Kakashi swayed between his feet impatiently at the gates of Konoha. He was accompanied by Sakura and Lee. As usual he'd been late to the gates and even still Naruto was nowhere to be seen. When he'd arrived Sakura and Lee didn't even complain about his tardiness; they only asked him if Naruto was with him. The two chunin were feeling a bit off given that the third person in their party wasn't present so late after schedule. Kakashi was aware that Naruto had been depressed lately but, he was always on time to his missions... especially for anything related to Suna.
Glancing at his watch again he saw that Naruto was two whole hours late to the gates.
"You guys, I'm going to go find him. I want you two to head out, we'll catch up." Kakashi addressed the Chunin.
"Okay Kakashi-Sensei! Come on, Lee." Sakura waved enthusiastically.
"Best of luck, Kakashi-sensei!" Lee screamed behind him, running after the pink-haired kunoichi.
Briskly walking off, Kakashi didn't even know where to start. He'd never had this kind of issue before. He supposed he should check out Naruto's apartment first. He'd have to go to the academy though and pick up Iruka. Only Iruka really knew where Naruto was staying. He'd never asked but he supposed he really should've known by now... He mentally slapped himself for his stupidity and forgetfulness.
Kakashi stopped walking and disappeared in a flash of smoke.
To say Iruka was surprised when Kakashi appeared in his classroom was an understatement. The poor teacher almost passed out from the shocking face-to-face encounter. As it were, Kakashi had appeared mere centimeters away from Iruka's lips. Kakashi chuckled grabbing his lover's waist before he could fall over.
"Oops. Sorry about that." Kakashi apologized in a much less-than-earnest tone.
Iruka steadied himself and looked at Kakashi confused. "Huh-I thought you were headed to Suna? Don't you have a mission with Naruto, Sakura and Lee right now?"
Kakashi nodded, "Sakura and Lee are already on their way but, I need your help. I'll need you to skip class for a little bit."
Iruka looked over to his students briefly before turning to Kakashi. "It's important?" He questioned under his breath.
Iruka quickly picked up on the frantic and almost solemn look in his significant other's eyes. He nodded turning to his class, "Students, I have to leave and I'm not certain when I'll return. So work on your group projects and I'll have the teacher next door watch you until a sub arrives."
Some grumbles of disappointment and shouts of joy could be heard as the two adults left the classroom together.
Upon leaving the building Iruka turned to Kakashi with concern etched into his facial expression. "What happened? Is everything alright?"
Kakashi sighed looking into his counter-parts hazel eyes. "Where's Naruto's apartment?"
Iruka looked at Kakashi ultimately confused. "It's on the East side of town. Why?"
"He didn't arrive this morning." Kakashi muttered.
Iruka's eyes widened, "He was late to a mission to Suna? That's not possible. He's been going on and on about this mission for weeks."
"I know. I would have never imagined him missing a mission to Suna. He usually arrives at least half an hour early. But, he was supposed to be at the gates over two hours ago."
Iruka looked at the side walk trying to make sense of the situation. "This isn't normal. Even if he were deathly ill he'd make sure to arrive on time for that."
Kakashi nodded in understanding and continued, "I had the others head out and told them I'd get Naruto and catch up later." Kakashi looked up at Iruka. "I'm really worried, this isn't like him."
Iruka grabbed his lover's hand as he began walking faster down the streets of Konoha. "I'm worried too. Let's just hurry, okay?"
Kakashi nodded solemnly. Kakashi and Iruka jogged quickly to Naruto's apartment surrounded by a tense and heavy silence. They were both relieved to be in each others' presence and their stress seemed to fade away slowly. However, when they got to the apartment building all of that calm seemed to dissipate instantaneously. Before even getting to the door they could sense that something wasn't right. Iruka led the way to the blonde's apartment. He knocked on the door and it opened on its own accord. Iruka looked fearfully to Kakashi and they cautiously walked into Naruto's little apartment.
"Naruto? A-are you home?" Iruka called into the apartment. His voice stuttered slightly. No response was heard by either nin.
Kakashi strayed from his lover looking around the apartment and noticing that all of the doors were opened. A cool breeze swept through the space from the living room window.
"Kakashi?" Iruka called over hesitantly.
"Yes, 'Ruka?" He turned to see Iruka looking at him nervously.
Iruka looked grave as he started explaining, "Naruto never leaves his doors or windows open, even when he's home. He's been particularly paranoid since… meeting Sasuke in the valley."
Iruka's face fiooded with unbidden fear as he realized possible scenarios. Iruka grabbed Kakashi's hand and they sprinted up the stairs to the room where Naruto slept.
Kakashi stopped in front of Iruka at the door, in an attempt at shielding him from the grotesque scene on the once elegant blue bed. The sheets were stained bright crimson from fresh blood while some spots were already turning a rusty brown from oxidation. Iruka gasped as he peered past Kakashi to see his adopted son tied to his bed, unconscious and bleeding. He was lying in a puddle of his own blood and his face was badly bruised. His usually luminous hair was now matted and dull. The cut across his chest still glistened with slowly flowing blood. The seal seemed to be strangely inflamed. Practically shining bright red in the morning light.
