Broken

/bleh/ talking to Kyuubi mentally.

Gradually, heavy-lidded sapphire pools began to come to the familiar surroundings of Konoha's infirmary and started to register in Naruto's mind. He heard a voice but it sounded far away and much too soft to make out any coherent words almost like white noise.

"He's fighting the seal again…" That was the last thing he remembered as he slipped back into a deep slumber.

Why is this happening to me? He embraced his legs while pressing the crown of his forehead against his knees. He was in a dark place. The kind of place that not even Kyuubi could reach him. He felt hopeless and betrayed by his people. He was alone and entombed in a place that frightened him that was until he heard that same voice again though this time it was getting louder and closer with each second.

"Naruto wake up! Naru' you gotta fight it! If you don't wake up Sasuke will die!"

"Who's there?" He shouted, towards the darkness. There was no reply just endless coaxing.

"I can't break the seal! So, you're going to have to fight the longer you stay in the state the more you lose a sense of yourself. I know you're strong! You're the strongest kid I know! Try to recall the events that took place. Try to recall why you had winded up here."

Hadn't he always been in this place? But he would try to do as the voice was telling him. Suddenly something he got a whiff of something metallic which caused an image to flash across his mind blood lots and lots of blood, it was so thick in the air to where he could taste it. Why was there so much blood- Suddenly he saw it in flashes as his memory started to come back all the while Sasuke will die kept repeating in his mind like a mantra. He could see the raven's smirk just before he pressed his finger against the youth's forehead.

No! I won't give up.

He awoke with a startled breath as once again he resurfaced to the conscious world. The first thing he saw was Sakura's bright emerald green orbs.

"Thank the gods," she exhaled while cutting away at his elastic restraints. "I know you are groggy and confused but we have no time." She began to help him out of the bed by moving his left leg and then his right.

"If Sasuke's going to survive I'm going to need to borrow some of your Chakra."

As soon as his bare feet hit the cold tiles of the infirmary he collapsed in a heap on the floor, landing on his stomach even with the scroll removed he was still feeling the effects.

"There's no use… It's all my fault…" His voice trembled as the image of Sasuke's blood covering his palms replayed back in his mind. He never meant to harm Sasuke. Naruto knew now that he might even love the moody raven which made his act even more unbearable. Naruto realized how much he needed to hear Kyuubi's voice, but there was no use on the other side of their mind link was nothing but silence.

A loud smack had echo throughout the infirmary Naruto's cheek stun by the hefty slap. Sakura had smacked him with enough force to leave a red mark on his cheek.

"Snap the hell out of it! I don't have time to babysit you! When your mate is dying out there. Tsunade is going to let him die. She believes he's better off dead. If you give up now, you're just surrendering to your fears when there is a chance! C'mon, I got you." She held a hand out to him their eyes connecting. Naruto knew just then what amazing friends he had. He accepted her offer clasping his hand in hers as she helped him to his feet. He slung an arm over her shoulders as she guided him out of the infirmary to the center of town, where Sasuke lay unconscious Hinata was crouched by his side applying pressure to his oozing wound.

She looked grateful to see the pair gradually shuffling towards her. Naruto had removed his arm from Sakura's shoulders shambling over to Sasuke's side.

"Here!" He jerked his hand out towards her, while never removing his eyes from the raven. Tentatively, she took a hold of his digits. At first, she felt no different that was until a tingling began in her palm before surging through her entire body.

She felt like her body was made of pure energy as she hovered her free hand over Sasuke's abdomen. They both watched as a soft green light began to glow as she focused all her Chakra in her palm. Sakura watched in mute amazement as his wound stopped oozing blood and started to cauterize.

Her hand was trembling as the energy began to constrict the flesh of her open palm at first there was a dull pain that gradually became unbearable with each passing second. She winced trying to keep her hand steady the wound was almost completely gone and just as the pain got to the point where she thought her skin was going to melt off the bone, it was the best she could do. Though when her eyes landed on Naruto his body was covered in translucent rust-colored flames, which gradually ebbed away.

