Because I love you guys so much, this will be a fairly long chappy! Oh yea, can anyone tell me how old Kimimaro is? I needta know...am planning on a KimiNaru fic soon...maybe...
Grim Situations
Over the next four days, Sasuke became increasingly irritable, and was often seen pacing around the streets of Konoha, head down and muttering to himself. Villagers turned to stare briefly at their beloved Uchiha, but soon lost interest and went back to their daily business.
Naruto was worried about Sasuke's odd behavior. Countless times he had tried to approach the furious Uchiha, but the glare laced with bloodlust and death-wishes Sasuke sent at him was no sign that he wanted company. Naruto was content to watch from the trees after many private meetings with the Uchiha that involved several demolished trees and Naruto running for what was left of his life. Neji had become a little more possessive over the blonde as well, training with him a bit more than usual and often keeping him within range of his Byakugan.
The next day arrived too soon for the Uchiha's liking. Sasuke paced around the carpet of his room, muttering incomprehensibly under his breath. Today was the day that Orochimaru would arrive in hopes of hearing his answer. As much as he longed for the chance to make Naruto his, he wasn't sure if he could trust the snake-man. Orochimaru did have a notorious reputation of being a most unreliable person, and Sasuke didn't want to put his kitsune in danger. He knew Naruto could handle himself quite well, courtesy of Kyuubi, but Orochimaru still posed a redoubtable threat. He was, after all, one of the three legendary Sannin.
Sasuke eyed the small krait that slid its way up his bedpost, a letter in its mouth. The small snake eyed the Uchiha beadily before depositing the letter on his bed and making its way out the window. Sasuke picked up the letter and tore open the seal. Scrawled in graceful writing with a great many curlicues was a message from the snake-sannin.
Sasuke-kun,
I will be waiting in the same place where we talked five days ago at noon. I trust you will have your answer by then.
Orochimaru
Sasuke wrinkled his nose. The parchmentreeked of decay and other repugnant scents. Crumpling the letter, he flung it into the fireplace and resumed his pacing. He had exactly three hours to make up his mind, and three hours wasn't enough to consider Orochimaru's offer and what could go wrong. Sighing in frustration, the Uchiha stepped out of his apartment and started another round around Konoha's streets.
It was eleven, and Sasuke had yet to reach his decision. He briefly considered asking the snake-summoner for a few more days, but Orochimaru wasn't one to tweak deals as important as this. Turning slightly, a yellow movement caught at his peripheral vision and he whirled around to see Naruto walking hand in hand with Neji. Charcoal eyes took on a tinge of crimson, and Sasuke felt his Sharingan fight to awaken. Pushing it down (for he had no intention of taking down innocent bystanders on his rampage to get at the Hyuuga), he turned on his heel and made his way down to the alleyway, a considerable answer forming in his mind.
The Uchiha leaned against the brick wall, waiting impatiently for the snake-sannin to arrive. Orochimaru had promised to be in the alley by noon, and it was three minutes to twelve. Sasuke fidgeted nervously and crossed his arms, checking in the darkness for any sign of the snake-man.
"So you have come, Sasuke-kun. You have thought over my offer quite thoroughly, have you not?" Orochimaru's smooth voice cut through the eerie silence like a hot knife through butter. Sasuke opened an eye and observed the snake-man leaning nonchalantly against the wall next to him.
"I have." Pale lips parted in a sickening smile, and Orochimaru stood up to lean beside the Uchiha.
"What say you now, Sasuke-kun?"
This was it. There was no turning back now. Sasuke hesitated for the briefest moment, then gave his answer in three small words.
"I'll do it."
Orochimaru's smile grew wider until he looked more like a snake than ever. Clasping his fingers into a tent, the snake-man laughed.
"Very good, Sasuke-kun. I'm glad you were able to trust me. Now, just as I gave my word, will you give yours?" Sasuke turned and fixed the snake-sannin with a steady determined gaze.
"I will, but if you break your word, I should see no reason to break mine." Orochimaru just chuckled maliciously.
"Dear boy, I have no reason to break my own words, but if it makes you feel better, you have the option of withdrawing your end of the deal." Sasuke stared at the ground.
"I have full intentions of making Naruto mine." Amber eyes narrowed in pleasure.
"Very well then, Sasuke-kun."
