Naruto lay blinking on the bed, wondering what in the heck had just happened. Had the people he had come to think of his family really just walked out and left him? Did they not care about him as much he cared? Naruto couldn't stop the tears from filling his eyes. Loneliness began eating at him even though he knew Sasuke's family was only in the other room. It was clear to him though that they didn't want anything to do with him.
Turning over, Naruto buried his head into his pillow to stifle the sound of his heart break. He didn't know where he would go from here but he knew it would probably be better to be put down. Naruto didn't want to live anywhere without Sasuke. The moody black haired neko had earned a spot in his heart, even if at the moment Naruto didn't want to admit it. He couldn't help but wonder if Iruka and Kakashi didn't want him around because of the way that Naruto had reacted to Sasuke after being returned to them? It hadn't been like Naruto could have controlled his reactions, not after having been abused by someone wearing Sasuke's face. Naruto didn't want to be afraid of Sasuke but he couldn't help it. There was only so much torture one could handle when being hurt by someone with the face of someone that you cared about. There was only so many times he could be abused before he started to fear that person.
Feeling a gentle hand on the back of his head, Naruto turned red rimmed eyes to look at the vet, Tsunade was kneeling beside him, and gently rubbing his head.
"I'm sorry Naruto" She said softly "they just told me what they wanted to do. I hate that after everything you have already been through you are going to lose the one home that is actually good for you." Naruto blinked at her but didn't say anything. "You didn't deserve for any of this to happen, now you are going to go through life wondering why no one wants you. Its not fair that that question even crosses your mind."
"Then why don't you just go on and put me down?" Naruto asked "since no one wants me and apparently I'm just a danger to those I care about."
"I can't do that" Tsunade said "if I do that you won't ever have the opportunity to find someone who loves you."
"No one wants someone like me" Naruto muttered "I'm disabled and used who is going to love someone like me? Not even Iruka wants me around them because they are too afraid I am going to bring Orochimaru to their door."
"I know someone who has been looking for someone like you." Tsunade said "he has a neko who needs companionship." Naruto frowned, he didn't want to go anywhere, especially not with someone that he didn't know.
"I don't want to go" Naruto muttered "just dump me in the streets and leave me be."
"I can't do that either." Tsunade said "You shouldn't have to struggle for your needs to get met."
"It's been going on for a long time why shouldn't it continue" Naruto muttered growing tired of the conversation, not to mention his pain medicine was starting to wear off and he was starting to feel his torn up back again.
"I'm sorry" Tsunade said softly before noticing the pained look in Naruto's eyes. Standing she walked over to her cabinet and grabbed out a liquid vile and a syringe. As she filled the syringe with the pain medication, she felt eyes on her. Looking up, she found Iruka standing at the entrance, watching Naruto with tears in his eyes. She knew he didn't want to give Naruto up but he was doing it because he believed it would be best for Sasuke at this moment. She had warned them after coming out of surgery, that Sasuke needed as much peace as possible so he could recover. It wasn't going to be easy for him to adjust to living with just one kidney. She hated that it meant that Naruto would be separated from Sasuke but it would be better for Sasuke's health if he could be in a stress free environment while he recovered.
Returning to Naruto's side, she injected the needle into the crook of Naruto's elbow. A few minutes later, Naruto's eyes closed and his breathing evened out as he went to sleep.
"I hope that eases your pain for a little while." Tsunade murmured before walking over to the silently weeping Iruka.
"He's going to be going" Tsunade told him softly "It might take a while but he will overcome the trauma that he has gone through."
"I don't know how anyone could overcome what he has been through." Iruka said "He's been hurt so bad and made to feel like he is not worthy of love. Then we turn around and abandon him when he needs us the most."
"You really don't need the stress of nursing too badly injured neko's back to health. I can tell you Sasuke's recovery won't be easy, neither will Naruto's. Sasuke really needs peace and quiet."
"It's like you blaming him for Menma showing up on our doorstep too." Iruka said bitterly "he's going to think that all this is his fault, when in fact he was only an innocent victim in all of this."