Abruptly, he released her hand it felt wrong as if he had betrayed Sasuke somehow by sharing his Chakra with Sakura-chan.

/ That's because it was not meant for her…/ His eyes widen.

/Where the hell have you been? /

/I been here the entire time, Kit. The scroll had countered our seal. Now that the effects have worn off completely. I can communicate with you. /

He abruptly snapped from his mind link as he could sense it, they all did. Tsunade was approaching with at least six ANBU.

"He's bleeding out faster than I'm able to heal him." Shouted Sakura as she kept a shaky palm securely pressed against a ripped-up cloth which she used to press securely against Sasuke's gaping wound.

"Maybe, it's for the best," Tsunade said this while crossing both arms beneath her giant breast. Shocked Sakura jerked her head in the Hokage's direction giving her a look that was a cross between disbelief and disappointment.

"It's not for the best! You are one of the best medic-nin I know. You taught me for crying out loud. Help me patch him up or he won't survive." She cried her voice echoing in the still night air. Tsunade had turned her back on Sakura gesturing for Rock Lee to take Naruto to the infirmary. He paused unsure if he should leave Sakura or not.

"If you do this it will destroy Naruto, making him believe that he killed his mate when we had a chance at saving him."

"That's a gamble I'm willing to take! In all this time, Naruto has never tried to leave Konoha before or even had the desire to do so until that Uchiha came-"

"Have you forgotten it was the same Uchiha who brought him back!" She countered. Her eyes winded as the Uchiha cradled in her arm began to cough up blood. He was fading fast.

"I'm sorry Sakura, come on Lee let's go."

"Don't you dare go, Lee! Naruto if you can hear me you got to fight the seal!" Rock Lee was stuck unsure if he should stay or go both women were scared when they were angry. They both were glaring Kunai at him. Tsunade is far scarier than Sakura when angry. In the end, he took off while still cradling the unconscious blonde in his arms.

"You should just let this go Sakura it's not worth it." She gave the unconscious raven the once over before spinning on her heels her long robe flurried as she went, leaving her old pupil there. Just as everything seemed hopeless her childhood classmate Hinata arrived.

All she needed was for Hinata to apply pressure as she took off after Rock Lee.

There wasn't much that Sasuke could remember; for example, why he was lying on his back outside staring up at the night sky. He wondered vaguely if he was dead, but as that striking yet familiar face came into his line of sight. Sasuke knew then that this was not the case.

"Hi," a teary-eyed Naruto spoke before he was briskly whisked away by two eager ANBU. It took a second for Sasuke to realize that earlier he was in hot pursuit of the blonde and then... Oh right. The teen had punched a hole right through him.

Subconsciously he tried to evaluate the damage but was quickly subdued by his shoulders. "Don't move even though I stopped the bleeding there is still a gaping hole in my work."

"Naru-"

Sadly, the pink-haired woman had gazed in the direction of where the blonde was being taken.

"He's going to be under strict surveillance for what he did. He agreed to Tsunade's terms and conditions. She was going to let you die otherwise; However, something happened he went into his feral state it took all able shinobi to subdue him or he would have leveled the village square otherwise."

Just then, Sasuke felt his eyes go heavy as he drifted between the waking world and silent bliss, the darkness had won. This time when he awoke, it was to the scent of antiseptic and also stainless steel. He was in an infirmary somewhere but as he attempted to sit up. He was instantly berated. "Don't you dare! I did not bust my ass just for you to bust your stitches. Your wounds are still not healed completely."

There was a woeful silence that fell between them, it was stifling, and for a second Sasuke wondered if she had heard him. "He's been cooped up in that place for two weeks now." Even though Sasuke's face did not outwardly show it he felt as if he had been struck in the stomach.

He's been in some sort of coma for two weeks! All that valuable time had slipped by, and now he was left to do some sort of damage control. And all this was just because the brat let his temper get the best of him. Though he would never express this outwardly Sasuke wanted to see Naruto. There was a portentous sense of dread rising in the pit of his stomach. Naruto wasn't okay somehow, he just knew it, which led to his next question.

