Un-beta-ed
Things as they are
Chapter 18
Sasuke felt numb.
He'd been expecting it. He knew it would happen. But it didn't make it any better.
He'd thought he had more time.
Why so soon? Was Orochimaru desperate?
Did the Sound Four have anything to do with it?
Sasuke watched as Itachi began pulling on his armour. Perhaps, with Itachi going, perhaps Naruto would come back. No one was able to get anything passed Itachi. Sasuke allowed himself to be hopeful. Perhaps things would be different this time.
But there was the nagging voice in the back of his head that said it wasn't enough. Naruto had to want it. He had to really want to stay otherwise he'd always try to leave. Sasuke knew that because he'd been there, laughed as Naruto had called out to him, trapped behind Kimimaro and desperate for Sasuke to just turn around and go back to Konoha.
"I'm coming with you!" Sasuke yelled suddenly. He began throwing things together, grabbing his gear and his headband.
"You aren't going anywhere." Itachi's tone was immediate and almost harsh. "I have to go to the Hokage and report this and then he will decide what comes next." Sasuke froze in the act of tying his headband in place, gaze wide with disbelief.
What? So he wasn't going after Naruto?
"We don't have time!" Sasuke was screaming and he wasn't even sure why. "We need to leave now. Get to him before he crosses the border."
"Sasuke, we don't even know that he has left. All we know is that he wasn't at his home this morning. He could be training." Itachi remained calm, reasonable. Sasuke knew better. He knew Naruto had left, but he didn't say anything anymore.
He stopped trying to get dressed. He stopped trying to convince Itachi of anything. Itachi was doing things the Shinobi way and for Itachi that was fine.
Was this what Naruto had faced when Sasuke left Konoha in his own world? Only, Naruto had proof he'd left because Sakura had almost stopped him. There wasn't any doubt that he was out training. Not to mention Tsuande has a sore spot for the blond so she had a tendency to oblige him, or so Sasuke had heard from Kabuto. What most ninja would be stripped of their headbands for Naruto got away with just because Tsunade liked the blond. But was Minato like that for Sasuke in this world? Possibly.
Still, did he go to Minato with Itachi? Did he formally ask to go after Naruto?
What else could he do?
.0.0.0.
Minato looked up in surprise as Sasuke stormed into his office. Itachi hurried in after him looking troubled. Had something happened so soon?
"Naruto's left the village and I want to go after him!" Sasuke stated loudly, eyes burning with determination. Minato felt his heart stutter. Naruto was gone? When? He went home last night, saw Naruto's headband on the side table and assumed the boy was in his room. But he didn't actually check.
What that his mistake?
"Forgive the intrusion, Hokage-sama, we don't actually know that Naruto-san is not in the village." Itachi interrupted with a frown at Sasuke. "He isn't at his residence, your residence and Haruno-san was concerned given recent events."
"He's gone. I've already told you, he's not out training somewhere. He left his headband and that means he's left." Sasuke huffed, glaring at Itachi's calm rationality.
"The Fire Daimyo is hours away from arriving in Konoha Itachi." Minato looked distressed. He wanted to believe Itachi, he wanted to assume that Naruto was in the village somewhere as petulant and aloof as ever while looking for a dango stand or something. But something made him lean more towards Sasuke's heated proclamations that Naruto had left.
Still, protocol meant he couldn't just let Sasuke leave on a mission that could be some wild goose chase.
"You're going to have to be in the meeting Itachi, you know the Fire Daimyo likes you. Sasuke-kun, gather up the other genin from your year and search the village. See if you can find him. Like Itachi-kun said, we can't assume he's left based purely on the fact that he's not in his room." Minato's heart screamed in agony even as the words left his mouth but he knew that he'd be in so much more trouble if he let Sasuke leave not knowing what was really up with the boy. A logical part of him was screaming just as loudly as his heart that Sasuke might be using this as a ploy to leave, to join the enemy. He was suspiciously involved with all things Orochimaru related and they still didn't know his motives or where his loyalties were.
Sasuke growled in frustration. "Let me take Neji and Shikamaru. We'll scout out the surroundings right up till the boarder." He almost sounded like he was demanding the mission, expecting to get it.
