Sasuke didn't need a symbiotic stone to tell him that something was wrong with Naruto.
The strange chakra had completely enveloped the blonde's form, seething and gurgling in a way that made it look alive. He called Naruto's name without thinking, and when the other boy turned towards him, he staggered back in surprise. The markings on Naruto's face had become darker and more prominent, and his eyes were no longer blue, but a dark red.
He was certain that he saw a flicker of terror on Naruto's face, but then it was gone, swallowed up by the feral expression of a wild animal. There was no recognition in his eyes—only blind rage and bloodlust.
Sasuke hissed in pain, momentarily distracted by a burning sensation in his chest. His chakra stone had been growing steadily warmer until it felt like a searing iron against his skin.
He tore it off with a grunt and saw that it had turned a vivid orange—the same color as the
chakra surrounding Naruto.
At that moment, Naruto let out an ear-piercing roar that made his hairs stand on end. He held his breath as the blonde took a step closer, eyeing him like a predator circling his prey. Finally, just when he was certain that he was about to suffocate, Naruto turned abruptly and disappeared into the trees.
He scarcely had time to feel relieved before he was tossed over someone's shoulder and carried away.
"Let me go!" He struggled violently, feeling a sickening sense of de ja vu.
"Relax, kid. I'm one of the good guys."
Twisting around, he saw that he was in the arms of an unfamiliar ANBU. They moved
swiftly through the treetops until four other masked shinobi came into view. One of them had the injured ANBU from earlier on his back.
The man landed lightly on a branch and set him down. "How's Dog-taicho?"
"I was able to extract most of the poison," a female ANBU answered. "He's non-responsive, but his vitals are strong." She patted the head of the little pug at her side. "It's a good thing we got here when we did, or things would've been much worse."
"I'd say things are plenty bad already," one of the others retorted. "Did you see the Kyubi brat back there? He's gone completely out of control."
Sasuke tensed. Kyubi brat...? Were they talking about Naruto?
Another ANBU—this one with a bird mask—spoke up. "I know our orders, Tenzo, but we can't bring that monster back to the village." His voice was thick with the same loathing that Ueno-sensei's held whenever he mentioned Naruto. "Given the circumstances, I think we're within protocol to eliminate him."
Sasuke didn't wait to hear any more. He leapt down from the tree and hit the ground running. There were startled shouts behind him, but he didn't stop or slow down. There was
only one thought racing through his mind: he had to get to Naruto.
Luckily, his chakra stone still seemed to be working, and it wasn't long before the air around him was heavy with oppressive chakra. He found Naruto crouched on all fours, looking more like a wild beast than a human. The forest around him was quickly turning into a clearing as he mindlessly knocked down trees and tore up the underbrush.
Sasuke hid at a safe distance, his mind working frantically. Aki-san—or rather, Orochimaru—was nowhere to be seen, but the ANBU wouldn't be far behind him. If he didn't do something, they would kill Naruto. But what could he do? With Naruto in this state, even his strongest attacks would be swatted away with ease.
Only one idea came to mind, but it was so stupid and reckless that it made him wonder if Naruto's idiocy was contagious. Still, he had no choice. Dashing forward, he threw his arms around the other boy and tackled him to the ground.
Instantly, everything burned. It was agony unlike anything he had ever experienced. The strange chakra licked around him like the hottest of flames, making him feel like his skin was melting off.
Naruto trashed around wildly, but he gritted his teeth against the pain and held fast. Even when his vision began to blur, he refused to let go. Finally, just when he was about to lose the battle to stay conscious, Naruto relaxed in his grip and the burning sensation began to ease.
It was at this moment that a piece of wood wrapped around his midsection and pulled him away, suspending him in midair. Another wooden beam twined itself around Naruto, who once again began to struggle and scream furiously.
"No!" he cried. "Don't kill him!" Please don't take him away. Not him too...
He watched in horror as the last bit of chakra ebbed away from Naruto's form, leaving him limp and lifeless in the wood's hold. The ANBU controlling the wood lowered both him and Naruto to the ground.
No... He crawled painstakingly to Naruto's side, fighting back the nearly overwhelming waves of pain and nausea.
"It's ok, kid," the ANBU said. His voice sounded distant and warbled, like he was speaking underwater. "He's still alive."
He was almost too afraid to believe the ANBU's words, but even with his fading vision, the steady rise and fall of Naruto's chest was unmistakable. He slumped to the ground in relief,
feeling his last bit of strength drain away.
Thank goodness, he thought, before slipping into merciful blackness.
Author's Note: Well, there you have it. There's nothing like the power of a hug to save the day (plus a little help from Tenzo's wood release, haha). We're quickly nearing the conclusion of this story, so I hope that you will continue to stay with me until the end. Chapter 30 will be posted tomorrow, but until then, please leave a review to let me know what you think!
