The Missing

Chapter 6 – Yume

Rating: M

It's more than a habit
I'm more than an addict
I'm parked here outside of your door
Know you never lock it
Got you keys in my pocket
Lights all out
But I know for sure I am ...

Ten steps away from you
From you and him
Redemption, is that a sin?

In the past few months, Orochimaru had indeed been observing the trials and conquests of one Uchiha Takaya. He knew that the man was indeed Mangekyou capable, and could even possibly rival Itachi in strength. In the past, this might had deterred the Snake-Sannin. But he had been working on his goal to learn every single jutsu, and had been gaining power. Had either Jiraiya or Tsunade been alive, they would have had a snowball's chance in hell at defeating him. The man was more powerful than ever, and gaining strength every day. The Village of Sound, and even the Rice Country lived in fear of him. It was true that both were rich, powerful and nearly invincible thanks to Orochimaru, but the lives of simple citizens were beyond hell.

At that point in time, the man was taking a leisurely walk in the countryside. Or, so it seemed. Kabuto was there as well, acting as cool as a man who could barely walk could possibly ever hope to. His nonchalance was slightly edged with a disgruntled anger towards Orochimaru, but he didn't dare to voice it. Those who voiced their objections against the main didn't usually last for very long.

They were walking to a hotel town not far from the Hidden Village of Sound. Word had gotten out that an Uchiha was staying here. The credibility of these rumors had yet to be tested, but Orochimaru had decided to check on such a pressing matter personally. And so, he had dragged his little silver-haired friend out to the town and had begun scouring the place, checking every room and every dusty little corner. He had started out the day in his regular boyish good mood, but it had waned until he was positively truculent. A lot of people lay dead in the streets by the time he was done, and Takaya had yet to be found. Perhaps he had caught wind of Orochimaru? It was originally intended that his missing be confidential, but there were always those who saw it fit to leak information.

"It seems that we've been ratter out." He said, curling his upper lip. Kabuto cringed, his emotionless mask faltering under his master's anger. He could have sworn that Chakra had begun to swirl around him for a second, but then it passed. "No matter. I do believe it's time that we checked on Sasuke-kun, don't you?"

His proposition was met with silence, as if Kabuto had a say in the matter anyways.

-x-x-x-x-

"SASUKE! Sasuke! You can't die yet!" Naruto ran to his friend, tears already in his eyes. It was then that a blunt object collided with is stomach, forcing the breath out of him as he crashed through the ground. They had come so far… Done so much… And now… He gritted his teeth against the pain, and roared, clenching his fists. "I will… I will never forgive you!" The Kyuubi's Chakra blazed around him. But, it seemed too little too late. There was more pain in his stomach, and a burning sensation went through his body. Slowly, the Kyuubi receded and Naruto's mind went blank.

Hours later it seemed, he awoke to the sensation of air rushing by his face. He could feel himself going up and down, whizzing through the forest. His whole body ached. But something told him that he couldn't give up… Something told him that he was in danger.

"Ah… Naruto-kun. I see that you've come around. Isn't it a shame that we will have to put you back to sleep?" Naruto knew that voice. That smooth, suave and sexy voice.

"Ka-Kabuto. You stinkin' R-rat. P-Put me…" He had to pause here to cough up blood as he struggled weakly, feeling his strength flee him. "Down."

"Ah, but I'm afraid I can't do that."

A hand ran back through Naruto's blood encrusted hair. Suddenly, the world seemed even hazier. A soft sleep gripped his mind, however valiantly he fought it. No! He couldn't sleep! Not now! Sasuke was in danger! He could be dead! But… Sleep seemed so inviting. And so, Naruto surrendered.

Again the blonde awoke to a rather uninviting scene. Orochimaru's scent intoxicated him, choked him. Naruto's hands had been chained over his head, is feet barely reaching the ground. His bandages, drenched in sweat and blood, barely managed to cling to his shaking body. He took a cautious breath, attempting to lift himself up o that he might get a better look at his bonds. That failed. It seemed that he was just too drained. Also, gauze had been placed over his eyes. He couldn't see at all.

What was this hell? Naruto lifted his head, grunting softly. He wanted to go home. He wanted to go back to Sasuke .He wanted…

"Naruto-kun?"

"Wh-what? Who… there? Who's there?" His voice was hoarse and dry, spilling over his parched lips in husky intervals. How long had he been hanging there?

"Nobody, just me." There was a warm sensation on hi cheek. Somebody… Somebody was touching him! Naruto growled and turned his face. Without thinking, he closed is teeth around the flesh of the person's hand. Although, he quickly regretted it as a slap was driven hard across his face, causing him to cry out. There was another and another. He could feel his nose bleeding now. "Do you honestly think that you can defy me! Tell, me, Naruto-kun, to you think that you – of all people- are in a position to rebel! TELL ME!" Slap after slap after slap met with his skin.

"E-enough! Stop! Please! Please stop!" He whimpered, pulling away as best he could. Thankfully, the slapping stopped. Naruto willed himself to stop crying; the tears stung his burning face.

"Gomen-nasai, Naruto-kun." The other person chuckled lightly. By then, Naruto knew who it was. He was still shocked when Orochimaru removed the bandages. He tried even harder to get away, struggling the hardest he had so far.

"Let me you, you bastard. Let me- Let me go back to Sasuke!"