"And what? The three of you will just go around in circles in all directions until you maybe find something?" Minato snapped back, the frustration just as clear on his features as they were on Sasuke's. "None of you are trackers and by the time you find anything it would be too late anyway. Do as you're told and don't cause trouble while the Fire Daimyo is in the village."
Sasuke shut his mouth. He couldn't very well say he knew exactly where Naruto was going. Didn't make things any easier to swallow though. "Fine. But I'm not going to find him and you know it. We're just wasting time."
Sasuke swirled around having known that Minato wouldn't have given him the mission, not yet. If this would was following a formula then there had to be a slight delay. Not a large one, but one all the same. He walked to the door, already formulating the best way to search the village. Just maybe, maybe, he was overacting.
"Besides, Sasuke-kun, if he left willingly, there's nothing we can to do save him." Minato reminded bitterly. The law was still the law.
"Yes there is, Hokage-sama, and you know it." Sasuke glared in reply before slamming the door.
He knew that Sakura would be the most motivated and was probably looking for Naruto in the usual spots. He also knew that Ino would be the best person to go to in order to motivate Shikamaru and Chouji. Hinata would be with Neji. Lee would be best suited to getting Tenten and Neji motivated and by extension Hinata and her team who were actually tracking specialists. Did he need that many?
No. But more numbers meant he could search faster. So it was saving time.
.0.0.0.
They didn't find the blond and Sasuke knew they wouldn't. He didn't even bother to console the others who looked like someone had been repeatedly kicking their new puppy.
Still they'd looked everywhere they could think of, spending three hours on the matter and using every genin who'd volunteered. Gritting his teeth Sasuke wondered what to do now. Minato and Itachi were both in their meeting.
He couldn't act until Minato told him too. He couldn't get to Minato until the meeting was over and that could be hours from now and then it would definitely be too late. It didn't matter that he knew where Orochimaru was, knew where the snake would be for the next three years and what he'd do with Naruto, he still had to wait for Minato to give him the mission. He wasn't guaranteed to actually get put on the mission. There were plenty of people who could go and bring Naruto back. Well maybe not that many but Shisui and Itachi for sure. So who was to say that Sasuke was even needed?
No!
He knew that Orochimaru needed Naruto. He needed him by the next morning. So all he had to really do was delay Naruto until the next morning. With luck Naruto had stop long enough to get sealed in the barrel.
Yet, that still left the matter of permission. If he left now, he was no better than Naruto.
But Sasuke had a realisation.
His world paused for a moment, his heart thumping loudly in his ears as the rest of the world faded away. Even Sakura's loud yells for Naruto could not reach him.
He was no better than Naruto.
He had a choice.
Either he did things Itachi and Minato's way, the way the village would order him to do things. Did things Naruto's way, his Naruto.
Or. . . he did things his way. The way he would have done them in his original world, and that was a whole other set of rules to play by. He wasn't Naruto after all. This whole mess proved that tenfold.
Sasuke took off the headband he was wearing, staring at the gleaming metal plate and wondered just what to do next. Simply charging after Naruto was not the way he'd usually do things. He needed a plan. He tucked the headband into his pocket and started running towards his apartment ignoring Sakura's confused yells. He'd need supplies. The idea he had was a risky one, but it was crazy enough that it just might work.
He didn't need much. Just some supplies like last time. If he hurried he'd catch Naruto before he could cross the border. Without a delay Naruto would be lost to Orochimaru. That much was certain. He could not wait. Minato-oyaji would understand.
.0.0.0.
Minato stared at the map on the board in front of the desk while Morino Ibiki gave the lecture on the ins and outs of Orochimaru's invasion attempt to the Fire Daimyo. Said Daimyo was nodding his head intently as he listened. After all, a weak ninja force was a problem for the Daimyo as much as it was a problem for the ninja.
The Yondaime was only listening half-heartedly, already knowing the details and then some. He was focused on the small radio piece lodged in his ear, where important updates were brought to his attention without upsetting the Daimyo.
The most recent update was worrying but not something he was overly surprised about. Naruto not being at home was a rather large red flag that he dearly wanted to address. However, if he left now, it could potentially upset the whole relationship with the Fire Daimyo and that was the last thing he needed. The man could kick them out of Hi no Kuni if he so desired. He was also a fickle man when it came to who was in power. He'd loved Sarutobi, simply because the Sandaime had been around since he was a boy and that was somewhat nostalgic for the Daimyo.
