It killed Sasuke to run so slow. Everything in him was telling him to sprint to kid Naruto's side. Save him, don't let him die alone, scoop him up and bring him home, keep him safe at all costs. The only problem was that he was currently at the mercy of the normal tracking speed of Kakashi's hounds. Though his Sensei was fast, he wasn't Sasuke fast. Sasuke was the fastest ninja alive. That was back in their time. So to him Kakashi, Itachi, all the damned dogs, everyone was moving like one of Gai's tortoise's which only worsened his desire to pick up Pakkun and do the running for the little guy. But Kakashi's hound would not react well to that he was sure.
He knew he needed to be patient. Could hear a voice in his head telling him not to be so hasty. They would find Mini Naru, probably worse for wear, but they'd find him. The dogs were working fast as they could. Snapping at them would only distract them from their task. He'd once dared to yell at Shino's bugs one time when he thought they were lagging on a recon mission. Somehow Sasuke knew a single dog bite would be worse than the thousand bug bites he'd gotten then.
Fear gripped him even still. Ever since he saw the shoe he couldn't shake free of its hold on him. He felt like a small child once more. The same little boy who'd stayed out too late training only to find his family dead when he came home. He was getting that same feeling he had the night of the massacre. Racing towards Naruto's younger self like heading towards his pitch black house. He tried to tell himself that it was all in his head. That there wouldn't be anyone lying in wait, that he wouldn't be rushing to the sight of a dead body of his loved one placed face down in a bloody puddle, but it was useless. The dark thoughts consumed him. Naruto was his light. Without him...fuck what would he even do?
They reached a meadow. It was a beautiful spot. It wasn't hard for Sasuke to imagine his husbands younger self coming this way. Perhaps some croaking frogs had caught his attention by the stream or some of the bright flowers. Maybe little Naru even thought it would be a nice soft place to hunker down for the night. He watched the dogs sniff around and frowned when they started circling the place. Sasuke instantly likened the dogs to vultures in his head. He hated his brain. That was not the mental image he needed right now.
"Are they confused?" Itachi wondered, looking to Kakashi. "Why are they circling?"
"Naruto's a bouncing ball of energy." Sasuke decided to take a wild guess. "Specially as a kid. He probably ran circles round this place trying to catch fireflies in his hands." The mental image it conjured was adorable. He could picture it so crisp and clear, it was almost enough to make himself smile, but he didn't fool himself with that explanation. This was bad. Kakashi's dogs were walking back up to them with hanging heads.
"Sorry boss." Pakkun sat down. His head barely poked through the tall grass. He moved it aside with his paws. "His scent stops here."
"Stops?" Sasuke tilted his head. How the fuck could it just stop? His head swiveled to Kakashi. "They lost his scent?"
"There are a lot of scents around here with the flowers. Nature's perfume. Hide's scents pretty good this time of year." Kakashi put his hands up in a settle down gesture. "It doesn't mean this search is over. Don't worry. We'll find it again."
Don't worry. What a cruel joke that was. How could he do anything but worry? Naruto's kid self was missing dammnit. There were clear signs of him being injured. He wasn't going to be calm until he was in his arms, alive and safe. It was non negotiable. Sasuke had never hated flowers more. Which was saying something considering how many bouquets he still to this day got from all too eager fangirls.
He started doing hand signs for a fire jutsu. If the flowers were the problem he would just burn them away. The perfume'll burn up and-
"You'll cause a forest fire, Sasuke." Itachi slapped his hand before Sasuke could finish the signs. His brother damn near lost his life from Sasuke's glare alone. Itachi sent one right back. "Don't be stupid."
"I'm not. I can control the blaze." Sasuke insisted, rubbing at his stinging hand. Sasuke remembered the feeling bubbling up inside him. He hadn't felt it in forever. It was like Itachi caught him trying to steal a tomato off the counter right before dinner. He was an adult. A kage and yet his brother still managed to make him feel scolded of all things. "What happened to leaving each other alone?"
"I never said I'd leave you alone, Sasuke." Itachi denied voice firm. "Why would you think that?"
Sasuke was instantly annoyed. He'd assumed it was a two way street. If he didn't bother Itachi than his brother would stay out of his way. Wasn't that their agreement back on the cliff side? So why did Itachi get to cut in? It was so unfair. "It's what you always do to me. You never miss a chance to get away from me. Surprising your even still helping me here."
"Don't say that, Sasuke."
"Why not?" Sasuke glared. "It's true."
"Would you two give it a rest?" Kakashi asked. "The hounds have sensitive ears. Don't bicker so loud."
"Sorry." Itachi apologized. Sasuke stayed silent. Crossing his arms as he fumed stubbornly looking away from the other two.