"Where is he?"

That seemed to have snapped Sakura out of her melancholy. She began to collect all the old and soiled bandages. She was so focused on her task that she botched to notice him reaching out and grasping her wrist this had halted her ministrations.

"Where is he?" If looks could kill. Sasuke wasn't in the mood for riddles or playing games. Their eyes locked.

"I wouldn't be at liberty to say, and even if I did know what makes you think I would convey it to you the outsider."

"Come on now you can't be that daft! Naruto will never let this go. He will beat himself up over what he did to me until it festered inside him like cancer." Maybe there was more to his words than he would like to admit but he just knew. For the first time, Sasuke had a genuine concern for another human being. If Naruto was in fact in some disclosed location in Konoha was Naruto isolated and under the belief that Sasuke was in a coma or worst? He knew the youth would punish himself over it. He failed to take into account his ever-tightening grip over Sakura's wrist.

"You're hurting me," she whimpered.

"You know something!" He hissed pulling her to his eye level. "You can't just sit idly by and hide from this I thought you were Naruto's friend!"

She broke her gaze from his piercing ebony ones. "You're willing to let your friend suffer." She tried yanking her wrist away but his grip was in a vice; However, once he had said his peace he freed her.

"Coward," he murmured. Somewhere between Sakura's relentless struggle something had aggravated his injury. He felt light-headed.

Aggravated, Sasuke closed his eyes as a way of indicating to her that he was done with their conversation that's when he heard it, though very meek it sounded like a whimper. "He's located in the Hokage tower underground. You won't get very far it's heavily guarded by ANBU and even if you managed to get through the front doors and make it underground it's like a labyrinth. Only a hand full of people know the exact location of Naruto's room."

"Good thing you have me." Her body went stiff as she jerked her head towards the doorway where Kakashi was leaning directly underneath, at the same time Sasuke remained reposed despite being caught off guard.

"Are you well enough to walk-"

"I'll manage."

"Good, then you won't have a problem wearing these." The silver-haired man had from behind him a traditional ANBU uniform and ivory crow mask. He removed himself from the gurney stumbling a few feet before gaining his bearings.

True to his word Kakashi and Sasuke had traveled through the pits of hell, literally. Kakashi had diminished any unwanted suspicions. He had the raven stay close as they venture into one of Konoha's unknown underground prisons.

"This is where I must leave you Sasuke. Once you reach the bottom of this staircase there will be rolls of doors one of those doors should be the room he's in, if not then that means they moved him because of his many attempts at escaping. You're on your own from here, so do try to stay out of trouble."

Once he reached the end of the hallway he realized just how drained he was. His stitches weren't helping the situation either. They pulled and yanked at his already scarred tissue, exhaling he leaned against a nearby wall in this underground prison this place had so many turns and secret passages.

Groaning, the raven had pushed himself off the wall, staggering a bit. He was going to check one more room before venturing deeper below; However, when Sasuke opened the room door he saw a sight that pinched a nerve. In the center of said prison was a blonde curled in the fetal position he did not have his noticeable orange jumpsuit instead he was clad in only a grimy hospital gown, but that had not been the thing that got to Sasuke was the collar there was some sort of seal carved into the leather. Sasuke moved closer to the blonde his eyes were opened but had a faraway gaze to them as if he was nothing more than an empty shell laying on the dank prison floor.

"Naruto." The raven called hoping to snap the teen from his cationic state. Hesitantly, he stepped closer only to crouch right in front of the youth.

Released, a shaky breath as his sun-kissed digit withdrew from the raven's shirt as if he was burned. He slid away from his mate turning his head. His face mirrored the emotions he was feeling, which was guilt. He could not bear to look at him now. Sasuke took the opportunity to grasp the blonde by his gown and roughly drag him closer until they were face to face.