If Minato wasn't careful the man could suddenly decide that Danzou made a better Hokage for the same reasons that Sarutobi had. The Daimyo had been eyeing Itachi for long enough, perhaps wondering when the Uchiha would take the hat. Not that the man would do anything unless someone decided to sway him towards that decision. A fickle man indeed.
Itachi's gaze slid towards the Hokage, but Minato ignored it. He could have ordered Itachi to go after Naruto. To investigate but the Fire Daimyo had ordered Itachi close by so that he could explain anything that wasn't clear enough. Completely unnecessary. Minato didn't want to give the impression that he didn't value the meeting with the Daimyo by trying to subtly give out orders from the office. Still he was a ninja and the ANBU had a code. He was still giving orders through the meeting without suspicion. Danzou however. . .
It wasn't the Fire Daimyo he was worried about noticing, it was Danzou who'd notice and say something that would be detrimental to Minato.
He saw the sunlight's reflected sparkle first, reacting too slowly to stop the kunai from burying itself in the map Ibiki was using. A kunai with a konoha headband attached to it. This was not good. Especially since he'd allowed himself to become so distracted.
Minato snatched the kuani off the board, noticing that it had imbedded itself in the village gates. A message?
A small slip of paper was tucked in between the cloth and the metal band. He pulled it out, secretly glad for the distraction. "I'll bring him home. Keep this safe for me until I do."
"Hokage-sama?" Itachi questioned, wandering if he should go after the owner of the kuani.
Minato looked to the window. There was a figure standing on the building directly opposite the tower. Sasuke. He nodded once before disappearing in a puff of smoke. A kage bunshin? Figured.
"No. Let him go." Minato stated distantly. This might prove to be an educational experience.
If Naruto had gone to Orochimaru, he couldn't have done so without a guide. Orochimaru would not have sent someone useless, or weak. What would Sasuke-kun do?
A lot more than he currently was. "Let's get back on track. I was simply being delivered an urgent message." Minato waved a hand while Danzou looked very interested in the exchange. He'd seen Sasuke. He was sitting with a full view of the door and the window. Typically.
Minato did not trust Danzou, but that didn't mean he didn't see the uses that the ROOT ANBU had to the Leaf village. Useful or not, it was a group he planned to eradicate once a decent opportunity presented itself. Danzou would have to be killed before he'd ever disband ROOT successfully. Sarutobi had tried.
Minato sat back down, forcing his attention back on the presentation.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke knew the delay was a costly one, but he also knew that it was a necessary one. He was just going to have to hope he had enough time and run like hell. Sora-ku was close to Konoha but it was still in a direction he'd rather not be taking. The ninja cats however were the Uchiha clan's largest and best weapon suppliers.
The trees were still thick so he needed to run faster. Faster and faster until he could see Naruto. He had to reach the blond before he made it to Orochimaru's lair. He blurred through the trees as fast as he dared without relying on chakra. If he was too exhausted by the time he got there he might as well stab himself with his own newly acquired sword similar to his kusanagi.
Would Minato send others after him? Sasuke doubted it. If the man didn't have the power needed to send his own son, then he sure as heck wouldn't send them after Sasuke so soon. Sasuke grit his teeth and focused on the run. No time for wayward thoughts and doubts.
He refused to be like Naruto, who'd meekly obeyed the rules until it had become too late. Sasuke had almost killed Naruto not once but twice. Activating his Sharingan, Sasuke took in the details as he blurred past. He knew there was a clearing up ahead and he was looking out for any signs that Naruto had been sealed in the barrel, allowing his curse mark to evolve into stage 2. Orochimaru couldn't take over his body if the curse mark was still in stage 1. They had to have stopped and that meant a moment of camping.
Of not running.
Sasuke grinned as the tell-tale signs of being occupied flashed across his senses when he blurred past the clearing. So they'd stopped. And the Sound Four were involved if the number of footprints was anything to go by.
Sasuke could take them. He knew he could. But now many before he didn't have the chakra to save Naruto?
