A/N: Hiya there, folks – I'm back, and on time! Yosh! (grins proudly) BUT, first things first…

GOSH, thank you so much for those absolutely amazing reviews! (GLOMPS) You can't even imagine how much joy they've given me. THANK YOU! (hugs again) Responses to anonymous reviews can be found from underneath the chappy.

Awkay, because I left you on a VERY evil cliffie last time (grins sheepishly), I suppose I should get going, eh? (gulps) I really, REALLY hope ya'll have a good ride with this one!

CHAPTER 8 – The Awakening Demons

Sakura had never expected that she'd have to feel the emotions that were currently spinning inside her all over again.

She felt angry, helpless, confused and ready to burst into tears again any given moment. And yes, there was once again heartbreak, although very different from the one she'd experienced the last time around. She'd lost him – again. He'd slipped right through her fingers.

She would've wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of her lungs, and her eyes were burning hellishly. She was just preparing herself to punch the wall with all her might when there was a frail, slightly tentative child's voice. "Are… Are you Sakura, from Team seven?"

She had to compose herself for a long time before she managed to turn her gaze. A couple of steps away stood a visibly uncertain, not older than six-years-old boy with unruly burgundy hair and sharp blue eyes. She cleared her throat before managing to speak. "I am, but… What are you doing up this late?"

The boy blushed for a moment, then showed her something. It was a tiny bottle that contained green liquid. "A mister with orange mask told me to give this to you, at midnight. He… He said it'd save Naruto." The child appeared worried. "Did I… do right?"

Her blood running cold Sakura stared at the bottle, unable to speak and her eyes widened slightly. She gulped thickly as her mind spun.

So that guy from the Akatsuki had given that child the antidote, but why? Could it really be trusted? What if it'd harm Naruto even further?

But then again… As it was, Naruto was dying. How much worse from there could things possibly get?

She didn't manage to smile despite her efforts when taking the bottle from the child. "Thank you, for this. I think you did well."

The child nodded, appearing slightly hesitant, then rushed away before she managed to say a word.

Once more Sakura took a look at the bottle, then breathed in deep and started her way towards Naruto's room. She hoped from the bottom of her heart that she wasn't making the biggest mistake of her life.

She didn't think she'd bear losing two of her dearest friends in overnight.

As she got to Naruto's room Shizune was already there. The woman blinked once when seeing her. "Sakura? What's wrong?"

She grit her teeth before showing the other her cargo. "This was just delivered to me." The glanced towards Naruto, and once again her heart clenched. The boy's breathing came out in short, uneven and loud gasps, and his lips were almost blue. Time was running out. "I think… I think we finally have a way to save him."

It was very late – or perhaps extremely early – as very reluctant, wary Shikamaru, Kiba and Sai gathered to Toshiro Tsugemi's office. Once again the reek of alcohol was so thick that it sickened them. "Your men woke us up and told you had a mission for us", Shikamaru stated in a voice that told exactly how he felt about this.

"Yes", Tsugemi confirmed in a drunken hiss, not bothering to get up or look directly at them. The man's eyes smouldered in the half-dark room. "I've… understood that the two of you are excellent trackers, and you, Shikamaru, make a good team-leader." The man swayed on his seat.

"And…?" Kiba ushered, impatient and tense.

Tsugemi might've glared at the brunet if he hadn't been so drunk. "This… employee of mine said that Sasuke's been taken care of. But I've heard rumors he's made it out of Konoha." The man licked his lips, obviously yearning another drink. "I want you to find Sasuke – whether he's now just a corpse or not. And if he's alive… Kill that traitor. I want to have him destroyed once and for all."

It was once again night when Sasuke, Juugo and Suigetsu stood to a forest opening. Suigetsu gave the Uchiha a questioning look. "Why stop here?"

Sasuke grit his teeth, eyes narrowing. The mark on his neck tingled and burned at the same time. "I can feel him."

"Very goood. I knew that mark would turn out to be useful." The male voice chilled him all the way to his spine. Peering over his shoulder he found Madara approaching. Beside him Juugo and Suigetsu stiffened. Madara gave the two a displeased look. "So you brought company."

He grit his teeth so that a screech was heard. "You have Naruto's life in your hands. So I'd shut up about fair game."

Madara shrugged. "However you please. But now, come with me – I'm sure you're all exhausted from the journey and hungry. Then…" He could feel the man's gaze on him. It burned. "We have much to discuss."

