Reconciliation

Orochimaru gave a mock sigh of exhaustion as he finished applying the last of the burn salve to Kakashi, wiping his forehead to complete the gesture. In truth, it'd been a rather easy task as the man hadn't resisted him, which couldn't be said for…most of his patients.

As Kakashi sat up and pulled back down his tattered shirt, Orochimaru informed him, "My, you got off quite lucky. At such a close range, that explosion would've surely killed a slower ninja. But you were trained by the Yellow Flash, I've heard? Of course, he can't gift you the ability of speed but I'm sure his tutelage must've had at least some impact on your agility. You managed to escape with only second degree burns, so you'll live." He clapped the white-haired ninja roughly on the back, which also earned him a disgruntled glare.

Ignoring it, Orochimaru stood up, storing away the rest of his medicines and bandages. "Now, we should go see how Suigetsu and the dog boy are faring—"

He cut himself short as he felt a stab in his chest, falling to his knees on the bank of the river flowing at the bottom of the cliff. There was the feeling of something being pulled away, something deep and important. This link, this connection, had always been natural, just another part of his being, and perhaps, he now realized, he'd taken that for granted. The entire process only lasted a few seconds and then was done and whatever had once been there was now lost and he didn't need to be told that it was permanent.

"Hey! What's wrong?" Kakashi asked, forgetting his own pain to rush over. This was the first time he'd ever seen the man display any sign of vulnerability.

Orochimaru swiftly pulled up the sleeve on his left arm, exposing a stretch of pale skin. Touching the arm gently, he whispered, "Aoda, what happened…?"

"Aoda?" Kakashi prodded.

"The Great Snake Aoda," Orochimaru named him properly, slowly standing back up. "My family has had a bond to snakes for generations and we're given a mark once a snake has been chosen for our personal summon. But ahh…Aoda has never served me willingly," he gave a hollow laugh but Kakashi tensed, seeing the pain in those golden eyes. "He took a liking to Sasuke immediately though for whatever reason, following when Sasuke had absorbed my cells. But Sasuke never officially made a contract with him so I retained the status as his official master. But now…my mark is gone."

"So he's been slain," Kakashi finished, though had the kindness to take some of the edge off his words.

Orochimaru nodded once. "Yes. He would've been summoned by Sasuke and whatever battle they just fought, it must've been intense. If Sasuke's already crossed paths with this Takami man I've heard mention of and he's managed to kill Aoda, then Sasuke's certainly in danger. We need to go to him immediately."

Without waiting, the older man leapt back up the cliff and Kakashi was left to hurry and follow. As he sprang from ledge to ledge, he wondered, what was it about Sasuke that made Orochimaru feel so protective? He could understand back when Sasuke harbored the desire to destroy the Leaf; Orochimaru had very nearly succeeded in doing just that. But now that Sasuke had changed…why did Orochimaru feel compelled to change as well? Perhaps Sasuke's experience of being the saved, wretched soul had been enough to inspire even someone as corrupt as Orochimaru. It wasn't an unwelcome change, but its suddenness and ferocity sometimes made Kakashi feel disoriented.

As they reached the top, he prepared himself to assist in the battle against the man they'd been fighting before but as he looked around, he saw Suigetsu, Kiba and Akamaru who looked battle-weary, but no man with blue hair. He looked down to Pakkun beside him, but the dog shook his head; he couldn't sense the man.

Suigetsu snapped his sword to his back, rotating a shoulder as he walked towards Orochimaru. "Man, that wimp ran off just when the going was getting good! He said something about his presence being requested elsewhere and just vanished. If that guy was supposed to be one of Takami's elite, then Takami is going to be a breeze!"

"Aoda was just killed so check your flippant attitude!" Orochimaru admonished, causing his charge to flinch and fall silent. "It was a mistake to spread our ranks so thin…we surely can't be the only ones that have been attacked. Suigetsu, go find Jugo and tell him to meet us at the village the kunoichi from the Leaf found. There was a possibility Sasuke was heading there with them. Bring the Sand shinobi if they're willing as there's little reason for them to remain behind. Aoda's death was probably the result of Sasuke getting close to where Naruto is at. I'm almost certain that he's managed to find more information than we have at this point. I'm such a fool…I'm not sure why I continue to underestimate him," he sighed.

As Suigetsu dashed off, Kakashi said nothing to call him back. Orochimaru's plan made sense and he couldn't think of a reason to refute him. As such, he willingly accepted his current secondary role and followed Orochimaru as he took off at the head of the group.

~.~.~

Indeed, Sasuke was rushing to get back to Sakura, Hinata and Karin. In hindsight, he realized how dumb all of them had been to allow the healing shinobi to be a group unto their own specifically because of situations like this. Even with the flames that cloaked his body, he could feel how cold Naruto had become. Kurama's siphoned energy had been contained in a vessel, one that he'd stupidly forgotten to bring along. He wouldn't have had the time though; had he gone for it, Naruto's body would've been taken back. Even if it meant sacrificing some of Kurama's energy, he'd retrieved the most important object of all.