A sudden presence had Sasuke coming to a sliding halt. He'd been going fast, but not so fast as to miss the sudden addition of another person.
The shinobi didn't bother to hide their position. "I've been waiting for you." Haku stated quietly. "You seem to be in a hurry."
"What are you doing here?" Sasuke didn't have time for pleasantries and if he could he'd loose the missing-nin as quickly as possible. Haku considered him for a moment before smiling. "Your team killed the man who gave me purpose."
Did Haku want revenge? Sasuke hadn't deactivated his Sharingan so he was ready for anything the missing-nin might try. Yet, Haku was calm, carefree almost.
"Serving you has been my new purpose for a while now. I've been watching you, waiting for the perfect opportunity to assist you, be by your side." Haku continued and Sasuke couldn't say he wasn't surprised. This boy had been watching him since Wave? How much had he seen? What were his intentions? "You appear to be in a hurry. Might I suggest we sort this matter out once you have completed your mission?" Haku offered, his tone suggested easy compliance.
"Right." Sasuke stated tonelessly. It was actually a welcomed suggestion. His mind was already working out ways in which Haku could be added to the plan. Could the boy be added to the plan? Sure. His jutsu was useful. But Orochimaru would see that too. Could he risk it?
"I'll come back for you." Sasuke decided. "The man I'm going to has too much of a fixation on rare kekkei genkai. Go to the Leaf village and ask for Hatake. Tell him what you told me. I'll come back for you." Sasuke instructed. He decided that as useful as Haku could be, he didn't want the boy's imprisonment with Orochimaru to be on his conscious. He was trying to rescue someone, not add another to the list of victims.
Besides, he had a plan before Haku, he didn't want to change it just because of the boy's sudden addition, no matter how useful Haku could be. Hastily made plans could ruin everything.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke had run for a full day and half a night before finally coming to the entrance of the hideout. He'd spotted the five Sound Shinobi hours earlier but he'd decided on slowing down so as to rest his body. If he could successfully infiltrate the lair then he didn't need to fight the sound four and Kabuto. He only needed to interrupt Orochimaru and then run like hell out of the place and back toward Konoha.
And he'd need chakra to do that if he hoped to make it there alive.
He watched carefully as the five Shinobi went into the lair, Naruto still sealed within the barrel. Perhaps they didn't want the blond changing his mind. Or perhaps the delay in his own world had been greater than what Sasuke had originally given the Leaf genin credit for. Whatever the reason, he didn't care. If he could, he'd grab the barrel and take that with him.
Sasuke activated his Sharingan and carefully followed the five. He knew his way around well. He didn't need to follow them for long. In fact, his first stop was going to be Kimimaro's room. He did not need to deal with that freak should he get the bright idea to try and interfere. There was nothing more dangerous than a man who no longer valued his life for his own sake.
Kimimaro's room was the centre of the medical ward even though Orochimaru had long since given up on the diseased shinobi. Kabuto liked to use Kimimaro as a play thing, something to examine when he was bored. Oh he'd have loved nothing more than to cure the ninja, but only for the satisfaction of doing so and not due to any real care for Kimimaro.
The ninja should have died long ago but he stubbornly clung to life with a hopeless desire to be needed by Orochimaru once more. Sasuke had seen the damage Kimimaro's final moments had done to the landscape and was well aware how much fight was still left in the bone wielding ninja. Hence the cowardly yet necessary move to kill the man before he could be called upon.
Sasuke kept to the shadows, moving silently and quickly. He'd had years of practise. To some, the hideouts were nothing but mazes. Yet there was a subtle art to the layout. He could quickly get to the prisoners' cages if he needed a distraction. They wouldn't hold up long against the sound four but it could mean the difference between escape and capture.
Kimimaro's room wasn't even guarded. That's how much Orochimaru didn't care for the sickly ninja. Sasuke carefully selected one of Kabuto's medications, taking a syringe and filling it past the recommended dosage. Sasuke stood very still for a moment, just staring at the pale man covered in tubes and seals. He was essentially another victim, an innocent man that had been corrupted by Orochimaru. Most of the people in Oto were victims. Very few were ever normal healthy individuals who'd chosen Orochimaru just because they liked getting to kill people.
