Sasuke felt the calling in his mind even before the others came tumbling into his room, there had been a slight pain running through his body, and an agonizing scream reverberated in his ears, he lowered his head and pressed his fingers to his temple, Naruto had come running to his side, his hands hurrying to stroke his back but his ears were ringing and he had not heard anything coming from his rosy lips.

"It's Tsunade" - he mumbled through gritted teeth and then his enclave came crashing through the door.

"Sasuke" - Sakura murmured, her eyes were overflowing with tears and her hands shook as a leaf swiped by the wind.

"Jiraiya. He is dead" - Sasuke closed his hand into a tight fist, he did not raise his eyes to meet his family, instead, he closed them and let the embrace of the blonde mortal sooth his soul.

Iruka and Kakashi came to the room only a few minutes later, they were holding hands and sporting similar saddened expressions.

"We must go and join her, we must fight for the hunt to be over" - Kakashi spoke, his lover squeezed his hand and took a step forward.

"I have lived in a state of peace all this time while Tsunade and the rest fought this battle. We can't standby anymore" - Iruka wasn't the strongest or fastest of them all but he was equally brave and loyal. The vampires assented

The night was gloomy, everyone sat down in Sasuke's room, with their heads bowed down. For the longest time nobody moved, and all throughout the night the same veil remained over everyone.

Naruto, being the only human, understood their sadness to a certain degree but he did not feel the same pain in his body and soul as the others experienced, so he felt he was left outside, he did not want to interrupt them but none really seemed to notice when he left the room. He wasn't really sure how to lift their moods but he didn't want to either, it was ok to mourn a loved one.

Sasuke was the first to awaken the next day, he detangled himself from the blonde's arms and with a soft kiss on the forehead he left to change.

Kakashi was already in his study, his clothing no longer reflected his easy going nature but rather that of a warrior.

"You know the mortal boy will only be a burden. He stays behind" - Kakashi's words were harsh to his ears.

"Naruto will understand"

"Will your enclave follow? You are the strongest of us all, if you and your family do not fight now we will be lost. Akatsuki will not stop until they have killed us all"

"They will follow me wherever I go. I will no longer run away from my duty"

Kakashi spread a map over his wooden table and stopped it from rolling over with some books, his long finger set over a forest.

"The signal came from here, Tsunade and the others are near the mist village. The fastest way to get there is crossing the mountains, we would arrive in a matter of a few days.

"The area is quite populated so food shortage is not a problem"

"But we would be open for an attack if we come close to the village. They'll know we need to feed"

"Ino should reckon the area first, her mind control is the best amongst us, she would be able to spot any imposter" - Kakashi nodded and crossed his arms in deep thought.

"Iruka can stay with Naruto" - Kakashi ssid after a while, Sasuke raised a questioning eyebrow.

"It is true I would prefer for Naruto to be guarded, can we spare Iruka from battle?"

"He isn't as old and strong as us. He would serve better as a guardian"

"If that is what you wish, you can keep your lover safe" - Kakashi nodded once again.

"We part tomorrow then, there's no time to waste" - Sasuke left the room to communicate the details of the trip to his family.

Naruto was the last person he visited, the young mortal was sitting outside as he usually preferred nature rather than being trapped inside the walls of the house. His back was to him, the steady rise and fall of his breathing transmitted serenity. When Sasuke's feet crunched a leaf he turned around, his clear blue eyes invited him in.

"We need to talk"

"You need to leave. There's no need to dance around the subject" - Naruto's smile was sad, he could not hide it.

"I'm sorry"

"No need to apologize, i understand"

"Please be safe Naruto, i don't know what i would do if i lost you"

"Nothing will happen to me, you know more than me that this place is safe" - Naruto's tan hands cupped his face, his fingers tracing gentle lines in the pale cheeks, he leaned to kiss Sasuke's forehead and then he pressed his foreheads together.

"Come back alive and in one piece. I'll be waiting for you here"

Sasuke smiled, his pointy fangs poking outside of his lips.

"Nothing changes, let's go take a walk and then we can see what the night has in store for us" - Naruto stood up and extended a helping hand to his lover

XxXx

Sasuke wiped the blood from his lips and pressed his hips against the blond, whose nails were digging into his back, he groaned in release and with a few more thrusts, the blonde moaned in satisfaction.

Naruto hugged himself to the naked body on top of his, he kissed the pale lips softly and tenderly, he didn't want to let go, letting go meant Sasuke would leave and he didn't want to say goodbye, not yet.

"Sleep now. I know you are tired, we've been awake for quite a while" - Sasuke traced the dark bags under the mortal's eyes with the tip of his fingers.

"No commands" - Naruto drawled but his mind was already foggy.

"I'll be back before you know it, don't you worry about me. I love you"

"Sasuke please… don't…" - Naruto begged but his eyes were already closing - he felt Sasuke's lips over his own and with hazy eyes he saw him stand. Sasuke pulling his shirt back on was the last thing he saw before sleep took him over.