Chapter Forty Three
It was dark.
Why was everything dark?
Naruto reached a hand out into the blackness and jumped when it came into contact with a solid wall. His head cracked against another wall behind him. His breath came in short pants. Frantically he moved his hands around. There were walls on both other sides. His knees were pressed up against his chest. The ceiling somewhere above him. His fingers brushed a cobweb and he dared explore no further. It was so cold. Slightly damp. His heart thumped in his chest. Beating out a frantic rhythm. It was all so small. Felt like it was closing in. He couldn't breathe. There were footsteps, someone walking his way.
"Sasuke?" He called out, the name a frightened plea on his lips. A thin, blinding shaft of light hit his eyes as a door was wrenched open, sending him tumbling out of the tiny space. He landed hard on the cold stone floor, the side of his face aching from the impact. The shape of a man stood before him, unidentifiable in the blinding light. He blinked lots, trying to clear his vision, calm his pounding heart.
"Hello Naruto-kun." And the smirking voice was unmistakable. A voice that sent him into the throes of panic. A voice that chilled him to the core. His whole body stiffened up and froze. He couldn't move. Couldn't call out for help. Couldn't breathe.
The voice's owner faded into view as Naruto's eyes adjusted to the light. A man who he'd hoped to never see again.
A man who had long, dark hair, and glistening, golden eyes.
Orochimaru.
...
I swore explosively under my breath as I watched Itachi pace. He was wearing his uniform. He should have been at the station twenty minutes ago for work. He'd frantically searched the whole house for signs of Naruto. He'd found no-one. I'd been confined to a chair while my mother prodded my hairline looking for breaks and damage.
"You've got a nasty little cut their Sasuke" and so for some god-forsaken reason she feels the need to give it a good jab with her finger "and you'll have a lump." I groan impatiently. Dad was looking at our CCTV footage. He'd called up the station. Kisame and Deidara were on standby.
We needed evidence. We needed to know where he was. So we could go get him back.
My heart was pounding in my chest. All too familiar feelings of fear bubbling there. I clench and unclench my fists agitatedly. My mother gives one a gentle slap. I'm making her more nervous with my fidgeting. But I can't help it. Naruto could be in danger.
We had to go.
Now.
But where to?
One of my knees joins in with my hands, jigging impatiently up and down. I wonder briefly if I should call Tsunade – she'd want to know. My mother sighs, looking between my knee and Itachi's pacing. She opens her mouth to say something, but then;
"Come and look at this!" is the frantic call. It's my dad. He must have found something on the CCTV.
We all see the dark figure, with long black hair and golden eyes, bundle a limp, terrifyingly blond figure into the back of a dark coloured car.
"Orochimaru." I spit.
"Can we trace that car? Find out where he is?" Itachi's voice reasons and only shakes slightly as he speaks. His fists seem intent on splintering the wood of the back of Dad's chair.
"Not without having stuck a GPS tracker on it" my father shakes his head, and zooms in on the car in the frozen image on the screen. "The number plate seems familiar though..."
And that's because it was, I realised.
That's because the whole car was familiar. Because I recognised it from a certain Sunday dinner. It was a black Honda, with 'S 4 NNIN' for a number plate.
"That's Tsunade's car." I realise. "He's stolen his sister's car."
The other three in the room shoot me a look as they realise I'm right.
"Call Tsunade" My father barks, and Itachi picks up the receiver, punching in her number. No one picks up. He tries again. And again.
Then he lets it ring on and the phone goes to answer machine. He leaves a short, frantic message. There's a long high pitched bleep, after Itachi finishes speaking and presses a button, which sounds so horrifyingly like Naruto's old heart monitor. Flat lining. It's a sound that makes my heart stutter in my chest. Then there's silence.
Itachi scrapes his car keys off the desk with a loud grating noise that makes us all jump.
"I'm going to Tsunade's. If she was there she'd answer her phone. Unless..."
"You think he's broken into her house, and taken Naruto there."
"And you agree." Itachi states, and my father nods.
"If he's there Tsunade could be in danger too. I'll go to the station, get Kisame and Deidara. You go there, call me if you see anything, and we'll be there, but don't go in alone, ok?" Itachi gives a grim nod and turns to leave, but I grab his sleeve.
"I'm coming too." I tell him.
"No you're not." He shrugs off my hand. "If Orochimaru's there, I'm not letting a kid like you anywhere near."
"I'm coming." I repeat "And I'm not a kid, not anymore, Aniki."
"Sasuke..." He sighs.
"I'll stay in the car! I can't just sit here wondering!" I scowl and then he caves.
"Fine, but you stay in the car."
Dad nods in acknowledgement, and then we're in the car and driving.
He'd better be safe.
...
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A/N:
Thanks for reading so far! Drop Lenle a review if you liked this chappie! :D