"Are you really going to do it?" The question was whispered from his mind, almost making Sasuke jump in surprise. It was the other Sasuke, the one locked with the Kyuubi. Sasuke felt his chest tighten, looking away from Kimimaro in disgust. He NEEDED to do this.
"NO YOU DON'T!" The scream was loud, so much so that Sasuke covered his ears. But you can't block what's inside your head. Sasuke scowled in annoyance. He could ignore the screams. They were nothing but whispers in his mind. It didn't affect his ability to act and he knew what Kimimaro was capable of. It was more than Sasuke planned to handle. He could avoid it. He didn't NEED to fight the dying man. Honestly, he was doing Kimimaro a favour. He was in a lot of pain as it was. Sasuke knew enough about medial jargon to see that much in Kabuto's notes.
"You still don't have to kill him. I don't want to kill him." The whisper was sad. "I want to save Naruto."
"That's what I'm doing." Sasuke snapped back. His voice loud in the silence. He immediately regretted it, muscles tensing in case Kimimaro woke. "You're just weak." Sasuke replied back silently, questioning his own sanity if he was talking to himself. "You're not the one that will have to fight him. I am." The added thought almost sounded like he was making excuses.
Kimimaro didn't even change his breathing rhythm, so Sasuke assumed he was all clear. He moved slightly closer.
In a fit of anger and perhaps desperation to ignore the inner Sasuke, prove he was stronger he stuck the syringe into Kimimaro's drip, close to the end so it would enter his body faster, and pushed the piston down slowly. He knew that Kabuto's medications could sometimes cause an unpleasant sensation and he didn't want Kimimaro waking up because of it. The medication would take too long to take effect and the alarms could be sounded in seconds.
Carefully placing everything back as he'd found it Sasuke snuck out of the room. His heart was heavy with his actions. His Uchiha pride knew he'd taken the cowardly course, yet the Shinobi part of him was desperate to make it out of the hideout alive. Kimimaro still had too much left to leave things to chance. The man was still capable of levelling the hideout if he chose to do so.
He didn't want to stay and watch the man die. That was unnecessary. Besides, he didn't want the memories. He could ignore his actions, maybe, if he could convince himself that perhaps he hadn't given Kimimaro enough to die, just to not interrupt. But inwardly he knew better. He'd learned too much from Kabuto to really believe his own thoughts. He had accepted his fate the moment he gone after Naruto. Didn't make it easier though.
Sasuke decided to move towards Orochimaru next. It was risky. He had no guarantee that he could slip past the snake unnoticed, but that was the best place to find Naruto.
On second thought, perhaps that prisoner escape plan might be a better idea.
Sasuke could unlock the cages. He'd done so on many occasions. He moved to the ceiling using his chakra to keep him rooted to the cold stone. He'd often used the prisoners for training so he knew which ones could serve his purpose. He knew how to fuel their rage. They wanted out. They hated Orochimaru. They felt they'd been tricked. Sasuke had always seen them as pathetic, for not becoming strong enough to use the Sanin for their own purposes and then leave before the Snake could take what he wanted.
"Why can't you just get Naruto and leave?" The inner Sasuke whined. Since when had the brat been able to talk to him? It was like the child had discovered a new skill and was now obsessed with it. Still it was a question worth considering. In his world, the Sound Four had been taken care of by the Leaf genin. He had no such luck. If he were in engage with each of them it would cut into his chakra reserves and then he wouldn't be able to do much against Orochimaru.
"You said they're victims!" The inner Sasuke fired hotly.
The Uchiha clutched at his head. "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!" The scream was loud, immediate and completely involuntary. Sasuke's heart started beating faster and he glanced around, waiting to see Kabuto appear around the corner.
Dropping down from the ceiling he decided to stick to the original plan. He wasn't going to wait around and see if his outburst had attracted attention. He dashed towards Orochimaru, running flat out. If he had to fight then he'd fight. Rounding a sharp corner and slamming his way through a door brought up into the main research room. He ducked to the side of the room, behind the tables and shelves. There was a door at the other end of the room and that would be where Orochimaru waited. There were several chakra signatures coming from that room. They were there. Naruto's chakra was subdued. He was still in the barrel or about to be released from it.
