Hey everyone!It's been a while since the last update, new year, pretty exciting!

So just a little forewarning, this chapter, in my opinion, is cut short but I have a reason for that! I feel like this story will probably be coming to an end pretty soon and the drama is gonna be real intense and I'd rather those chapters be long then try to leave you guys on cliffhangers so hopefully you can forgive me!

Anyways, without further ado, here's the next chapter of A Stick In The Mud (ReVamped)

Sasuke walked to Naruto's apartment, a slight spring in his step. He didn't think yesterday would go as well as it ended up.

After dropping the blonde off that night, Sasuke decided to do something he rarely ever did, call Sakura.

"Sasuke?" The pinkette answered the phone, confusion in her voice. "Is everything okay? It's pretty late for you to be calling me."

Sasuke was silent for a moment, already feeling stupid for calling. He let out a happy sigh though. "Yeah everything's good. I just wanted to tell you something."

"Oh?" Her voice didn't hide her interest and he heard some rustling. "Please, go ahead!"

"So, I found Naruto earlier." He started.

She snorted. "Duh Sasuke, you texted me when you reached the library."

"Hn." Sasuke glared at his wall.

"Okay, okay! I'll let you tell it your way!" She began to giggle.

"Yeah, as I was saying, I found him and he told me everything about Sai." He felt himself get angry, recalling how Naruto couldn't look at him because he felt so ashamed. He still wanted to beat the shit out of Sai. "And after some convincing from Naruto to not beat the hell out of him, we went to lunch where Naruto told me he liked me."

"What?!" She screeched and he quickly pulled the phone away from his ear. He glared at it before slowly putting it back.

"I don't know why you're surprised. I was under the impression that you already knew."

"I mean, I knew but I never figured he'd actually tell you!"

"Hn."

"So, what did you say to him?" Sakura sounded nervous, curious and slightly hopeful.

Sasuke could feel a small smile forming on his mouth and he once again sighed happily and Sakura let out a small laugh. "I told him I felt the same."

Sakura squealed loudly through the phone and Sasuke rolled his eyes, his smile only widening. "I'm so happy for you two! My two best friends, finally getting together!"

Sasuke frowned at her words. "About that."

Silence. "What?" Her voice was devoid of any emotion.

"He still doesn't know what to do about Sai."

"That stupid idiot! Why won't he just leave him?! With you by his side, he shouldn't be afraid anymore, right?"

Sasuke looked helplessly at his lap. "I took him out to the Sand festival yesterday to show him how he's supposed to be treated." He paused, carefully thinking over the situation. "I think he's just too prideful to admit he needs help. But I'll be there for him, whatever he needs."

There was a brief silence on the other line until Sasuke heard sniffling. He looked at the phone in surprise. "S-sakura?!"

She let out a small laugh before speaking. "It's just," her voice came out shaky and she let out an unsteady breath. "It's just so cute! You're so sweet and caring, I'm so happy for Naruto! He deserves someone like you."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "For gods sake." He listened to her sniffling before smiling once again. "Thanks Sakura."

"Hm? Thanks for what?"

"For being there for him when I couldn't."

"Oh, Sasuke. You better stop before I start to really cry!"

Sasuke chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'll let you get some sleep. See you tomorrow."

"Goodnight Sasuke."

Sasuke finally reached Naruto's apartment building and took the steps two at a time. When he reached Naruto's floor, he took a deep breath, trying to not seem too eager to see the blonde.

He walked down the hall and stopped in front of his door. He knocked once when the door opened. He stared at it in confusion before rolling his eyes and stepping inside.

"Oi, dobe! You shouldn't be leaving your door open like that!" He shouted, making his way towards Naruto's bedroom. "You never know who can walk-" He stopped in front of the doorway to Naruto's bedroom and stared in horror.

Naruto was naked, a puddle of blood dried underneath him. He was unconscious, his breathing slightly ragged.

Sasuke quickly ran to the side of the bed, his heart beating rapidly in his chest. "Naruto!" He was about to shake the blonde when he noticed the bruising around his neck. "N-naruto?" With an unsteady hand, he placed his hand on Naruto's upper arm and began to shake him awake.

"Ngh!" Naruto groaned out in pain. "St-stop. Please." His voice was weak and desperate.

"Naruto, please wake up!" Sasuke pleaded.

Naruto's eyes slowly fluttered open and he gazed at Sasuke's worried face. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding in relief. "Naruto. I'm glad you're awake." He looked over the blonde. "What happened?"

Memories of last night replayed in his mind, and Naruto couldn't stop the tears from falling. "Oh god." He sobbed out. He shook his head and then hissed at the pain in his neck.

"I'm going to call Sakura." Sasuke stood up and looked down at the blonde. He made no movement until he let out a sigh and a mumbled okay. Sasuke walked out into the living room and sat down on the couch. He quickly dialed Sakura and ran a hand through his hair as he waited for her to answer.

"Another call Sasuke?" Her voice was teasing as she answered the phone.

"Sakura," he didn't know how to tell her without causing her to freak out. "I think, I think you need to come to Naruto's. It's-" he stuttered and cleared his throat. "Its urgent."

"What happened?" He could hear the worry in her voice.

"He's hurt pretty bad. I don't know what happened."

"I have a guess." There was anger laced in her words and Sasuke felt stupid for not realizing it. He growled in response. "I'll be right over."

He hung up without saying anything else. The anger was flowing through, making his blood run hot. He stood up and began to pace the living room, the urge to go over and teach Sai a lesson getting harder and harder to resist.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke turned around to see Naruto standing in the doorway, only in a pair of boxers. He was panting hard and his face was scrunched in pain. "Naruto, why are you up? Go lie back down!"

"Is Sakura coming?" He asked, not moving.

