Chapter 6: Hiding
Ba-thump.
Too stunned to process what was happening, Naruto's widely opened eyes just gaped at the other's tightly closed ones. Noses touching. Cheeks grazing against each other. Wet, sloppy lips pressed together. Bodies so intimately attached. So close. They were so damn close. Something was pounding hard in his chest. Was it his heart? No, the distinct, erratic heartbeats couldn't be his—because he was sure that once his teammate suddenly closed the gap and touched his face, he already felt his own heart stop.
Ba-thump.
And then there's the unmistakable heat. It was strange. With their faces squeezed together, Naruto vaguely wondered how such a pale face can feel so warm against his own skin.
Sai feels so…unexpectedly warm.
Ba-thump.
Another hushed breath. Naruto allowed one more breath, before he finally let his clenched fist find its way to the other's face—harshly connecting to the jaw line and ending with a faint crack—sending the other staggering a few feet away. Naruto felt his head throb painfully again due to the sudden movement but he ignored it.
"SAI! You...you…!" Naruto tried to sound calm but his shaky voice and very flustered expression did not allow it. "I'm already awake! What the hell was that for?"
The other brought his hand to his face, stroking the bruise that was starting to form. For the moment, Sai let his gaze stay at the floor—intentionally avoiding the other's frenzied stare.
"Hey you jerk! I'm talking to you!"
Sai closed his eyes, trying to compose himself. "You started it, dickless."
"W-What? I did?" Naruto was now close to panicking—racking his brains to remember what indeed happened seconds before Sai did the…unthinkable. 'Crap, I don't remember. Shit. Shit. Shit. Did I do something? Did I s-say something?'
"Yes, you did." Came the curt reply. Sai finally brought his gaze to meet with Naruto's exasperated ones. "You are obviously drunk."
"And you think kissing me would bring me back to my senses?"
"Well it worked, didn't it?" Sai grinned. From Naruto's standpoint, it almost looked like a sneer. "You seemed all right now. Unlike earlier, I bet you can find where your penis is now, right idiot?
Naruto almost choked in his own spit. "You…asshole!" Bringing his fist up, he lunged forward—intent on wiping the pathetic smirk off the other's still smiling mug.
"Pantywaist." Sai said as he easily evaded the clumsy frontal attack. He heard Naruto cursed as the latter almost stumbled in his own feet as he tried to hurl his other fist. Not to be easily discouraged, Naruto crouched down to deliver a kick to the other's legs. Sai anticipated this and merely leaped a few steps backward. "Too slow, Na—." He was cut off when a blur suddenly appeared in front of his face and felt a strong, firm grip around his collar. 'That…' Sai blinked.
'…was fast.' Even in such a state…
"Heh. Gotcha, you jerk."
"Oi you two." Both of the ninjas immediately turned towards the voice. It was from the bar owner. "If you want to kill each other, do it outside. I don't want any trouble here…" The owner looked at them in straight in the eye. Naruto inwardly cringed. "…or damages."
Feeling a little conscious that they were now the center of attention, Naruto quickly let go of the other and as a habit, brought his hand to the back of his head and bowed slightly a few times. "Uh, ehehe, gomen, oji-san." Naruto grinned sheepishly. "We're just joking around." Naruto then elbowed his teammate prompting him to apologize as well. Sai just looked at the owner and then at him, clearly oblivious to everything. He waited for Sai to say something but the latter remained unresponsive and continued to stare at him. 'Tch. Creepy bastard.'
"So uh, we're going now." Still feeling a bit disoriented, Naruto decided to just deal with… whatever happened between them tomorrow. He resorted to lightly punching the shoulder of his teammate. "Hey bastard, let's scr—." Naruto froze when he felt a sudden searing pain shot through his stomach. Slowly, as if in a daze, he brought his right hand to grasp the part where his seal is. It was hot. It felt like his insides were being torched and his skin was peeling right off.