Biting his thumb Sasuke ran through the summoning hand signs and carefully placed his hand on the floor. His chakra rushed outwards and smoke filled the room. A large ninja cat appeared and nodded at him. "You know what to do." Sasuke confirmed and the cat nodded again.
Sasuke dashed towards the door. He decided that surprise would be his best weapon given the circumstances. Bursting through the doors in a rush, he immediately looked around for either the blond or the barrel. He spotted the barrel and sprang towards it, ignoring the gawk Kabuto was sending his way. The sound four were looking towards Orochimaru for instructions while Orochimaru started to react. But Sasuke was at the barrel. He grabbed hold of the rim and activated the jutsu he'd learned to use instinctively. "CHIDORI SCREAM!" The room filled with lightning, the occupants falling to the floor, numb and twitching.
The ninja cat dashed in and Sasuke tossed the barrel to the cat. The cat grabbed the barrel in mid-air before vanishing from the room, with the barrel in his paws. Almost too easy. But maybe it was advantage he had with his prior knowledge. Maybe it was luck. Maybe he wouldn't make it to the door.
"Why you!" Orochimaru seethed. "What have you done?!" The sanin was already getting to his feet, looking ready to murder the Uchiha. Sasuke smirked at him. "Taking away what you want most." Sasuke activated the next jutsu. A substitution. The fire surrounded him but he didn't go far. He had to run. He knew his way out. But he also knew he had to create a diversion. Now was the time to release the prisoners.
It wouldn't be enough to get him back to Konoha safely but it would be enough to get a decent head start.
.0.0.0.
"So you're Haku." Minato stared at the boy standing before him. He was small, young, smiling, but clearly nervous. "We're not in the habit of accepting missing-nin but as I understand it, you were never officially on Mizu's Shinobi roster. They seem to have treated you as Zabuza's apprentice. That makes something of a difference for the paperwork."
"Yes, I was trained by Zabuza and had never received any formal shinobi training." Haku replied, his features frozen in a smile.
Minato knew the boy was strong, could be useful as a shinobi in Konoha's ranks. Yet his mind-set was troubling. They would have to send the boy to the Yamanaka clan for some sort of counselling. "Why did Sasuke-kun send you here?"
"He said he was going to a man that liked to collect rare kekkei genkai and that he would rather I did not go with." Haku stated, thinking back to Sasuke's rather rushed and abrupt instruction. It was almost like he was trying to be nice.
"Orochimaru does like his toys." Minato sighed. "Problem is, he doesn't know when to draw the line. Perhaps it was best that Sasuke sent you here. For now, you can stay here. We'll assess your application and let you know what's going on moving forwards." Minato was looking down at the paper that Kakashi had forced under Haku's nose once he realised what was up. He'd even filled in the recommendation. "Haku needs to be admitted into the Konoha Shinobi forces so as to keep him from becoming an enemy in someone else's forces." Short, to the point and completely true.
How had Sasuke known about Orochimaru's habits? Sasuke couldn't have learned it in school nor had any of those close to him mentioned it. So how had Sasuke known about Orochimaru's obsession with kekkei genkai? He hadn't broken into the archives. He'd had a tail following him since the chunin exams. It had been four days since Sasuke had left, and five days since Naruto had gone to Orochimaru. If he didn't hear something soon he was going to have to send a team.
"Go after them yourself. . . ." the whispered thought played through his mind more and more. Soon he'd give in and actually do just that.
Looking at the boy in front of him, Minato wondered where to put him. The boy's mind seemed set on Sasuke. For some reason Sasuke was the shinobi this boy now saw as his master. Opening the drawer to his left he pulled out the spare set of keys to Sasuke's apartment. "For now, Haku-kun, you can stay at Sasuke's place." He tossed the keys towards the boy and Haku caught them. "Will Sasuke-san mind?" he asked hesitantly.
"Probably but he doesn't get a choice if he isn't going to be here to debate it." Minato grinned. "I'll have someone send you some groceries as I'm sure you don't have any money and all Sasuke-kun seems to have is ramen."
The boy bowed and backed out of the office with the same weird smile on his face. If anything, they could be hospitable to the boy.
Haku hadn't even closed the door before a harried looking chunin rushed into the room. He glanced briefly at Haku before slamming the door shut. "Lord Hokage, we've just received an urgent report from the border patrol stationed near the border to Grass." He thrust a scroll towards Minato who snatched it from the ninja.