This said, Naruto did need Kurama to live. The women could restore his wind chakra but what could they offer for the depleted chakra of the Nine Tails? He lost himself in his thoughts until a flash to his right caught his attention. From his distance, it looked like a small detonation but he could tell from how the trees shook and fell that within that vicinity, the impact had been anything but small. However, the dent left didn't suggest explosives but a destruction made by brute force alone. He actually felt his heart beat a little faster as he realized who it was.

Readjusting his direction, he swooped in low, dissolving the Susano'o. The speed of his flight still flung him forward even without wings and as he drew closer, he searched for the target of the previous attack. Hefting Naruto in one arm by the waist, he freed his left hand and prepared a Chidori that flickered with black lightning, expecting to see a flash of white clothing to release it on.

However, he realized too late that whatever had been there had taken its leave, leaving him no one to attack to slow his momentum. As it was, one of the three people that had remained managed to notice his incoming unsteady flight and jumped to slow him down. Sasuke crashed into Sakura full-force, her legs digging into the ground as she was propelled backwards. When he at last came to a stop, their bodies had formed a five-foot trench but it was her who was now holding him.

Even after that, she easily jumped with him and Naruto to level ground. Once she realized who the other person was, she squealed and hugged him. "You did it! You actually managed to find him!" This was followed by a hard hit to his head, causing him to see stars. "What the hell do you call that move?! He's already knocking at death's door; are you trying to finish him off?"

Sasuke deserved that and he knew it, so he didn't protest. Instead he told her, "I saw your attack. Wasn't there someone here?"

Sakura shook her head, already administering her healing chakra to Naruto. "They fled, but I'm sure that had nothing to do with what I did," she pointed to the other massive hole some feet away, which likely had been created with her fist. "They'll be back and I don't think round two will be pretty."

As Hinata joined her in healing Naruto, she announced, "His chakra points are also blocked, but not as bad as yours had been, Sasuke. I don't think he'll need to go to the hospital…not that there's anything they could do for him," her voice hitched. "They tried to take the Nine Tails' energy, didn't they?"

His nod caused Karin, who was just about to roll up her sleeve and offer an arm, to pause. "Yeah. We'll need to get back the container they're keeping it in or at least destroy it. I didn't have enough time to grab both." Despite himself, he still put a hand to Naruto's face and smiled, almost in disbelief that Naruto was back with him.

Hinata reached her own hand out to Naruto's face before pulling it back. Naruto wasn't hers to do that with. Her lip trembled, but she bowed her head and continued to help unblock the chakra points. Noticing her anguish, Sakura used one hand to pat her consolingly on the back.

As the two continued to heal Naruto, Karin instead offered her arm to Sasuke, who took it without question. He told them everything that had happened with his encounter with Takami, and Sakura even gasped when he revealed what had happened to Aoda. As one that could perform a summon herself, Tsunade's Katsuyu, she'd understand the most the immensity of such a loss.

Their moment of reconnection was soon interrupted though. "I hate to break up story time, but something's on its way here," Karin informed them, turning herself in the direction the source was coming from. "In fact, it's two presences. Sasuke, take Naruto, we can handle this," she declared and gave a nod to Sakura and Hinata.

While he was relieved they weren't at each other's throats as he'd expected would happen, if they planned to go up against someone from Takami's group, they'd need all the assistance they could get. Also…even though he wasn't able to get to full health currently (unless he wanted to drain Karin completely dry), he was still much stronger than all three of them combined. Instead what he said out loud was, "Even if I take Naruto, there's no guarantee I'll be allowed to run. I could easily be cut off and surrounded. It's clear they've been using the fact that we're spread apart to their advantage so now that we have Naruto, it's best we stay together. And besides…I'm tired of running."

Sakura and Karin gave him smiles of appreciation and Hinata even managed a nod at his resolve. Keeping Naruto in the middle, the four formed a circle around him, scanning their eyes across the field to be prepared for any other threats. They fell silent in tension as they waited until Karin suddenly dropped her pose and put a hand to her forehead. "False alarm. It's only Bee."

Instead of the previous groans that accompanied mention of his name, they each sighed with relief that it wasn't an attack. The trees began to sway from a strong force as something very large made its arrival from the sky. It had an elongated head in the shape of a kabuto beetle but with six wings similar to that of a dragonfly's. Their orange hue glistened in the setting sun, like amber resin. It crouched down upon landing to allow Bee to hop off its back before drawing itself back up enthusiastically. The look faltered though once it caught sight of Sasuke. "What are you doing here?" the creature snapped, the wings beginning to buzz again.

"Chomei, calm down, Sasuke's good now," Bee said, but the Seven Tails pushed past him to boldly come closer.