"Don't do that." He did not want to see Naruto this way so… broken. His blue eyes had lost that zealous sparkle. Their breaths mingled with each other and the heavy prison air. "I overheard the guards talking they said there was no change in your condition and with each passing day your chances of waking up grow slim."

"I'm here now."

"This is another illusion. I'm imagining you again. You're not real." He said calmly before turning his head from Sasuke.

Naruto was stubborn as ever even in his current condition. Abruptly, he grasped the youth by his shoulders giving him a heavy shake which outward did not face Naruto. He tried to lift one hand while the other remained on this blonde's shoulder.

"You can punish me for all that I have done. It won't change the fact that Sasuke isn't coming back."

"If I were an Illusion could I do this?" Taking Naruto's words as a challenge so in one fluid motion, he reached out grasping the leather collar and pulling Naruto closer their eyes connecting as he focused all his Chakra into his palm. Subconsciously the blonde leaned inward, little by little his lips started to pucker as his cobalt blue eyes began to shut. Sasuke did not back away instead he watched in unspeaking consideration at the scene that was unfolding right in front of him. It was Naruto who initiated this. The blonde had paused once his upper lip brushed against Sasuke's bottom one, before inciting a shaky breath.

He considered what he was doing but concluded that he had to see if this was real as he continued to capture Sasuke's mouth with his own. He moved closer until he was straddling the raven's lap. All the while Sasuke's grip on the collar constricted as the vessel tried to coax Sasuke into a response to his eager lips. The blonde body gave off so much heat that it felt like he was going nova.

It was like the only thing to keep him from going nuclear was his collar and the seal engraved into it. He felt the leather straining against his digits before snapping the collar completely in half that seemed to have released Naruto from whatever restraints had bound him, letting loose some sort of beast inside of him. He started to lift his garments before tossing them in a heap behind him. The blonde looked different his eyes taking on that amber hue and his nails were a whole lot sharper. He was almost feral-like. Sasuke found himself complying with the youth's, kneading and boundless grinding.

They were engulfed in those translucent flames which bound them together he was feeling what the blonde was feeling which was excitement, joy, and arousal it was Naruto who had deepened the kiss their mouths dancing and matching the other, and it was also Naruto who coyly brushed his tongue against Sasuke's slowly his hands slid down to the blonde's diaphragm which constricted than expanded rapidly against his touch.

He released a breathy moan into the kiss pleased with having Sasuke's hands on his bare flesh. For a moment, he had even forgotten about his injury as the blonde's Chakra was focused mostly on that part making him feel as if he hadn't been injured at all. The raven had to put a halt to their reunion. Now was most definitely not the time for this. He broke the exchange.

"Now is not the time we will have plenty of time for that later."

The blonde had blinked a few times as his face began to grow bright red. As if he had an entire personality change.

"I can't believe it's you." His embarrassment turned from that to excitement back to confusion.

"Why didn't you leave with me when we had the chance? We could have lived different lives, together."

"No, we wouldn't have, unlike most people. You're the type who puts others before yourself if we would have left Konoha you would have been consumed with guilt. This village is a part of you, and the people need you here to protect them. As their vessel, that's the sacrifice you got to make."

"You may be right, but it doesn't mean I have to like it." He scrunched up his nose.

"Naruto, do you mind?"

"Huh? Oh…" He realized that he was still straddling Sasuke's lap clad in only his boxers. The seal used to control his emotions was torturous to the blonde. He was a firecracker unpredictable and fearless them trying to contain that flame that was him it would only backfire, and now that the seal was removed all those backup emotions came rushing out like a typhoon.

"You have yet to move," The raven sighed. Reluctantly, the youth stood.

"Are we going back to my place? And how did you manage to get in here." He asked while placing his gown back on.

"No, we are going to speak to your keeper Tsunade. And it was Kakashi's doing."

"You're joking!" The look that Naruto received had said it all.

Author's note: Tsunade is not a bad person she just wants was best for her village and she has a lot on her plate, even though she about things the wrong way.