Minato's eyes flicked backwards and forwards over the report before sending a glare to the shadowy corners of his office. "Get out here." The bark was sharper than he'd intended but there wasn't time for pleasantries. Itachi and Shisui shared a look as they appeared in the open section of the office. Grass was where Haku said Sasuke was headed towards.
"We're leaving, now. One of you go get Hatake." Minato barked getting to his feet and moving to the door. "The other is coming with me as backup. It's time to kill that snake once and for all."
.0.0.0.
Run, run, run, RUN!
The thought screamed itself over and over in Sasuke's panicked thoughts. He had no idea what he'd been planning as an escape but this was not it. Running from the Sound Four had been almost too easy but it had served to deplete his chakra reserves far too much. Kabuto had been more challenging than he'd like to admit. Yet the medic-nin had withdrawn before the fight had concluded, stating he would be needed later. Perhaps for Orochimaru, perhaps for himself. Who knew? Problem was, Sasuke was out of chakra, out of weapons, and out of time. Orochimaru himself was on his tail and all the Uchiha could hope for now was getting back to Konoha in time to get a team sent out to possibly rescue him.
What a joke.
It was utterly pathetic!
The Sound Four however, did not take kindly to losing and they certainly did not take it lightly when they found out about their fallen leader. They'd taken more out of him than he could spare. Kabuto had taken the rest. Any move he made against Orochimaru now would be his last real attempt at killing the snake.
He'd rested a moment, long enough to set a few choice traps. They'd been activated some distance back but that wasn't a great sign. That meant his pursers weren't far behind. In fact they were far too close.
He leapt through the trees, not even bothering to hide his tracks. He just had to make it through the village gates. Orochimaru wouldn't dare, not with Minato and the Uchiha to deal with. Not to mention all the jonin. Kakashi, Guy and Asuma would be enough to stop the sannin from getting to him.
A large explosion rocked through the air, the shock wave big enough to make his clothing whip around wildly. He stumbled, slipping on the next branch and falling to the ground with a pained oaf. He'd been careless this time. Yet, what did he really expect going against Orochimaru alone. This body wasn't ready for that kind of chakra strain. This wasn't three years of training, this was two months of getting lucky and honestly talent was nothing compared to hard work.
Getting his hands under himself, Sasuke pushed onto his feet. The exhaustion hit him hard, and he stumbled towards a tree, trying to balance himself. He was sure that one of the explosions had damaged an ear drum which he'd been fighting Kabuto. Not to mention his nerves system was still out of order. The ninja sure knew his medical ninjutsu. It was only because of the Sharingan that Sasuke had been able to avoid the truly disabling attacks.
Shaking off the nausea and growing dizziness, he leapt towards the branches once again only to slam back onto the ground. The air rushed out of his lungs, his vision dimmed around the edges and his ears rang. He must have hit his head. Hard.
"Taking things that aren't yours is a nasty habit, Sasuke-kun."
The light, yet raspy voice of the snake Sannin washed over his senses, registering just enough for his heart to flutter and his limps to twitch. "Not a very smart boy are you, coming in with such a horribly thought out plan."
Sasuke blinked, taking in the fact that he was now hanging upside down. He took a moment to regain his bearings. Being hasty would not help him. Orochimaru's hand was wrapped around his ankle, the grip tight enough to hurt. Getting out of the hold was going to take some creativity.
"Your little traps were artfully set but alas, you'd have wasted your time more productively if you'd simply kept on running."
A tickling sensation began at the back of his head, running down along his sculp. Ah, so he was bleeding. He wasn't facing Orochimaru, not yet. He was being moved through the air, slowly rotating until he was staring at the coldly cheerful smile on Orochimaru's face. "Have you perhaps hidden Naruto-kun somewhere along the way? You would not have gotten this close to your precious village if you had dragged him with you."
Sasuke focused on his chakra, one brilliant jutsu left and then he was all out of chakra. He smirked, taking in the Sanin's rage, hidden behind the smile. "You won't have him." Sasuke whispered, his words sounding louder than they felt. A bolt of lightning chakra started in his chakra core, zooming through his coils before bursting out in all directions. Orochimaru hissed, his hold faltering enough for Sasuke to kick free and dash towards the trees. He didn't dare take to the branches again. He was too dizzy and it would take more time.