Kakashi stepped forward slowly to better survey the damage. Naruto was covered haphazardly from the waist down with one of his blankets. His feet were each bound to the sides of his bed in a similar fashion to his wrists. The blanket was soaked with his blood. It felt uncomfortably obvious to Kakashi what that piece of fabric was more than likely covering.
Silver duct-tape covered Naruto's mouth with thick black letters scrawled upon it. Kakashi walked gingerly over to his violated student and motioned for Iruka to stay where he was. Iruka watched in rapt silence as Kakashi walked over to his precious blonde, the boy who had grown to be like a little brother or an adopted son to him. Tears welled up in his eyes and he covered his mouth as the horror of the scene really began to flow through him. The silver-haired Jounin bent over the bed studying the letters written on the duct-tape.
'Sasuke's Toy'
Kakashi gasped and growled angrily. "How dare he?"
Iruka couldn't stand watching from the door any longer. He silently walked over to Kakashi's left and also released a disgusted gasp reading Sasuke's message. Hot tears silently rolled down his face. While Iruka stood there shock-still Kakashi went into the bathroom and quickly rummaged around for a cloth. He ran it under warm water before coming back to see Iruka now swiftly untying Naruto's hands and feet as gently as he could. Tears steadily streaming down his face as he delicately placed his limbs back onto the bed. Kakashi came back and began to cleanse the wounds adorning the chunin's ankles and wrists.
"Naruto?" Iruka nudged the boy's arm softly. His other hand was soothingly brushing the sweat drenched hair off of his forehead. Naruto groaned and only moved slightly. "Naruto, can you hear me? It's Iruka. Kakashi and I are here."
Naruto grumbled slightly and furrowed his brows. Iruka sighed in relief. At least that's something. At least he's still here.
"Naruto, I'm sorry very for this." He spoke as clearly as he could, hoping he would hear and understand him. He swiftly ripped the tape off Naruto's mouth. Naruto simply whimpered pathetically. He didn't even flinch or open his eyes in response to the pain.
"Oh, Naruto." Iruka sobbed and carefully pulled the injured boy into his lap. Naruto quickly nuzzled into his neck and began to sob softly.
"Shhh, we're here, Naruto. It's okay. You're safe now." Iruka rubbed his back while Kakashi cleaned and wrapped his wounds with bandages he had snuck out to grab from the bathroom.
Naruto quickly gained control over himself after Kakashi had finished cleaning him up.
"Better?" Kakashi asked, feeling amazingly clueless on how to proceed now.
"Yes, thank you." Naruto croaked out.
"Naruto?" Iruka inquired.
For a while Naruto showed absolutely no response and Kakashi shook his arm a bit. Naruto looked up to Iruka with dull blue eyes. Iruka almost gasped out loud at the amount of pain and loss he could detect in his adoptive son's once lively eyes.
Emotionlessly he responded, "Yes?"
"Can you tell us what happened? Or is it too early?" Iruka looked sweetly into his innocent eyes.
"It was Sasuke. I…I'd…" Choking up he stopped himself short.
"It's okay if you can't talk about it right now," Kakashi reassured him.
Naruto continued beginning to tear up again, "I took some sleeping pills before bed because I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. They really knocked me out and I can't even remember if I locked the windows and doors before I came up here. When I woke up I was tied to the bed. He was right here. Everything happened so fast... I couldn't- there was nothing I could- And he, he-" He started crying in earnest again as he recalled what had happened only hours ago.
Kakashi released a heavy sigh and nodded knowingly, "It's okay Naruto. You don't have to say any more. We need to take you to the hospital now. I'll have Tsunade look at you and we'll give you some time to heal up. After-"
"No." Naruto said forcefully.
Iruka looked at Naruto in surprise, "What do you mean, no?"
In an instant the Jinchuuriki's posture altered completely. He went from staring morosely at the comforter to looking to his sensei without emotion. He was no longer mourning and seemed to have shut himself off in the blink of an eye. The change in poise was terrifying.
"I'm perfectly fine. Nobody will know what happened here and I will go on as if nothing happened. Sasuke's gone now and there's no point in searching for him at this point. Kyuubi's already healing my wounds and I intend on completing my mission in Suna. My things are prepared. I'll be ready in ten minutes."
Iruka and Kakashi stared shocked as Naruto got up, walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Kakashi and Iruka exchanged concerned expressions.
"What do we do, Iruka?" Kakashi whispered in a hurried manner.
"I- I don't know. I'm not sure what he needs right now. He seems okay- physically I mean. Nothing too severe but..." Iruka grimaced as he thought about how he had been mentally scarred in an even worse manner last night than all of the tragedies that already haunted the blonde from his tumultuous past.
Before his mentors could get in much more of a discussion about how to proceed, Naruto was at the door seeming impatiently ready to leave.
"Let's go Kakashi-Sensei. I'm sure Iruka really needs to get back to class."
R&R still greatly appreciated! Updated Dec 2, 2020