Sasuke nodded and began to walk towards Naruto. "Go lie back down, you shouldn't be up like this." He stopped in front of Naruto and gently tucked a strand of loose blonde hair behind his ear.

Naruto blushed before looking down at the floor. "The sheets are," he trailed off and felt himself get sick. "I don't want to go back in there."

Sasuke nodded in understanding before slowly and carefully picking up him up bridal style.

"Sasuke?" Naruto wrapped his arms around his neck. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you to the couch." He walked into the living room and carefully set him down. "I'll be right back." He walked into the bedroom and pulled out a clean blanket from Naruto's closet. He turned and was about to walk out of the room when he spotted the fox plushie he won for Naruto the day before. He smiled before picking it up and bringing it out with the blanket.

"Here." Sasuke handed Naruto the plushie who happily accepted it. He then covered the blonde with the blanket and carefully tucked in him. "Is that okay?"

Naruto slowly nodded, trying not to cause pain to his neck. "Thank you, Sasuke." A light blush dusted his cheeks and he hid his smile behind the plushie.

"Anything for you." Sasuke kissed the top of his head.

"Naruto!" The front door opened and the two of them looked to see Sakura, wide-eyed and frantic. She looked at Naruto and began to cry. "Oh god, Naruto!" She ran over to him and kneeled on the floor.

"Sakura, I'm okay." Naruto tried to comfort her.

"Okay?! You think you're okay?!" She stood up to glare down at him, tears still pouring from her eyes. She took off his blanket to assess the damage and nearly began to cry. "Naruto."

Naruto turned to stare at the back of the couch, unable to say anything.

"And you're neck!" She lightly touched his neck. "Oh my god, Naruto! I knew this was going to happen!"

"Where is that asshole anyways?" Sasuke glared, looking towards Naruto.

"He left after he," he couldn't finish his sentence.

"What exactly happened?" Sakura asked after calming down somewhat. She put the blanket back over him and sat at the edge of the cushion while Sasuke sat on the armrest.

"I don't, it's not that bad guys." Naruto mumbled.

Sasuke growled in anger and Sakura placed a hand on his leg, begging with her eyes to calm down and keep quiet. He glared at her before deciding to let her take over.

"Naruto, please. We're both here for you. You know you can trust us." She smiled down at him and gently caressed his cheek. "We want to help you out."

Naruto carefully looked her over before glancing at Sasuke who was staring at the wall ahead of them.

Sakura also looked towards Sasuke before sighing lightly. "He's just angry that he wasn't there to stop Sai. Right Sasuke?"

"Hn. Or to kill him."

Sakura snorted before rolling his eyes. "Exactly. You know Sasuke, he can only show anger and indifference but he cares too. I know you know that. Especially after yesterday you should know that too."

Naruto's eyes widened and he glanced at up at Sasuke. "You told her?"

Sasuke's cheeks turned a slight shade of pink. "Was I not supposed to?"

"N-no. I'm just shocked that you did."

The raven's cheeks grew darker. "I just wanted to tell someone. I was excited."

Naruto's eyes widened even further before he broke out into a grin. "Aw, Sasuke! That's so cute!" He giggled as Sasuke sneered, still not able to face the two of them.

Sakura giggled along with Naruto. "See? He does care too! So please, tell us what happened so we know what to do next."

Naruto sighed. "Okay." He fidgeted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. "So, after Sasuke dropped me off, I went up to my apartment. The door was unlocked and I looked through my apartment to make sure everything was okay."

Sasuke quickly turned to face the blonde, mouth open to say something but Naruto already had his hand up.

"I had a knife. I'm not stupid."

Sasuke scoffed and Sakura gave him a glare before turning her attention back to Naruto.

"And after everything seemed clear, mind you, I looked everywhere and I couldn't find him. And he never did tell me where he was hiding now that I think about it. I can-"

"Naruto," Sakura interrupted. "Stop rambling."

Naruto's face flushed in embarrassment and he nodded his head. He cleared his throat and began again. "He um, heard me talking to myself and saying my feelings for Sasuke." His cheeks grew darker but he continued on, staring at his lap. "And he started asking me who I was talking about and I was avoiding the question but he kept getting angrier so I told him. Then he got really pissed and I was so done with it after having such a good day. I tried to tell him it was over but he refused my answer. He pi-pinned me down and I fought back but then he grabbed my neck." He brought his hand to his neck and lightly touched the bruise. "I almost passed out. He told me to cooperate or he'll do it again. Then he t-took off my pants and underwear and then his own." Naruto paused, trying to calm his breathing. "And I begged him not to do it, he just, forced himself, no preparation, nothing, and it hurt so bad but he just grabbed my neck again and told me not to make a sound and just-" his words stopped as the reality of the situation hit him and he began to cry.

Sakura quickly wrapped him in a hug beginning to cry with him.

Sasuke growled out before standing, anger overtaking him. He marched to the door where his shoes sat and pulled them onto his feet.

"Sasuke, what are you doing?" Sakura asked, wiping some tears from her face, Naruto's hand in hers.

"I'm finally going to teach that fucking bastard a lesson." As he finished he looked at the two of them. "And don't try to stop me."

"Sasuke, wait!" Naruto tried to get uo but before he could even move, Sasuke slammed the door behind him. "Sakura, we have to stop him!"

Sakura bit her lip nervously as she looked at the door then back to Naruto. "I don't know, Naruto."

"Sakura please!" He begged.

Sakura looked him over before sighing. "Alright. Let's stop that idiot."

Naruto smiled happily at her before getting up and getting dressed.

So, how did you guys like it? Hope you guys aren't too angry about the shortness but the other chapters I will do my best to make longer!

As always, if you liked it, please favorite and review!

~tachiequillsluv