His steps were heavy, graceless. The chakra drain was taking its toll. He needed to get to the gates. Then help would come.
But he was clumsy and too weary. The snake that protruded from his chest was enough of an indication of that. It was an odd sensation. The world slowed, his vision fading just as sound seemed to hallow out. The, just as suddenly it all came rushing back as the pain flashed burning and vicious into his awareness. He bit back the scream, focusing instead on his breathing.
Deep in and out breaths. He needed to think. He needed to survive.
Pathetic . . . The whispered rumble was more of a chuckle than anything else. For an Uchiha, I expected more from you.
A burning viciousness of a completely different nature burst to life from the seal on his stomach. A raging vengeance clamoured in his mind as the Kyuubi's chakra took over his own. The snake retreated from his chest with an angry spitting hiss. Sasuke fell to his knees as the reptile pulled free, his body reaching its limits.
"Oh, so you're going to rely on the Kyuubi now? Power means nothing without control, Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru taunted, his smile widening. "Let's see what you can do." He was well aware of the Kyuubi's power. He knew that if Sasuke mastered it then the boy could potentially be the most dangerous Shinobi for generations to come.
The chakra focused on the gapping hole in Sasuke's chest, speeding the healing just as it had with the Naruto from his own world. What Naruto hadn't done then, was give any indication of the blinding pain this caused. He couldn't stop the choked yell as the wound pulled and tugged itself together.
Until next time, Uchiha brat. . . the gruff departure was soft, fading away into silence and Sasuke wondered where the Kyuubi was going if he still needed to fight Orochimaru. Panic flared as he felt the chakra recede from his coils. His heart began to pound as he took his circumstances into account. Why would the Kyuubi assume there would be a next time if he was possibly going to die? Was it some horrendous joke?
Yet, a streak of yellow flashed passed him and suddenly the world lit up as Minato suddenly stood in front of Orochimaru. Sasuke scrambled to his feet, his balance not yet right as he stumbled over the roots around him.
"You've done well, Sasuke-kun. I'll take it from here." Minato stated warmly yet the glare he directed at Orochimaru sent shivers down the Uchiha's spine. Sasuke began to back away, knowing that his presence could be hazardous to Minato simply because Orochimaru would not hesitate to use him as a hostage.
But the chakra exhaustion was creeping in and he swayed. Gloved hands caught him and hoisted him into the air. Kakashi-sensei stared at him despondently before tsking. "You wanted to stop Orochimaru with some paper bombs?" Kakashi shook his head. "Although they did warn us about your position so I guess there's that." Sasuke sagged in relief, letting go of the struggle to stay conscious. He smiled weakly, "Just in time sensei, for once." He slumped over, passed out cold. Kakashi threw the boy onto his back, waiting for Minato's orders. Itachi arrived a second later, having scouted the area for traps or Sound-nin. Kabuto was slung over his shoulder, looking as though he'd seen better days.
"I see I'm outnumbered and as much as I'd hate to admit it, the gaki took quite a bit out of me. I don't think I can successfully fight Hatake, Itachi-kun and you dear Lord Hokage and walk out of it alive." Orochimaru smiled with a slight bow. "I'll be taking my assistant however." He walked backwards and melted into a tree. Kabuto's prone form turned into mud, dropping over Itachi's shoulder and dripping to the floor.
"Coward." Minato spat, but his shoulders relaxed. He turned to Kakashi, waking towards him cautiously in case the sanin had lied. He placed a hand on Sasuke's forehead. Not warm and not icy so really it could be anything but judging by the quick glance he'd thrown the boy most likely chakra exhaustion.
"When we get back, Itachi, you're going in and finding out just who he really is." Minato stated gruffly. "We can't afford unknowns anymore."
"I didn't find Naruto-san in the area. We must assume that he is still in Orochimaru's base of operations." Itachi replied.
"Not really. Why would Orochimaru himself chase after Sasuke if he still had Naruto?" Kakashi mused.
"A problem for later. For now we must return to the village." Minato grabbed each shinobi's shoulder and flashed them directly to the hospital.
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