: … : telepathic conversation


Chapter 7: The Painful Rescue


It was like a face that launched a thousand horses, only that there was no army behind him.

Itachi strode fast to the west and soon enough, he was there as the northern star had appeared just as the goddesses had said. He was in the outskirts of Kabuto's manor. The goddesses have appeared before him again.

"Get down from your horse, General; you won't need it for now." Tsunade said as Itachi painstakingly complied.

"We'll take you in there silently. We don't want General Kabuto to be alerted." Temari said as she approached Itachi.

"I would be taking Avalanche there. Now go." Ino said as she took hold of the bridle. The three orbed out of sight as Ino looked at Avalanche. "Do you mind if I get a lift?" she said as she patted the horse. Avalanche nodded his head as Ino got on to his back.

The three arrived outside of Kabuto's quarters. The two goddesses forewarned him that they could not assure that Kabuto has not touched Naruto.

"What do you mean you could not assure?" Itachi demanded.

"We are only goddesses, General Itachi, we're not the fates. We do not mess with other peoples lives." Tsunade assessed.

"Tsunade is correct. We do not hold the lives of people. We are only charges of what has been bestowed upon us and those who are under us." Temari explained.

"When we sent Naruto to you, you now are the one who is supposed to be responsible for him; we now only serve as guardians General."

Itachi felt a blow on his heart. He remembered what the goddesses have said to him before,

"Itachi, take good care of your -ahem-lover, understood?" Tsunade said.

"Naruto, be good. Itachi, we entrust Naruto to you." Temari said.

His heart twisted. He should have brought Naruto with him. He should not have left him there all alone in his manor. He knew what Kabuto had done before. He should have taken precaution.

"When you said that you have entrusted Naruto to me, what did you mean by that?"

The two goddesses looked at each other.

: Should we tell him Tsunade:

: Yes. Its better that he knows Naruto's past rather than to keep it a secret. :

: I see. Well, by all means, you break the tides to him. :

Tsunade took a deep breath as she looked at Itachi.

"Do you really want to know General?" Tsunade asked. Itachi nodded as he prepared to listen for what the goddesses have to say.

"You were only seventeen years of age General, when a prosperous city called Hokkan that now lies in ruins was located in the outskirts of this country, was invaded and destroyed by Barbarians from the farthest part of the north. They killed and destroy everything in their path including women and children. Their sole purpose was to abduct the one of its people, Naruto, and to present him to their leader, King Sasuke."

"Wait a minute, I think I've heard about this, but why kill all people to abduct only one person? Why would they go that far?" Itachi asked as he listened in rapt silence.

"King Sasuke was well known for his collection of beautiful women, but since he tires of them easily, he dismisses them. Therefore, he chose to have a male sort and found it very much pleasurable.

"By that time, he had heard rumors of a beautiful man with golden locks and sky for his eyed living there so he decided to find out for himself. He disguised himself as one of the citizens of that country and searched for that person. He soon found him but discovered that he was the youngest son of the present sovereign, King Arashi.

"King Sasuke knew that there was no way King Arashi would give the hand his youngest son to a promiscuous king like him so he better yet decided to launch an all out war over that country and slowly defeated them." Tsunade narrated.

"But isn't that country known for skilled and powerful warriors?"

"Yes General, however, King Sasuke's army was five times in number than those of Hokkan." Temari said, finally speaking out.

"What happened to Naruto then? How was he able to survive?"

"His parents, were very good people. They were very kind to the citizens of Hokkan and therefore respected and loved.

"Just before King Sasuke's army could have reached the palace gates, the king and queen went to the inner sanctuary of the palace and into the temple where they took their children with them together with the three knights of the Phoenix. They knew that there was no hope for survival and to protect their children, they prayed to us to save them.

"We appeared before them and took the children with us. We made decoys of Naruto and his brother. We made them appear to be dead of drinking hemlock. We departed just before King Sasuke's men broke through the surrounding barriers. Naruto was the only one who saw the massacre.