Ba-thump.
Ba-thump… Ba-thump…
"Naruto?" Sai noted the sudden rigidity in his teammate's movements. The blonde did not even move, still wide-eyed and clutching his stomach. Worried, Sai hurriedly moved in front of his teammate and placed his hands on the latter's shoulder.
"Oi dickless, what's wrong?"
Naruto's face slowly contorted, evidently in pain. He could feel sweat starting to form in his forehead. He increased the pressure on his stomach to momentarily ease the excruciating feeling…but it was futile. The pain only worsened, with every ounce of pressure sending shockwaves throughout his body. It felt like something is clawing deep inside his body, ripping out every organ, tearing them apart then burning them.
It burns…Everything feels like it's burning…
"Make it stop." Naruto gritted his teeth and wrapped his arms around his midsection, trying to suppress a scream with all the self-control he could muster.
"That's it dickless, we are going to the hospital." The voice was low and calm, but the urgency of the tone made it sound like an order. He heard other muffled voices too in the background but he could barely focus now as he started to see red spots that seem to multiply and expand in his vision. 'Wait a minute, that's…'
…the demon's chakra.' Naruto stared in utter horror as the red chakra completely manifested itself and began to surround him.
"No… no…."
And he finally screamed.
The wet towel felt like heaven on his hot forehead. The bed was comfortable too, with the softness just the right amount. Not only that, the temperature in the room felt kind of cool as well, unlike the faulty ventilation in his apartment. He smiled. Oh yes, this is the life. Who knew hospital rooms could be this nice? He could easily get used to this.
Now, if only the creepy bastard would just stop staring…
"Why are you smiling?"
"Why the hell are you staring?" Naruto then opened his eyes to glare at his teammate.
"Don't flatter yourself, dickless. I am not."
"Yes you are, and will you stop calling me that?"
"…No."
Naruto narrowed his eyes, but the other seemed not to notice or care. 'Heh, and they call me dense.'
"You know Sai, it's really nice here, you know." Naruto paused to look at his surroundings. The room was not that big but it was really neat. There's a single drawer at the side and small framed paintings adorn the wall. Naruto looked at his teammate again. "And then there you are…gaping at me like I'm a friggin' piece of meat. It's extremely uncomfortable, you know…
…People don't like to be stared at, Sai. Haven't you read that in one of your books or something?"
"Mm. I think I did." Sai finally looked away. For the first time, Naruto noticed the bags under the other's eyes. Wait, he hasn't…
Naruto forced himself to sit up. "Hey Sai, have you slept yet? You didn't just sit there the whole night, did you?"
Sai shook his head. "I haven't."
"What! Why?"
"I didn't need to. I feel fine." Sai then leaned casually in his chair. "And besides, you're sleeping in my bed. I don't have any other place to sleep."
"…Oh."
Silence.
"Wait…what? Your bed? This is your bed?" Naruto was fully sitting now, fully awake and extremely close to panicking. "Why the hell am I in your bed? In your… room?" Naruto scanned his surroundings again, and indeed, it would make sense that this isn't a hospital room. The off-white covers of the bed. The paintings in the wall. The old but expensive-looking drawer at the side. The polished, wooden floors. And the faint smell of dry ink in the background. Everything just screams of his teammate and yet…
"No way. How can I be so stupid?" Naruto face-palmed, mentally berating himself for not noticing the setting earlier. All his training and he's still as unobservant as ever. His senseis would be greatly disappointed. "This really is your room."
"Well obviously, where else did you think you are?"
Naruto looked away, feeling suddenly embarrassed. "Somewhere else! Oi, why am I here? Answer my question first!"
Sai's gaze returned to him. "Do you recall what happened last night?"