Orochimaru giggled and tossed the gauze aside, trailing ha hand on Naruto as he walked around the blonde. He smirked, putting his face close so that Naruto could smell his breath as it tickled his skin. It smelled like rice balls. "Push Sasuke-kun from your thoughts for now. Soon, he'll be the least of your worries. Besides, he is already long dead. The body you see now…" Orochimaru's smirk widened as he stepped closer to the beaten Naruto. "I stole it from Sasuke…"

"No… NO!" Naruto brought one of his knees up, slamming it into Orochimaru's groin. It was a burst of strength that surprised even Naruto. He quickly turned his energies to getting away, though, as Orochimaru glowered at him. No more punishment came, though. The Snake-sannin simply bushed himself off and patted Naruto's burning cheek.

"We shall see, Naruto-kun. We shall see…" He giggled again and left the room, leaving Naruto to himself. As the door slid shut behind the Ebony-haired man, Naruto could only feel a sense of foreboding. He sighed unhappily, blood still pouring from his nose. Hs muscles twitched and quivered, protesting the length of time that the blonde had been strung up.

From then on, people came and went. In the next few das, Naruto only remembered eating one meal. A slice of bread. He spent his days either hanging from the ceiling, or lying on a smelly old blanket. The seal that Orochimaru had placed on his stomach must have been pretty tough. None of Naruto's wounds had healed on the first night.

Time passed slowly for Naruto, but he eventually started getting better. He was soon able to piece together what had happened on they day he had been brought to Orochimaru's castle…

He had awoken as usual, with Sasuke sleeping beside him. The campfire had burned low, and so Naruto snuggled deeper into the blanket. He still hadn't been able to convince the Uchiha that he needed new clothes. But it was ok, as long as he wasn't alone; Naruto could deal with the chilly nights.

On that day, their breakfasts had been cup Ramen. The last of Naruto's hoard. Over a lengthy argument, Sasuke had been able to convince Naruto that staying in the wilderness was better for the both of them. They needed to wait until things finally cooled down, he said.

The friends had been washing their utensils in the nearby river when Kabuto and Orochimaru had attacked. It seemed that both had been practicing their techniques hard, for neither Sasuke nor Naruto were able to fight for very long. Even with the aid of the Kyuubi, Orochimaru proved to be just too powerful. Naruto could remember every detail as Sasuke fell, his front literally covered with kunai. The blonde had run to him, only to be thwarted. And then he had been brought here.

Naruto couldn't recall much more than the gist of what had gone on. It was like his mind refused to let him remember the finer details. Details that could have give him hope, or an answer.

He rolled over on his moldy blanket, trailing a finger along a patch of the gray fuzz. After a moment, he lifted himself to his feet and placed a palm on the nondescript door that closed his room off from the rest of the mansion. A shaft of moonlight was the only thing that allowed him to see in the otherwise complete darkness. Untold horrors lurked here.

Naruto staggered over to his corner, drawing his knees up to his chest and hugging them tightly. Was this how Sasuke had been treated when he had stayed with Orochimaru? Was he beaten daily because his wounds wouldn't heal faster? Tears streamed down Naruto's cheeks and he shut his eyes tightly, angered by his own weakness. Orochimaru had said numerous times hat he would come for Naruto tonight, give him a 'Special Surprise.'

Somehow, Naruto wasn't looking forwards to it.

Orochimaru came about an hour later, an unnatural glitter in his eyes. Wordlessly, He pulled Naruto's knees away from his chest and pinned them down with is own. Before Naruto could know what was happening or even react, a warm mouth had been pressed to his own.

The first thought that ran through Naruto's mind was that a 55-year-old man was raping him. The next was that a rather long tongue was being pushed down his throat. Automatic reaction caused Naruto to bite down on the offending tongue, hard. Immediately after, he winced and recoiled, fearing punishment. But nothing came. It seemed that his bite hadn't even affected the Sannin.

When Naruto reflected in this 'Incident' later in life, he would never be able to recall much. A searing pit of shame was all that remained in his memories. The pain that he was left with afterwards was what he really remembered. The pain, and the hate. Oh, sure. Itachi had raped him before. But, this was a thousand times worse.

At least the age difference between him and Itachi had been below twenty years.

In any case, the boy was left huddled in the corner of his room, naked.

-x-x-x-x-

Naruto awoke with a start, sitting up quickly. A cry escaped him as he did so, the after affects of his nightmare still taking a toll on him. He pulled his knees up to his chest, shivering violently in the dark. It disturbed him just how real the dream had felt. The blonde shook his head, pulling his blanket up to wrap it tighter around himself. Never mind that. Orochimaru would never dare to take him away from Itachi.

Sighing, Naruto laid back down, surprised at just how cold he was. The boy frowned, tossing the blanket aside, revealing his bruised and battered flesh.

Naruto was naked.

He blinked in surprise, quickly getting up onto his knees. He was inside as well. Well his was cause for worry. The boy stood up and looked around, clenching his fists. His body protested wildly, but he was far too concerned with his latest realization to care.

It hadn't been just a nightmare.

Author's Note

WOW. That took much longer than I had originally intended. Truthfully, there is no real excuse for my lack of updating lately. I've been slacking off, and I'm sorry for that. u.u Anyways, I'll try and get at least one chapter out per week in the future! And, sorry… No Reviewer responses this chapter.