"Years passed and eventually, the wounds in Naruto's heart healed. The reason why we gave him to you is because we saw that you, among all, have a good heart and pure intentions."

"We knew you could protect him General Itachi." Temari said.

Itachi didn't know what to say. He was lost for words. He definitely should have brought Naruto with him. Now that he knew what Naruto have gone through, he was decided to bring him back and protect him with his life.

"Stop brooding, General. Go in there and get your lover back." Tsunade said.

"We'll be waiting for you out here to bring you back home." Temari said as she pushed Itachi. Itachi nodded his head as he hastily went inside Kabuto's quarters.

Inside Kabuto's quarters,

Kabuto touched his lips as he call to mind how soft the redhead's lips were. He licked his lips as tasted the lingering sweetness that remained. He had to smile. Smile because he had now claimed him. He leaned his back over to where the cool water was flowing to let his skin soothe from the heat that prickled it. How he loved the feel of Naruto's skin against his!

Kabuto got out from the bathroom as he dried and clothed himself in Tsunade robes. His head shot up as he could hear audible voices outside his quarters. He took up his sword and silently walked towards the door. I wonder who's out there. Kabuto thought.

Itachi could hear water running from somewhere inside the quarters. He stealthily walked along the corridors and saw a light inside one of the rooms. He quickened his steps as the door to the room opened and saw Kabuto emerge with his sword at hand.

Kabuto, somehow surprised by seeing Itachi in his manor brought up a smile.

"Well, what a pleasant surprise this is, General Itachi. What brings you here in this side of the country?" Kabuto said as he closed the door behind him, advancing towards the smug looking aggravated general.

"Where is he, General Kabuto?" Itachi said. Venom laced in every syllable.

"Where's who, General?" Kabuto asked innocently.

"You know what I'm talking about, General. Where is HE?" Itachi's narrowed dangerously.

"Honestly, General Itachi, I really don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop playing games with me, General Kabuto. Where's Naruto, let him go." Itachi's eyes were lighted up in anger and annoyance.

"So, Naruto's is his real name then? Really nice."

Itachi drew out his sword ready to attack. He was quickly loosing his patience with Kabuto. He just wanted this to get over with and get Naruto out of the place as soon as possible.

"Where the hell is he, General? So we can get this over without bloodshed." Itachi said angrily.

"My, my, such temper General Itachi. But may I ask you, what if someone else already stained him? What would you do?" Kabuto mocked. Itachi's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. What does he mean? Itachi thought.

"How dare you touch him General Kabuto! He's mine!" Itachi said as he held his unsheathed sword firmly in his hands.

"But I've done much more than just touch him, General Itachi, much more than you can imagine."

"No. It can't be ... Naruto ... No ... Son-of-a-bitch!" Itachi thought. His mind was in a rage; he'd kill anyone who dared touch Naruto.

Itachi gritted his teeth as he lunged towards Kabuto. Kabuto quickly unsheathed his sword as he blocked Itachi's attack as he swung his it, cutting through the delicate fabric of Itachi's sleeve.

"What did you do to him General Kabuto? Where is he?!" Itachi said as he swung his sword for another attack that was then again skillfully blocked.

Kabuto smiled, "In my bed sleeping peacefully. Let's just say I've worn him out from our previous activities, General. Mind you, our Naruto is such a delightful treat." He mocked.

He had just added fuel to Itachi's burning rage. Itachi charged at Kabuto for another blow. The two exchanges blows' making sparks fly. Each proved to be equal but nothing can match the wrath that Itachi felt. He was on the verge of killing anyone right now--especially Kabuto.

Behind the smiling façade, that Kabuto shows was a cold calculating general that would get anything that he wants in any way he can. And now that he has what he wants, he would never give it up that easily. Kabuto continued to play his silly game with Itachi. Testing how far would the younger general last. He found it rather amusing to play with the young general's patience.

