks for reading.