"Last night?" Naruto's face scrunched up as he tried to remember. 'Oh yeah, the bar.' He felt his head throb rather painfully again as bits of his memory come back. 'And then, Sai and I fought. Why did we fight again? Uh… I don't remem— Wait a goddamn minute!' Naruto felt his face suddenly heat up, as the reason for their fight came back to him in full force. 'No freaking way!' He swallowed hard, and then looked straight to his teammate's eyes.
"Hey, did we, uh…did you...?" He mumbled while Sai just stared back at him, waiting.
"Did I what, dickless?"
"…kiss me?" Naruto asked in a very low, meek voice that it almost seemed like a whisper. Somehow he wished he had refrained himself from asking since it wasn't really important or beneficial to him. But damn it, his curiosity was killing him.
Sai's eyes widened for a split second. "That…was an accident."
"I knew it!" Naruto was standing now, with his index finger pointing rudely at the other. "You, you pervert!"
"You are so loud, Naruto. It's an accident. Just forget about it." And then he smiled. Naruto immediately knew it was a fake. "Unless of course, you want me to repeat it..."
"Why you..!" Feeling really humiliated, Naruto grabbed a pillow and threw it forcefully towards his sitting teammate. The other caught it effortlessly.
As if nothing happened, Sai tossed the pillow back to Naruto and reverted back to his usual, impassive expression. "But that's not what I was referring to, Naruto."
The blond just looked away and feeling his vertigo returning, sat down again.
"Whatever, bastard. You're right, let's just forget what happened last night. It wasn't important anyway."
"Naruto, I was talking about the red chakra."
Naruto froze.
"What…?" And then he remembered. Hushed voices around him. Crimson-colored chakra seeping through the seal, encircling him. And the pain. The excruciating, burning pain that racked his entire body. He shuddered.
Tentatively, Naruto placed his hand on the seal. "So…it wasn't a dream after all. It did happen and I…."
"…Naruto."
"Did anyone else see it?" Naruto closed his eyes, gripping his shirt tightly. "Did I…hurt anyone?"
Sai remained silent for a moment, with his gaze still fixed on his teammate. He then crossed his arms and looked away, remembering the time where he first saw the Kyuubi's form. That was when they fought Kabuto and Orochimaru at the Bridge of Heaven and Earth. Because of sheer wrath, Naruto had lost control, letting the demon consume him and even attacked Sakura. If it weren't for Yamato-taichou's seal, they wouldn't have managed to survive.
"Some people may have noticed it. And no, you have not hurt or injured anyone. You collapsed right after the chakra manifested itself."
"Oh." Extremely relieved, Naruto let his head fall to his chest, lifting both of his hands to cover his face. "Thank God. I didn't know what I would do if…."
"Baka." Sai finally stood up and moved towards his teammate. "I was there. I would have stopped you if it came to worse. So don't…" Sai paused, trying to find the correct words to say. "I mean, don't worry too much about it." He then smiled. "And besides, too much brain activity might damage your small brain, dickless."
Naruto smiled back. "Shut up, you jerk."
"….."
"Hey Sai."
"Mm?"
"You haven't answered my question. Why am I here? Why didn't you bring me to the hospital?"
"They will know."
"What?" Naruto looked at his teammate, utterly confused.
"Those were the words you kept on repeating while I was carrying you to the hospital… I assume that you would not want anyone to know of your…condition, so I brought you here." Sai continued. "And besides, my apartment is nearer."
"Oh..." 'And I call him dense.'
"Well, um…" Naruto smiled again, really grateful at what the other did. "Thank you, Sai. I really appreciate it, man."
"No problem, idiot. Anytime."
"…."
Both of them just stared at each other, completely unsure of what to do. Though this kind of silence was rare between them, they didn't find it uncomfortable or unnerving. Somehow, between unsaid words, they have realized something crucial in each other, and have made an understanding between them.
Bonds. This is why they are worth clinging on to... Amidst everything.
"You really are a great friend, Sai.
Thank you..."
"There is food in the fridge. No ramen though." Sai said as he adjusted his kunai pouch. "Lock the doors when you leave."