It was silent for a few moments as the hounds started to scour the outer edges searching for any new trails. It wasn't long before Sasuke threw his hands down in frustration. This was taking too long. This was-
Kid Naruto burst into the meadow. Sasuke had never felt so relieved to set eyes on him. Fucking finally, some luck or so Sasuke thought much too soon. The little blonde was running as fast as he could mowing down flowers. There was a broken thorny branch pierced into his leg. The skin having healed around the damn thing leaving him no choice but to run with it.
"You're not gonna eat me ya know!" The boy exclaimed, eyes closed, head down, arms swinging, he tripped into the stream just as-okay truthfully Sasuke didn't know what the fuck the creature that shot into the clearing was. It looked like a cross between a snake and a bear. Something totally fucked up that shouldn't exist. Maybe an experiment of Orochimaru's that got loose? Either way the little blonde was right. That thing wasn't going to eat him. Sasuke would never let it.
While kid Naruto prepared himself for the worst Sasuke bolted in front of him. Chidori already whirring chirping with the sound of a thousand birds. He bent low, dipping under its snarling jaw and dripping fangs, scowling at how foul the things breath was. He kicked it in the gut sending it hurtling upwards. It never gave him any pleasure hurting animals. Even if it was some kind of fucked up abomination like this. That said he couldn't let it live. It would just hunt Naruto down again. Best to just kill it now instead of beating it up a bunch of times. Sasuke's hand raised above his head and he did a chidori stream, the creature was turned to ash in an instant.
Kid Naruto looked up at Sasuke. His blue eyes wide in total shock. Ashes falling around them like snow. "You...you saved me."
"You were in trouble." Sasuke's voice matter of fact.
"Yeah but..." The kid trailed off in uncertainty.
Sasuke didn't know what broke his heart more. The fact that Naruto couldn't fathom someone saving him or that for the first time ever he was being stared at by him like he was some stranger.
"What was that thing?" Itachi fingered some ashes that had fallen. Sasuke had just about vaporized the thing. There wasn't a single scale or scrap of fur left of it. Sasuke's elder brother was left unsure whether to be in awe or to race home and lock his bedroom door.
"Does it matter?" Kakashi drawled. "It's dead."
"Nevermind that." Sasuke denied, he took off his cloak visible eye softening as he looked at the small Naruto. He looked like a soaked kitten that injured its paw. "There are more important things to attend to."
"Hey, what are you-what do you think you-uh wait uh Ah!-" Kid Naruto scrambled as Sasuke picked the wet shivering boy up by the back of his shirt from the river. Little Naruto's squirming kicks ceased abruptly as Sasuke's cloak was wrapped around him with care. Warmth enveloped him both outside and in. His lips parted his voice lacked its usual confidence. "You're...helping me...why are you..."
"You're hurt, Usuratonkachi." Sasuke sighed. "Shut up and stay still. I need to look at your leg."
Naruto was flipped upside down and held by his good ankle. Sasuke glared at the thorny vine around Naruto's leg. He took out a kunai and started cutting away at the vines. Pulling them off so the holes could close properly. Naruto knew that concentrated look anywhere. Recognition lit in blue eyes.
"Sasuke...?" Naruto reached out clutching at the front of his shirt. He tugged at it.
"You little idiot stop moving!" Sasuke snapped almost cutting Naruto's leg as the blonde squirmed. "This takes precision."
"No way. You are! How...why are you..." Naruto struggled to form a question.
"It's called time travel idiot. It's weird but it's real."
"I time traveled...?"
"Yes." Sasuke nodded then he blinked and shook his head. "No. I did with your future self. Now quiet. Be a good little seventh hokage to be and let me deal with your leg. I'll knock you out if you don't quit squirming."
Naruto froze. He was going to be Hokage? He hugged Sasuke's side with the biggest smile. He was going to be Hokage! Naruto had thought this was the worst day ever but really it must be the best after all. There was only one thing that could make it better. Unfortunately, Sasuke did not let him get Ichiraku ramen. The bastard.
That's where this chapter ends guys! Yay little Naru is saved! Bout time right!? I hope this chapter was okay! Anywho, next chapter'll be out soon! So stay tuned! Also, Not to give away too much but I'm indecisive again so I'm letting you all decide! Cast your votes in the comments peoples!
1. I'm thinking about having another member of the Konoha 12 travel back from the future to the past! Maybe 2. Who would you like these 1 or 2 characters to be and why?
2. Would you rather have Sasuke cook dinner to make it up to his mother for ruining breakfast or have the Uchiha family and co all go to Ichiraku Sasunaru's treat?