"He is innocent, and he can't help that Menma and Orochimaru has it out for him. I don't blame him for that at all, but knowing they will be gunning for him again and soon. Sasuke doesn't need to live with the stress of worrying about Naruto when he needs to concentrate on his own health, especially since the fact that Orochimaru is back has come to light. He's not going to have an easy time dealing with that."
"No, he won't" Iruka said softly "I just wish things didn't have to be this way. I wish I could make things better for both of them. There has to be happiness somewhere for the both of them."
"There is and given enough time apart" Tsunade said "I am sure that both of them will eventually find the happiness that they both deserve."
"You don't mean to keep them permanently apart?" Iruka asked as he turned back towards Naruto.
"It might be best, at least until Orochimaru is caught which could be years considering he is slippery as an eel."
"I don't think that's good idea. You would be depriving both boys of the love that they need."
"I don't think your family needs anymore drama." Tsunade said "you've dealt with enough since Naruto came to live with you."
"That might true" Iruka agreed "but he was starting to change Sasuke, given enough time they might have healed each other."
"Don't focus on what might have been" Tsunade advised "focus on the hear and now and what you can do to help Sasuke."
"Whose going to help Naruto?" Iruka said softly.
"I have a friend that is willing to take Naruto in and help him recover. You won't have to worry about him, he treats all animals with respect."
"I can't help but worry, Naruto hasn't really had any experiences with good people. I just want him to be treated like he is worth something."
"I can promise you that Mizuki will take care of him, he loves all neko's." Tsunade said "I wouldn't vouch for him if I didn't think it was true."
"Naruto would be happier with us" Iruka murmured "but your right, we can't take care of two seriously injured and traumatized neko's at once." with one last look at the unconscious Naruto, Iruka turned and walked out of the practice. Tsunade sighed before exiting the room to go check on her other unconscious patient. Sasuke was doing. A worried Itachi was sitting beside Sasuke staring at the floor, looking like he was lost in thought. Tsunade checked Sasuke's incision.
"He's going to be okay, he's just going to need some time to recover." Tsunade said.
"I know" Itachi said frowning. "I'm just wondering how we are going to be able to move out of the county without being tracked by Orochimaru. I will not allow Sasuke to fall into his hands again. I can't watch Sasuke suffer like that again. It nearly destroyed me last time."
"You're a good big brother." Tsunade said "and there is no easy answer to your situation, you just have to do what you believe is best. Even if that means removing Naruto from Sasuke's life." Itachi sighed irritably. Naruto had brought about an unexpected change in Sasuke, one that had been for the better, but unfortunately he also had unknowingly brought Orochimaru back into their lives just when Itachi had thought they had been free from the man. Itachi couldn't help wonder if Sasuke would hate him for taking him away from or if he would understand that he would be in constant danger if he stayed with the blond neko. Itachi sighed and his tail twitched in irritation. He wished thing were a lot more simpler than they were now. He wished that Sasuke and Naruto could stay together and be happy, but for the moment that didn't look like it would be in the cards.
"I hope you don't hate me when you wake up Sasuke" Itachi muttered "I hope that you understand what Kakashi and Iruka decided is what will best for the time being. Even if removing the best thing that ever happened to you hurts, I know that eventually you might get over him and find someone else." still Itachi couldn't help but wonder if he was doing the right thing, once Sasuke was well enough they would be leaving the city for a place Itachi hated to think that anyone could so willingly hurt the blond furball. Naruto just took whatever was handed out to him with a grin and then somehow found the strength to dig himself out. Itachi sincerely hoped that Naruto would be able to deal with the latest trauma that had been handed to him. Itachi knew from his experiences with Sasuke that it would take Naruto a long time, if ever, for him to heal. Itachi just hoped that he could return to the ball of sunshine that had started showing his true self the longer that he had been with them. Itachi firmly believed that given enough time Naruto would have pulled Sasuke out of his shell, but now that Orochimaru was back in the picture he couldn't take that risk. He wouldn't take that risk, Sasuke's life and his sanity was at risk. Itachi would do whatever it took to protect Sasuke even if it meant that his little brother would hate him for the rest of his life.