When Naruto started to drift out of the dreamless grey hue, he instantly had a sinking feeling that something was wrong, missing. Giving a tiny moan at the ache that tore his insides, he struggled furiously to open his eyes slightly. There were blurry blobs hovering above him. "Naruto?" Was that… Sakura? Why did she sound so sad? "Can you hear me?"

He nodded the best as he could, then licked his lips. They felt dryer than sandpaper. "Sasuke…?" Was that his voice?

The silence that followed could've been cut by a knife, it sucked all air from the room – and made his heart stop for a couple of beats.

What the hell was going on?

It was at that moment his eyesight finally began to clear, allowing him a much too clear image of Tsunade and Sakura. The two barely dared to look at him, and their grim expressions were such that made him feel cold all over. It was easy to see that Sakura had done a lot of crying.

His eyes widened a little as he emitted a slightly wheezing gasp. "Where's Sasuke?" Good, at least his voice was working properly.

Sakura turned away from him as though she'd been ashamed. Tsunade, on the other hand, took a deep breath and finally locked eyes with him although it visibly required a lot. "Naruto… Sasuke's gone. He left Konoha."

It took several long moments before those words made any sense to him, before anything made any sense. But when things started to clear out he felt like he'd been punched or worse.

Sasuke… had left? Again?

He shook his head furiously, desperately hoping for someone to tell him that this was just a sick joke. "No, he… he wouldn't…" He trailed off, those words losing their strength.

He heard Tsunade swallow thickly. Her voice wasn't quite normal when she spoke. "I'm sorry."

He barely even heard her, didn't manage to focus on the words. Because just then a flash – something that felt like a dream of some sort – floated to his consciousness. And suddenly pieces slid together.

/ Although everything was hazy, he could remember the tears he'd seen in Sasuke's eyes, still heard how the Uchiha's voice broke. "Shh, it's okay – you'll be okay, I promise. Sleep. When you wake up all the pain and fever will be gone. Everything's going to work out." /

Perhaps Naruto wasn't the brightest person around. But at that moment he understood with such certainty that it hurt.

Sasuke, he'd…!

It was all for him, wasn't it?

He bounced to a sitting position although it made him feel dizzy. "No…" The sound was quiet, pitiable. Something blurred his eyes for a moment. "He… He didn't… Tell me he didn't...!"

What had Sasuke done?!

He felt a hand on his back. "Naruto, calm down – you're hyperventilating! Calm down!" Tsunade commanded somewhat roughly. Her hand, however, was gentle as it made circling motions on his back, then pushed him back down. "Calm down. I know it doesn't feel that way right now, but things will work out. So calm down."

Very slowly his breathing slowed and the furious beating of his heart calmed down a little. Eventually he was even able to speak. "I… I've gotta go and find him." He looked at the woman with pleading, once again stinging eyes. "Please. I've gotta save him. I have to go after him, before it's too late."

Tsunade's eyes were unreadable. "I know how much he means to you, but you only just woke up – you're in no condition to go after him, after what's left of the Akatsuki." Did she try to smile? "Get some rest first, okay? We'll come and check up on you later."

He barely managed to nod. There was a huge lump – of rage, helplessness and sadness – growing in his throat. He barely noticed how the two left the room quietly.

Some fleeting minutes later Naruto realized that he was shaking like a leaf, and was fairly sure it had nothing to do with the poisoning. His gaze moved on its own, towards the window and finally finding the moon that shone like a cold diamond in the sky.

And at that moment the tears came, like a river.

Some seconds later a loud, heartwrenching scream could be heard from the room.

Approaching the long since abandoned mansion Madara called his hideout Sasuke stopped all of the sudden, turning his gaze towards the moon. Its shade was much colder than usual, he observed. For some reason a stab of ache crossed him, and his eyes stung for a moment.

"Sasuke?" Juugo's voice managed to pull him out of his thoughts. The boy was looking at him with a frown. "Are you alright?"

No. He nodded, though. "Yes." He had to force himself to take another step. "Let's just keep going."

It was morning, Sakura realized with surprise, sitting up in the hospital bed that'd been reserved for her. The night had slipped by without her even noticing it. She yawned and stretched, wincing at how stiff and sore her muscles were.

Lee's voice caught her by surprise. "Sakura?" Looking to side, she saw him approaching with somewhat hesitant steps. "Shizune… told me you'd be here resting. Did I wake you?"

She shook her head, yawning again. "No." Truth be told, she hadn't had much sleep for the past couple of nights.