Orochimaru lifted his hands and made a single seal. Instantly a vortex of purple arose from the air, sucking both the Sannin and the Uchiha into its unknown depths. It closed off completely after drawing the two into its mouth, sending them spiraling down a warphole of purple.
Somewhere in the forest, Naruto twitched. Neji turned to the boy, an inquisitive look in his eyes.
"Something wrong, or was that just a random twitch?" Naruto turned to the Hyuuga, sapphire eyes troubled.
"Something's wrong. Something's very very wrong, and I think it has something to do with Sasuke." Neji's eyes widened. Naruto appeared to concentrate, closing his eyes and furrowing his brow. He opened them once more and looked into Neji's pearl ones.
"Kyuubi says he can smell Orochimaru all over the source of the trouble." Neji sat bold upright, a horrible realization forming in his mind.
"Do you think…?" Naruto's features also contorted into one of fear and worry.
"No…" Abruptly both boys stood and leapt towards Konoha.
"Byakugan!" Neji activated the bloodline and searched for Sasuke's chakra. What he found instead, was something far worse.
"Naruto, there's a weird purple chakra emitting from the alleyway across from Ichiraku. It feels evil and its movement is erratic. I think it's the aftermath of a terribly powerful jutsu." The kitsune gritted his teeth.
"Orochimaru."
The duo made it to the alleyway and ran inside the crevice, searching frantically for Sasuke. Both boys grimaced; the weird purple chakra didn't do too well on their senses. It radiated evil and had a silky elegance to it that was pure Orochimaru. Looking around further, they located a shred of parchment on the floor. Neji picked it up gingerly and read it.
Naruto-kun,
I have Sasuke at my lair. If you wish, you may come and save him; it matters not to me, but understand that he is very weak and will soon die if not provided the treatment he desires.
Orochimaru
Naruto's cerulean orbs narrowed in shock and pain and he punched the wall, leaving a massive crater in the brick layers.
"Sasuke…why the hell did you go to the snake bastard? Didn't you learn from the last time you went? Must I always risk my life for your careless actions?" He was comforted by two arms around his waist. Neji leaned his head against Naruto's shoulders, rubbing the boy comfortingly.
"Don't look so sad, Naruto. It isn't over yet. We still can rescue Sasuke." Naruto nodded, burying his head in Neji's chest.
"Okay…I'll inform Tsunade-baachan that we'll be leaving." The kitsune turned and hopped off to the Hokage tower.
Tsunade banged her fists against the desk, completely shattering the wooden frame.
"Please tell me what you say isn't true, Naruto." Naruto nodded gravely.
"It's indeed true, Hokage-sama. I need to rescue Sasuke before Orochimaru toys with him to the extent that his damage is irreparable." Tsunade bit her lip, drawing blood.
"Orochimaru…was once not enough? Will you continue to haunt the people of Konoha until the day one of us dies?" Naruto stepped forward.
"Hokage-sama, will you give us leave?" Tsunade remained facing towards the window. Long moments passed before she spoke once again.
"Do as you please." Naruto's eyes widened.
"Tsunade…?" The elderly woman finally turned, her chocolate brown eyes filled with tears and emotion. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
"Naruto…why do you risk your life for Sasuke when he has betrayed you twice now?" Naruto smiled sadly.
"I can't help it, Tsunade-baachan. He's my friend, and no matter what he does he will always be one of my closest comrades." More drops of moisture flowed down Tsuande's cheeks, getting swallowed by the documents on her desk as they hit.
"Naruto…no, Rokudaime-sama…" Naruto's eyes widened in shock. Tsuande smiled.
"Go with my blessings and the best of luck."
With that, Tsunade broke down completely and enfolded Naruto in a hug laced with sadness and caring. Naruto returned the hug, wrapping his arms around Tsunade's waist. She sobbed freely on his shoulder, clutching the boy to her chest as if he'd disappear the moment she let go. Naruto stroked her back reassuringly, his blonde locks brushing her neck. The two stayed on the floor of the office for a long time before Tsunade gently broke free. The Anbu guard outside the door took out a handkerchief and blew his nose noisily, a victim of the overflowing emotion.
"Naruto, if you die, I will summon you from the heavens and beat you up myself, understand?" Naruto gave his usual vulpine grin.
"I won't fail, Tsunade-baachan." Tsuande smiled, and stroked Naruto's cheek.
"I'm not old, you goddamn brat," she said softly, and took out a vial.
"Here, use this. It will heal your wounds however serious they may be, but it only has enough solution to work once, so use it well." Naruto nodded.