Each swing of the sword, each furious look into each other's eyes, the two generals are proven to be equal in skills. Both skillfully blocked each other's blows as they continued their face off. Itachi was already getting more furious and frustrated. All he wanted was to get Naruto out of there and bring him home safe in his arms.

Itachi knew that it his blows were useless. He was looking for an opening in Kabuto's defenses. With every assault he did, he studied every move that Kabuto did, and alas, found one. Itachi swung his sword above his head with much force that made Kabuto stagger back to block the blow. Itachi freed one hand from the grip on his sword, used it to punch Kabuto hard on the face and delivered another one in his guts making the latter fall down on his knees.

Itachi approached Kabuto and took hold a fistful of his hair as he looked at him straight in the eyes,

"Naruto is mine, General Kabuto! I don't care what you did to him because he always is and always will be mine. And there's nothing you can do about that." Itachi said as he gave him a brutal kick in the guts leaving Kabuto partially sprawled on the ground, sputtering in pain from the blows he received from Itachi.

Itachi straightened himself up as he looked at the closed screen door in front of him. He held out a hand planting it firmly on the door. He paused for moment, took in a deep breath as he pushed the door open and entered the room.

Itachi's eyes widened in horror in the sight before him, he stood there for a moment, hesitating to move. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Naruto naked with only a blanket covering him partly, his hands tied to the headboard. He couldn't breathe. His mind was in frenzy as he quickly rushed to Naruto's side and shook him awake.

"Naruto, wake up, open your eyes! It's me. Naruto!" He said as quickly untied Naruto from his bondage. Naruto didn't respond but continued to sleep. He soothed the bruised wrist of Naruto as he continued to coax him awake.

"What did he do to you Naruto? Why won't you wake up?" Itachi thought as he saw the pillbox on the bedside table. Fuck you General Kabuto! Fuck you big time!

Itachi quickly wrapped Naruto with the blanket and heaved Naruto out of the bed but as soon as he turned around, he saw Kabuto standing by the door, his sword prepared.

"You're not taking him anywhere General Itachi."

"Get out of my way General Kabuto." Itachi threatened.

"Why should I? I'm not dead yet."

Itachi slowly placed Naruto back on the bed as he prepared his sword for another duel with Kabuto.

"If you won't get out of my way then I'll definitely have to force you out of the way."

"And may I ask how?" Kabuto mocked.

"I'll kill you. For crossing the line General Kabuto, is something you should have thought about twice, three times or more if it doesn't bore into that equally thick skull of yours."

"I'd love to see you try General Itachi but I won't easily be defeated by someone like you."

As soon as the words came out of Kabuto's lips, both lunged at each other at an unbelievable speed. Rage, anger, dominance and the desire to win the duel flashed in their eyes.

Sounds of swords clashing could be heard within the room. Skills were tested and the one who had the strongest determination to finish the other was the one that kept them going despite the cuts and bruises they have received.

Itachi positioned his sword chest level with his left hand holding the sword firmly on the handle and the other, opened, positioned on the hilt ready to push. Kabuto saw the stance as he brought up his sword above his head to prepare a downward blow. They stared at each other calculating, waiting for the right moment to attack.

Blood slowly seeped out of their wounds, sweat broke form their brows. Both were in deep concentration. The flickering of the candle was witness to the steady yet cold calculations. The other living thing present in the room was a moth that played closely by the red and yellow flame, which was soon destined, to be doomed when its wings get caught on fire was the end of either one or both of the lives of the Generals.

And as it was foretold, the flickering of the moth's wings set on fire and both lunged at each other at the same time. Only by luck or miracle could save either one's life.


TBC


Authoress' Note:

Second to the last chapter. I've edited some of the parts.

For those who doesn't like it then don't read and don't drop me silly reviews!

Constructive reviews are welcomed as always. So… just drop me a line or two and tell me what you think.

Smoochies!