Lee nodded, then walked up to the bed and sat beside her. There was a long moment of silence before he managed to gather the words. "I'm… sorry, about Sasuke."

She shook her head, feeling somewhat choked. "We'll get him back again", she stated in a voice she couldn't recognize. We have to.

With Lee's presence calming her, she was starting to fall asleep sitting up until she felt something that startled her at first. It was… a clear thrust inside her stomach, such she'd never felt before. It took a couple of seconds before she understood.

She gasped, her eyes widening.

"Sakura?" Lee sounded almost alarmed. "What's wrong?"

She swallowed thickly and brought a hand to her stomach, not knowing what to think. Soon there was another thrust, as though the baby had felt her touch. "The baby… It's kicking."

Lee hesitated at first before bringing a hand closer. "Can I…?"

She nodded, dazed and stunned. As soon as Lee touched her the baby kicked again, twice. Did it… sense them, somehow?

"Wow…", Lee whispered.

At that very moment Sakura did something she would've least expected. She smiled.

It was the first time she wondered if they could really do this, after all.

The peaceful, sweet moment might've continued much longer if the room's door hadn't opened just then. There was an expression of near terror on Shizune's face. "I examined that antidote given to Naruto, and some of the results just came in." The woman swallowed laboriously. "We've gotta go to Naruto."

In his room Naruto rested, although his dreams were far from pleasant. It all felt so real, so hard to ignore as tricks of imagination. And he didn't even want to.

Because in his dreams, Sasuke was stood right before him with a slight smile.

Grinning like he'd been without a reason – completely oblivous to the fact that the being before him wasn't real – Naruto wrapped his arms as tightly as he could around the Uchiha. "You're here…", he whispered in a badly shaking tone. "Tell me you're really here."

He kept holding on with all his might and beyond, but it wasn't enough. There was a quiet puff, and Sasuke disappeared from his arms.

He yelped, his hand reaching out for nothing. Tears threatened to spill although some distant part of him tried to scream that this was nothing more than a nightmare. "NO!"

What was this? He couldn't understand anything, and it terrified him.

"You won't be able to save him." His mind couldn't quite recognize the voice that seemed to be echoing everywhere, filling his head.

Once again he was allowed to see Sasuke. The boy was stood there, at the end of a long white tunnel, looking at him with those same eyes he'd seen when they'd first met after Sasuke had left for Orochimaru. After a moment the Uchiha turned around and started to walk away, disappearing into a blinding white light.

Terror making his heart reach for its limits Naruto sprinted into a motion, his hand reaching out once again. "Sasuke, wait! Don't…!" Just then his balance broke, sending him stumbling down. And at that exact second Sasuke disappeared.

"You'll never be able to save him, Naruto – you're not strong enough to protect him. But I am. And if you want him back, I'm your only choice."

Finally he understood who, or rather what, he was listening to. His eyes squinted to slits. "I'm not listening to a demon", he hissed.

"You should – for his sake."

And then he saw something that would be forever tattooed to his nightmares. Right at his feet lay Sasuke on the execution stand. There was a pool of blood below the boy, starting from the sword-wound that pierced his neck. The onyx eyes that'd always been so full of life were now glazed and half-closed, empty.

For a couple of seconds Naruto could only stare. And then, as he stumbled down and gathered Sasuke's lifeless form into his arms, a loud scream was torn from his throat.

"Don't you see? This is where it'll all come down to."

Naruto felt like choking, and his whole world seemed to be crumbling down. He'd never shivered the way he did when pulling Sasuke as close to his chest as possible and holding on tight. The Uchiha's body was cold, he discovered although even the thought sickened him. There was no life left whatsoever. No hope.

"That's how it's going to end without my help. Is this really what you want? Do you really want to lose him again?"

Tears came before he could do a thing, followed by a scream that was nothing human. And no sounds of reason were enough to tell him that this wasn't real.

In the middle of the emotional turmoil his resistance crumbled. The dark force locked inside him saw its chance…

In the room Madara had given his new team Sasuke gasped faintly when waking up from his light slumber. Still caught up by the dream his heart took a couple of unnecessary beats.

So he'd fallen asleep. That was something he shouldn't have done in this place.

He was pulled out of that thought when Suigetsu entered the room. "Are you okay in there? You look pale."

He took a breath. "Yeah, I'm fine." He then frowned. "Where were you?"

Suigetsu shrugged. "Snooping around. This place is like a prison. Looks like Madara doesn't want to lose you now that he has you here."

He nodded, then glanced towards the room's tiny window. Once again his thoughts strayed.