"I will."
He padded softly out of the room only to find the Anbu guard bawling helplessly on the floor, several forests worth of tissues strewed around him. Naruto shook his head, and stepped over the Anbu to rejoin the Hyuuga waiting outside.
Neji caught sight of the blonde coming down the stairs of the Hokage tower, a grim look on his normally cheerful countenance.
"Are you ready?" Naruto looked him in the eye determinedly.
"I'm ready for anything." The Hyuuga smiled.
"Let's go." Together the two exited Konoha and made their way to Orochimaru's lair.
Neji and Naruto ran side by side into the thicket, dashing with agility past trees and shrubs alike. Hours passed, and still the two didn't break their stride. Using Kyuubi's nose, they located the scent of snake and followed that to whatever direction the great fox sent them to. It was towards evening that Neji finally stopped, gasping for breath. He leaned against a nearby tree and slid down the trunk, coming to rest at the bottom. Naruto turned around.
"Tired?" Neji looked up into cerulean eyes.
"What does it look like? I don't even hope to have as much stamina as you do." Naruto smiled. He bent suddenly and scooped the Hyuuga onto his back, wrapping Neji's arms around his neck.
"Naruto—" Neji began to protest, but was silenced by a look from the blonde.
"Hold on tight!" Summoning chakra to his feet, Naruto leapt off through the trees. Neji was in for a very bumpy ride indeed.
It was completely dark with only the moon to guide the blonde as he propelled himself towards Orochimaru's lair. Neji had long since fallen asleep on the blonde's back (Naruto briefly considered hanging him on a nearby branch by the scruff of his neck due to a sudden surge of prankster instincts, but since this was a serious situation he declined to do so), making Naruto's trip a lot easier. He delved inside his mind and talked to the demon within.
"Oi, Kyuubi, how much farther?"
"You're almost there; turn east in a few yards." Naruto obeyed.
"Now how much farther?" There was a sharp intake of air as Kyuubi inhaled.
"You're here, kit." Naruto landed lightly on the soft mossy ground, depositing Neji gently at the foot of a tree. The kitsune grimaced. The place seemed to reek of snakes, with a sinister aura about the clearing. The fox-child turned and gently shook Neji awake. The Hyuuga rose and yawned, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"We're here?" Naruto nodded.
"Neji, can you activate Byakugan? Orochimaru's lair doesn't seem to be in plain sight, although Kyuubi says it is." Neji laughed.
"What?"
"Orochimaru's lair is that building half sunk into the ground over there." The Hyuuga pointed to a pagoda-like structure with an entrance like a cavernous yawning mouth just waiting to devour them.
"Sooo….we just go in?" The mouth seemed to invite them into its deadly jaws. Neji scoured the area with his Byakugan.
"There seems to be no back entrance, so I think the only choice we have is that." Naruto swallowed.
"Okay then." They made their way to the large building and stood at the entrance to the vileness beyond. Both boys shivered; the chakra emitting from within was not of this earth.
Simultaneously both boys plunged headlong into the darkness where they stood to let their eyes adjust. Naruto picked at a nearby skeleton, commenting on how Orochimaru had the best taste for remodeling homes. Neji agreed, and the two continued deeper into the cave, their feet brushing numerous bones of humans and animals alike.
Sooner or later, they came to a fork in the winding tunnel that they made their way down. Naruto stared at it curiously, trying to decide which one to take. The fox-child turned to the Hyuuga questioningly.
"Byakugan!" Neji activated the bloodline and held it for approximately two and a half seconds before he winced and deactivated it. The Hyuuga massaged his eyes slowly before opening them and looking at Naruto.
"The rest of the path seems to be coated in a barrier resistant to Byakugan. Orochimaru must have known about it in some way." Naruto nodded.
"Kimimaro told me that he had some sort of watching pool." Neji started.
"I see…clever of him." The Hyuuga turned to see Naruto dancing wildly in the middle of the tunnel.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?" Naruto grinned.
"If Orochimaru is watching our every move right now, don't you think we should entertain him? OI, SNAKE BASTARD! I AM UZUMAKI NARUTO AND I WON'T LET YOU HAVE SASUKE YOU PATHETIC PIECE OF DRAGON SHIT!"
Orochimaru sighed and rubbed his temples in slow circular motions. That brat was really annoying sometimes. He guessed that threats weren't the Kyuubi kid's forte. Beside him, Kimimaro chuckled under his breath. A pathetic piece of dragon shit…that kid was amusing.