Sasuke's life would be different from here on out, he was going to be have to be more careful than ever because he only had one kidney, and if that one failed Itachi knew that would likely be a death sentence for his little brother, which is why Sasuke needed as stress free a recovery as possible. Itachi hated that things had turned out this way, but from the moment Orochimaru had entered their life, damaging Sasuke nearly beyond repair. Itachi knew that things were going to be different from what they were used to. He hoped that eventually the police would catch up to Orochimaru but he wasn't holding out too much hope. The man was proving to be tricky to even find. It made Itachi wonder how the man had slipped back into Konoha without anyone knowing. Surely, the police were still looking for him? It had only been three years since Orochimaru had hurt Sasuke, surely the case wouldn't have grown cold? Scowling, with his ears flat against his head. Itachi decided he would be making a visit to the police station soon to check on the progress of their case.
Hearing a groan come from beside him, Itachi looked up and found Sasuke blinking at him.
" 'tachi'" Sasuke groaned softly "what happened?"
"You had a knife get stuck in your back and it done some damage to your kidney, so Tsunade had to take you into surgery." Itachi decided to leave out the part where Sasuke had jumped in front of the blade to protect Naruto, for the time being.
"What does that mean?" Sasuke wondered.
"It means we are leaving Konoha for a less stressful place out in the country." where no one can find you Itachi thought but chose not to say out loud.
"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked finally as he looked around and noticed that the blonde furball was not in the room with him.
"Tsunade thought it best for you to recover somewhere away from him for the time being." Itachi said and didn't add that she didn't think it would be a good idea for Sasuke to witness Naruto getting taken away.
"He's okay though?" Sasuke asked and Itachi nodded.
"He's going to have some difficulties in the future, but nothing that can't be overcome." Itachi replied.
"Good." Sasuke muttered as he closed his eyes. Itachi sighed and stood up. He didn't like lying to Sasuke. His brother deserved to know the truth and as soon as he was well enough to hear it, Itachi would tell him.
Meanwhile back to Naruto
Tsunade was helping Mizuki load, Naruto onto a gurney, she had decided that while Sasuke was recovering here at the practice Naruto would be moved in with Mizuki. He was just as good as a vet as she was if not better. She knew that if Naruto remained here, Sasuke would be more worried about Naruto than his own self. So without telling Iruka or Kakashi what she had planned, she had called Mizuki and explained the situation to him. Thirty minutes later the man had arrived to help transport Naruto back to his own practice.
"I don't think I've ever seen one so badly hurt before" Mizuki told Tsunade.
"He certainly does have a lot of issues right now, but I expect him to make a full recovery." she told him "but I will warn you, he won't be in any kind of shape for breeding for a long time. Those guys that hurt him, really tore him up. I wouldn't be surprised if mating will be extremely painful for him for the rest of his life." Mizuki nodded, listening.
"I won't breed him for a while, it will probably take a will to find someone that would want to mate with him since he's disabled."
"The disabilities don't matter so much. When he is healthy again, he will be absolutely gorgeous, and when I have the prosthetic leg made, I will send it you. Though he's not going to ready for that for a while." Mizuki nodded as he looked at the unconscious cat. He had the feeling Tsunade was right about him being gorgeous when he was healthy.
"I'm sure you are right." Mizuki agrees as they start pushing Naruto towards the loading area. He knew Tsunade wanted Naruto gone as soon as possible so that he wouldn't interfere with the other neko's progress.
"Treat him well." Tsunade said softly "he's been through enough hell."
"Oh I will." Mizuki murmured as plans for the young neko began forming in his mind. He had the feeling this young neko was going to be bringing in a ton of money. Once his usefulness wore off, Mizuki would have him put to sleep. Of course, Tsunade didn't need to know about that, he knew that she would disapprove. As far as waiting to breed Naruto, Mizuki had no such plans, he didn't really care if it hurt the neko or not. He just wanted the money that could be made from the cubs of one that looked as gorgeous as Naruto did.
As Naruto was loaded into his van, Mizuki couldn't help but chuckle at his plans. Tsunade had no idea what Mizuki liked to do to the animals he took in. She was only aware that he helped heal many animals. Mizuki could admit that he liked the healing part, but the making money was more important to him. Taking a deep breath, Mizuki grinned as he climbed into the drivers side of the van, he couldn't help but think what a wonderful day it was.
Thanks for reading and reviewing. Liz