"Eh? Where you goin'?" Naruto asked while drying his hair with a towel. He just finished his bath.
"I have been summoned." Came the curt reply.
"Oh." Naruto frowned. It must have been from that creepy old guy, Danzo. "See you later then."
Sai nodded. "Naruto…"
"What?"
Sai looked at him, as if to say something. But he didn't and just turned around. "…Nothing." And he left.
"Not dense…but still freakin' weird." Naruto commented as he watched the other leave through the window and disappeared amongst the rooftops.
The blond then sat down, thinking of what he will do for the rest of the day. 'Oh yeah, I have to meet with the team this afternoon. And then, uhh….meditate after that or ask Baa-chan for missions. Maybe I can also visit Teme, if I can face him, that is (sigh). If that doesn't work out too well, I'll just go to the Ichiraku's with Iruka-sensei! Yosh! Nice plan, Naruto!' Mentally congratulating himself for such a well-conceived time schedule of the day, he then fixed his clothing and gathered his things.
He cast one look at Sai's apartment, a smile gracing his lips.
"What a really nice place…." Naruto then closed the windows, locked the doors and left.
He had not gotten too far when three ANBUs appeared, forming a triangle surrounding him. Naruto smirked. "Heh, I was wondering when you'll show up. You've been following me since I left the apartment. Actually, no...even before that, I'm pretty sure that one of you was on the rooftop while I was still there."
"Uzumaki Naruto-kun."
"Yep?"
"You have to come with us."
"And why would I do that?"
"The Konoha Council is expecting you."
"Oh." Was all he could reply. On the outside, Naruto looked calm and confident. But deep inside, he was panicking. 'Shit. Shit. Shit. Is this about Sasuke's trial? I knew it. It wasn't over. Maybe this is part of Baa-chan's big secret. Big awful secret.'
Naruto mentally shook his head to will all his negative thoughts away. Stay positive, Naruto. He took one deep breath.
"Fine, lead the way."
It was big.
No, that was an understatement. The courtroom (or is this a torture chamber?) was colossal. You could easily fit two Gamabunta in here. Naruto was actually tempted to summon the giant toad to verify his theory. But he restrained himself, seeing that he wouldn't want any more attention than he was being subjected to right now. All of the Council Elders have fixed their attention on him since he entered. And damn it, it's really making him feel really small. The only person not looking at him right now is the Hokage who has her eyes fixed on one of the doors, like she wants to make a run for it. 'The old hag's acting really weird these days. I wonder what's wrong.'
"So, uhh…what's up?"
Just as expected, he received no response. As he's about to make a second comment, the door to his right suddenly opened, revealing the form of the old guy he had just thought about this morning—Danzo. The ROOT leader was followed by two ninjas and… Sai. He blinked.
"Sai. Hey." The other nodded at him for acknowledgment but said nothing in return. 'Hm. Weird. No greetings, no insults… What's up with these people?'
"It is time to start." One of the Elders motioned to one of the Jounin guards. "Bring him here."
The Jounin bowed and disappeared in a puff of smoke. After a few seconds, the door to Naruto's left opened. Uchiha Sasuke stepped in, escorted by four ANBUs, one in each side of him. 'So this really is Sasuke's trial. But where are Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei?"
"And now, we shall begin."
One of the male Elders stood up and performed a hand seal. He then placed his palm on the floor. The floor immediately lit up. Naruto watched as the chakra began to trace the lines of a circular image. As the chakra dissipated, he could make out a circle filled with different characters and intricate designs. 'This image seems familiar. Where have I seen this before?'
"Uzumaki-kun."
"Yo."
"Please step inside the circle."
"W-What? Me? Why…?" He then looked again at the circular image. Naruto's eye widened as he realized that this look exactly like his cursed seal.
'What the hell is going on here?'
A/N: Guys, thank you so much for reading! Thank you!