Suigetsu cut the trail of thought. "You're thinking about Naruto again, aren't you?" Meeting his rather embarrassed gaze the boy grinned. "You really aren't the same Sasuke."

He arched an eyebrow. "Is that a good or a bad thing?"

Suigetsu shrugged once more. "Not all change is bad."

He just had to smile a bit at that.

"And don't worry", Suigetsu went on after a moment. The boy's eyes flashed. "We'll find a way out of here, trust me. We always do."

There was soft movement when Juugo, who'd been sleeping in a bed very close to his, woke up. The boy's eyes were instantly alert. "Someone's coming."

The three of them stiffened and readied themselves when Zetsu entered without much of a knock. The man's eyes locked to Sasuke. "Remember that cave we passed by yesterday? Madara's waiting for you there – he wants to talk to you." The man gave Sasuke's comrades a meaningful look. "Alone."

Suigetsu made a rather dangerous, sharp sound that came from the back of his throat. "Do you really think we'd let him go to that lunatic alone?"

Sasuke gave the boy a sharp look. "Suigetsu, calm down. I'll be back soon."

As Sasuke walked through the room's door Suigetsu and Juugo nonetheless moved to follow – only to have Zetsu blocking their path.

A rather chilling smirk appeared to the man's face. "I'm sure we'll have a good time right here."

-

Sasuke felt a wave of nausea when entering the almost dark cave and finding Madara there waiting for him. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show up." The man held a tiny pause. "I hope you don't mind leaving your… teammates for a while. I'm sure Zetsu will keep them entertained in the meantime."

"You wanted to talk", he reminded sharply, preparing himself for pretty much everything. His eyes were wary as he observed his companion. "So talk already."

Madara gave him a brief glance. "Patience is a virtue you lack, Sasuke", the man pointed out, and went on after a second. "I'm sure you already know you abandoned Konoha once upon a time. I think it'd be only fair you know why." Before he could blink the black spots in the man's red eye were moving.

A breath later he was stood in a world that only held shades of red and black. The place was… almost like a part of Konoha. People – or rather shadowy figures – rushed past him, the air was thick with screams. And then the bloodshed began. If he hadn't lost all his breath he would've definitely screamed when the people started dying, the blood spilling everywhere – filling the air and the ground, some of it even raining down on him.

"Stop it!" That voice… It was like that of a child's, horrified and teary. "What are you doing? Make it stop!"

"They were all butchered, Sasuke. Every single one of them – except for you. And the blood of the Uchiha clan has flowed throughout the history of the Ninja World. So many lives paid, to satisfy Konoha's needs." That voice was definitely Madara's. Slowly the horrifying vision began to fade. "And now… Now only the two of us remain – only we can do justice to this honorable family line. Only we can avenge what happened to them. And that's why you once turned your back on Konoha, why you first joined me. To repay the death of them all – to avenge your parents." He'd felt the emotions that traveled through him before – in his nightmares, when Tsugemi had tortured him. Gosh, that loneliness, sadness and wrath…! "You may not remember, but those feelings still slumber inside you. They're like a beast that demands to be fed. It's your destiny." Then he saw Madara once more. He was back in reality. "And I can help you fulfill it."

Although Sasuke was still a bit shaken from what he'd just experienced, he was still in full sanity. His eyes narrowed. Quite subtly his hand slipped to where he'd hidden one of his kunais. Of course he wasn't much of a ninja yet, but if things would get ugly he also wasn't about to go down without a fight.

Madara took a step closer, and the thick scent of threat grew suffocating. "And your brother… Do you remember him, at all? Do you remember how much he loved you?" The eye he saw flashed dangerously. "He was Konoha's sacrifice – and he gave away everything for your sake, including his life. Konoha deserted him, destroyed him, threw him into the darkness. Took him away from you." Madara sneaked closer to him, and his hold on the kunai tightened. Flashes of a young man who looked shockingly lot like him filled his head, along with emotions he couldn't recognize as his own. "Don't tell me you accept that. Don't tell me you're letting that go unpunished – that you're letting their deaths, and his love, be in vain."

He grit his teeth so hard it hurt. Quite vaguely he realized that there was moisture on his cheeks, and it surprised him. When had he started crying? His eyes narrowed, something he'd only felt in his nightmares starting to come to life inside him. But then… Then he remembered.

Remembered Naruto. Sakura. Shikamaru. Iruka. Chiati. And he even remembered Kayo, who'd believed in him until her last breath.