Naruto stopped yelling and looked bemusedly at the two tunnels in front of him.
"Right or left?" Neji spun around in a Kaiten manner minus the chakra and stopped on the left entrance.
"Then left it is!" Naruto strode forward into the left entrance. A grating roar emitted from the inside and a gigantic snake rose out of the darkness to stare at the two with malicious teal eyes. Naruto was not amused.
"I'm supposed to be scared of you, right?"
That brought the snake up short. It wiped the smirk from its face (if snakes could smirk; Naruto wasn't too sure, but it sure looked like a smirk). The snake reared and plunged its head down right in front of the kitsune, needle-sharp fangs just missing the blonde's feet.
Withdrawing its head, it turned and looked straight at Naruto, its blue-green eyes wavering with a strange pattern. Neji averted his eyes. He could sense the hypnosis the snake was trying to send at Naruto.
Minutes passed and Neji remained still with his eyes clamped shut, worried about Naruto. Silence ensued, and still no word from the blonde. Neji cracked open an eye and gazed gingerly at Naruto. What he saw shocked him to no end. Naruto was grinning openly, matching the snake stare for stare. Upon closer observation, Neji saw that Naruto's eyes had become red and slitted, much like the reptile before him.
Finally the snake hissed in pain and recoiled into the darkness. Neji looked up to find that Naruto's eyes were once again a clear shade of blue, and that the fox-child was grinning triumphantly at him. Neji approached the blonde cautiously.
"Where did you learn that?" Naruto grinned.
"Much like the Mangekyou Sharingan, I can entrap others in a genjutsu using Kyuubi's eyes. All I have to do is channel chakra into my visual nerves and propel them at the other." Neji nodded in comprehension.
"Anyway, let's go to the other tunnel then." Together they proceeded into the right tunnel.
A greenish liquid dripped from the walls as they walked on together. Neji swallowed. The chakra aura was getting more powerful by the moment. They walked further until they came to two double doors set in stone at the end. Naruto grasped the handle tugged. The door swung open with an ominous creaking sound, and Naruto and Neji found themselves in a cavernous hall barely lit with torches.
Orochimaru sat inside on a huge wooden chair, candles around him and jars containing snakes permanently encased in formaldehyde. The snake-sannin rose with a fluidity that surpassed water, and stepped down to greet them, oily tresses covering his pale face. Behind him, shadows writhed and roiled chaotically, only to be silenced by a hiss from the snake-summoner. Naruto could barely make out Kabuto standing in a corner, his hands holding a strange mechanism.
"Welcome, my dear Naruto-kun, to my humble home. I do hope you will enjoy your stay." Orochimaru's voice rasped and echoed around the large hall. Behind him, the shadows started their deadly dance once more.
"Where's Sasuke?" A slow smile spread across the snake-sannin's features.
"Dear dear, quite frank as always, aren't you Naruto dear? Do not worry, we have him safe and sound right here."
At a snap of his fingers, Kabuto activated the mechanism. The stone wall fell away to reveal Sasuke strapped to a strange metal wheel. His arms and legs were encased by rusty iron clamps, and he was bleeding severely from numerous wounds all over his body that looked suspiciously like gouges made by a whip. Naruto started forward, a worried look in his cornflower eyes.
"Sasuke!" No response ensued from the Uchiha. Orochimaru chuckled evilly.
"My dear boy, words will not reach him in the state he's in." Naruto snarled fiercely at the snake-man.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to tend to. Enjoy your stay while I'm absent."
Orochimaru disappeared. Kabuto gave a command, and the shadows on the walls detached themselves and came towards Naruto. The fox-child hurriedly formed a mind link with Neji with the help of Kyuubi.
"Run and hide while you can, Neji. We're outnumbered a hundred to one, and even with Jyuuken you don't stand a chance."
"I'm not abandoning you, Naruto."
"I don't give a shit, just run! If they capture you, we don't have a hope. Hide yourself, and wait for my signal. I'll find some way to escape."
"Naruto…"
"Goddammit Neji, GO!"
Neji cried out as a kunai embedded itself into Naruto. The blonde faltered, staggering slightly, but pulled out the kunai and flung it at the offending ninja. That was the last that Neji saw of the kitsune before he was engulfed by shadows and pulled away into the unknown below.
Bai for now!