Naruto opened his eyes and gasped audibly, he felt as if he had been suffocating, his whole body burning in desperation and anguish, he turned to look around the room and suddenly realization dawned upon him. Sasuke was gone.
He took a long warm bath, he felt weak and hungry and his heart felt heavy with grief. His family was gone and even though part of him refused to acknowledge it, he knew there was a chance not all of them would return.
After a few minutes he dressed in one of Sasuke's shirts and came out of his room, the house was silent, more so than before.
Iruka was sitting down on the dining table, with a sad smile on his face, there was a plate full of food in front of him. With a gesture he invited the blonde to join him.
"Sasuke's spell was quite strong. You've been asleep for two whole days"
Naruto didn't answer, he sat down slowly, still fighting the feeling of grogginess.
"I made you something to eat. Sasuke said I have to make you eat, even if it has to be by force" - the blonde chuckled.
"I'm not a damsel in distress you know" - Iruka blushed. "I'm just mad he did not let me say goodbye"
"He had his reason, no need to dwell on that. You can chastise him all you want when he comes back"
"I surely will" - Iruka reached for his hand.
"When we were younger and I was still a mortal, Kakashi fought another war against Akatsuki, they were fewer in number and less strong but still I feared for his life. I know how you feel"
"I wish i could've helped"
"Me too, but fighting is not my forte unfortunately" - both of them laughed
XxXx
Sasuke sat down on a rotting log and looked around, Sakura's head was on his lap, her fangs puncturing his arm, drinking small gulps of his blood.
He hated sharing his blood with others but because he was a direct descendant from the first vampire allowing the others to drink from him made them stronger. There were many creatures that tried to kill him or restrain him for his blood but the majority of them were simply too weak to even lay a blow on him. Sakura stopped after three or four gulps, her eyes were red and unfocused for a few seconds so Sasuke stroked her hair a few times to ground her back to reality.
"Are you ok? Is it too much of a burden on your body? - Sakura asked, the boy placed a loving hand on her cheek and lowered himself to kiss her temple.
"I'm ok. Move so Ino can have her turn now" - Sakura nodded and left Sasuke's side.
If some members of the Akatsuki had killed Jiraiya then he had to strengthen his team, if not, they would be surely marching to their death.
Ino closed her pale blue eyes as she sank her fangs to the closing wound Sakura had left, she let out a soft moan as she took her first drink. Sasuke wondered if they felt the same way he felt when feeding from his mortal lover, if it felt as intoxicating to them as it felt to him.
"Are you thinking about him?" - Ino asked, Sasuke smiled, a sad longing smile
"I am. Always" - Ino sat down in front of Sasuke and took his hands in hers, the boy swayed and fell on her open arms.
"You did good, thank you"
"Was it too much for him?" - Kakashi asked from behind
"Yes, he is not used to feeding us, he just needs to rest and he'll be ok" - Ino lifted Sasuke in her arms as if he did not weigh anything at all, she passed the limp body to Juugo.
"There's an inn a couple of miles away, I can sense 10 people the most. Ino use your mind control and we'll take a rest" - Kakashi commanded, Ino huffed, she disliked receiving orders from others but she knew Sasuke would have glared if she complained, that thought alone made her smile.
XxXx
Sasuke felt tan fingers tracing his cheeks, the tingling of blonde tresses in his face, the warmth of the naked body on top of his, he wanted this to continue forever, he wanted to bask in the love of his human lover but he opened his eyes and everything turned to smoke, he looked around to find himself in a dingy old room, Sakura and Juugo were sitting down in a small stable looking at him with hidden worry.
"You were calling out his name" - Juugo said, Sakura kicked him from under the table.
"Are you feeling alright? We brought you some blood from our hunt, please drink it" - she approached with a glass cup and helped Sasuke drink, his pale lips and cheeks turning rosy for a while.
"Is everyone safe?"
"Of course, we are just taking a small rest until you recover and then we'll move. You should have seen Ino, her mind control is unbelievable. All thanks to you" - her hand came to take his own, Sasuke turned his head to the window.
"At least this cursed blood can help us this time"
"Madara's sins are not yours to take Sasuke, remember that" - Juugo stood up to join the other two, Sasuke's piercing gaze turned to him and the smile he gave him almost made him blush.
"We'll rest for a few more hours and leave, sunrise is about 7 away so we have some time. I'll inform Kakashi and the rest that you have awaken"
"Thanks guys"
XxXx
Tsunade's hideout wasn't easy to find, even though her clan had left a few hints here and there for them to find, it was near the wee hours of the night they were able to find her.
Sasuke looked at her, the carcass of the powerful woman he had met hundreds of years ago. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair in total disarray and her skin tan.
"The sun won't work on you anymore" - Sasuke told her, the tired eyes turned to look at him. "You wanted the easy way out" - the older woman punched the table and stood up so fast all the papers surrounding her flew to the floor.
"You hypocrite, you would do the same if your mortal boy passed away"
"I would take my revenge first. Before joining him in eternal slumber" - Sasuke did not deny her statement. "I believe you call us to fight, not for us to watch you kill yourself" Sasuke took a step forward from his companions. "Come here you old hag, this is your last chance to grieve, tomorrow we fight" - Sasuke opened his arms, welcoming the crying old vampire im his embrace.