"I… I'm not sure if I believe in Konoha", he confessed in a voice he didn't recognize. His eyes… They felt odd, and something seemed to be happening to his vision. It was the same thing he'd experienced when those guys had ambushed him, resulting to him being locked up into a cell. "But… I have people I do believe in, who believe in me. And there's no way in hell I'd betray them over some vendetta. I'll make my own destiny."

Madara snorted. "We'll see about that."

At first he didn't quite understand what was happening, what the fire gnawing his insides was. But then it became much too clear. The mark on his neck… It was pulsating and spreading – soon it'd take over his whole body.

His eyes widened a little before narrowing against the hellish pain.

"I was planning on persuading you softly", Madara stated, the visible eye flaming. "But if this is the only way… Then so be it."

-

In their room Juugo and Suigetsu gave Zetsu far from pleasant looks, which the man returned with a slightly irritated one. "Dirty looks won't make any difference. You do know that, right?"

"Maybe not", Suigetsu admitted in a screech like voice. "But beating you up to a bloody pulp would definitely make me feel better."

The fight might've gone on until all eternity, if it wasn't for the spine chilling scream that echoed through the entire hideout. It took only a flash before they understood.

Juugo's eyes widened a little. "Sasuke…!"

"What the hell is that piece of shit doing to him?" Suigetsu snarled.

Zetsu and Suigetsu started snarling at each other again, but Juugo didn't hear a word of it. Because now that Sasuke wasn't there to stop it the dark force inside him started to lift its head, making the blood in his veins boil and bubble.

It was impossible to stop the changes.

-

Sasuke's mind, body and soul were all screaming at him to give up, to surrender under the crushing force. But even in the grips of the dark, on the edge of his humanity, he somehow heard Naruto's voice.

'Sasuke!'

Much against his will he screamed under the still circling pain, and forced his eyes open. Despite the mask he could sense Madara's stun.

He grit his teeth, gathering everything there was in him. "You can fuck with my head as much as you like, you can torture me and even kill me. But know this…" Slowly yet surely he pushed himself up, forced his knees to hold. A part of him screamed that he was insane – there was no way he could hold his ground against someone like Madara. "I'm not about to become someone's puppet – I refuse to be a tool for revenge. I'd die first."

As Sharingan eyes met, the clash of the Uchihas began.

I'm sorry, Naruto, was Sasuke's final coherent thought before he attacked.

As they rushed towards Naruto's room, with Lee following not far behind, Sakura gave Shizune a demanding look, her head filled with unpleasant ideas. "What's going on?"

The dark haired woman's eyes filled with something she'd never seen in them before. "Giving that antidote to Naruto was a necessary risk – we know that the Akatsuki's still after Naruto. And that potion… It had a great dosage of hallucinogenes in it."

Sakura frowned, not quite understanding. Then it dawned, making her blood freeze. Her eyes widened.

"Although the seal was improved, it's still only as strong as Naruto's willpower – that's how strong it'll ever be, when we're talking about something like Kyuubi. And if Naruto loses touch with reality…" Shizune grit her teeth. "There's no knowing what may happen."

Just then they were stood by the door of Naruto's room. Sakura almost held her breath when opening it and entering. They met a desolate sight.

Naruto's bed was empty. The room's window had been smashed – someone, or something, had clearly jumped through it. And there were chilling scratch marks on the walls.

They'd been too late, that much was clear even without speaking it out loud. Kyuubi was now unleashed, and there was no telling what it'd do.

TBC soon, yeah?

A/N: Oh boy… (winces) Looks like there's quite a hassle incoming. Kyuubi's on the loose, and Sasuke's about to face Madara all alone.

Awkay, there's about a million things I'm SUPPOSED TO do right now, so I'm starting to tune out. (grins sheepishly) PLEASE, do leave a review – it always makes my day to read those and discover that what I've written has aroused thoughts! (gives puppy's eyes) Pwease?

The next chapter is basically written, inside my head but still. So… If ya want to, the next update may come pretty fast. (grins)

IN THE NEXT ONE: As their paths lead to fated encounters, will Naruto and Sasuke survive - with their humanity intact? The final clash is at hand. And will Juugo lose control? The story is almost over in 'The Bonds of Fate'.

ONLY TWO MORE TO GO! (sniffs)

Until next time folks – I hope I'll c ya all then!

Take care!

no name: Aww, I sure will, especially now! (grins, and hugs)

Gigantic thank yous for the review!

I really hope ya'll keep looking forward to what's to come.