"If you think that your relationship with Naruto Uzumaki will change anything, it won't," he informed Sasuke and as he walked closer, all signs of the normally bubbly personality were now gone. As he approached, the Uchiha reflexively reached behind him to pull out his sword. Seeing the gesture, Chomei gave a snort of disgust. "Look, I'm not here for your sake but for Naruto's and Kurama's. For that reason alone, I won't kill you."

"As if you could," Sasuke instantly shot back which caused everyone to stare at him. He knew he wasn't helping things but it was a knee-jerk reaction to counter those that dared to talk down to him. Taking a deep breath, he let go of the sword and came forward, keeping his hands visible. "I'm sorry. You have every reason to distrust me after what I did the last time we met. Still, I ask that you please divorce yourself from the thought of who I once was and who I am today. I've sworn myself to my village, to Naruto, and to anything he holds dear. That unquestioningly includes the Tailed Beasts as well."

There was a long moment of silence as everyone held their breath, waiting for the Seven Tails to respond. The stillness dragged on until, in a blur of movement, Chomei jumped into the air with wings fluttering faster than before. While the others posed to jump in front of Sasuke, the Uchiha never moved, willing his body to stand down. Everyone's fears were put to rest when Chomei gave a flip in the air and said, "Well, if you mean it, I forgive you. Wow, being angry is so tiring! I'd hate to have to feel that way all the time; how'd you do it, Sasuke?"

Sasuke flinched back, not expecting the question. It was a topic that even now, he struggled with opening up about. Those years of darkness were something he only cared to talk to Naruto about and so, he gave the Seven Tails a simple headshake and a vague shrug.

"Well, either way, I'm happy you changed," Chomei said. Rising higher, he added, "I'll gather up the other Tailed Beasts and ask them to help out here as well! Don't worry, I'll make sure to put in a good word for you!" They watched him fly away until his wings could no longer be heard.

Killer Bee was the first to speak up: "Well damn, that went better than I thought." Then turning to look at Sasuke, he said, "But what was that about swearing yourself to Naruto, yo?"

Sasuke turned around and knelt again next to Naruto, who was looking a little better. He'd continue to look drained until the rest of the Nine Tails' energy was retrieved or until Kurama regenerated the energy on his own but at least for now, he wasn't knocking on death's door. Sasuke put his face close and laid his forehead on top of Naruto's before nuzzling his nose.

Even with his eyes closed, he didn't miss Killer Bee's slight squeamishness. The jinchuuriki swallowed hard and said, "I prefer to get the honey's since they call me Killer Bee, but I still respect you, man, if another dude is your thing. Word…" It looked as though it took everything for him to say even that much.

That was fine with Sasuke, though. He wasn't about to shove the acceptance of his relationship with Naruto down anyone's throat as he didn't need anyone else's approval to be with him. His village didn't ban him from being with Naruto and for now, that's all that mattered.

The moment came to a close when Karin gave another announcement but this time she sounded slightly excited as opposed to being on cautious alert. "Hey, Suigetsu is heading this way! And Jugo's with him…along with those Sand ninja from earlier."

Arriving once more from both ground and sky, the Sand ninja appeared with Jugo and Suigetsu in tow. Karin immediately ran up to the white-haired teen and threw herself at him, in which he spun her once and mumbled, "Missed you, babe." Those standing close to them sighed and politely looked away.

Gaara looked around at all assembled and stated, "I see that Kakashi's group hasn't reached here yet. They must've been the furthest away."

"Kakashi's joining us as well too?" Sakura asked him, becoming elated. It'd be good to fight alongside her teacher for old time's sake.

The Kazekage gave a solemn nod, not sharing her enthusiasm. "Suigetsu mentioned fighting someone from Takami's group when he was with Kakashi, which is the same thing that happened with us. Also, in exactly the same way, the person suddenly retreated. Did the same happen here?"

"Yes, it was just like that," Hinata answered, already figuring out what was likely happening. "And you, Bee? Did someone attack you?"

"Fo' sho, but I sent 'em runnin' away in no time!" He said proudly and did an impressive gesture using the multitude of swords stashed on his body.

Gaara, however, remained apathetic. "I highly doubt they left because they were losing. Truth be told, had they not retreated…" he looked down at his hand and tightened it into a shaking fist, unwilling to vocalize his weakness. Beside him, Tamari and Kankuro also shamefully looked away.

Thinking back now on each of their encounters, their uncertainties came to light. Nearly everyone present now knew that Takami had the strength to kill off a Great summon, already making it the first fatality before the true battle had even begun. Would one of them be next?

Sasuke watched them, remembering his initial thoughts on if any of them truly knew what they were getting into by tangling with Takami. He looked down at Naruto, tracing a finger lightly around a bruise, emphasizing that even the mighty Naruto wasn't impervious to Takami's whims. He knew this mood would slip everyone into dangerous territory but he found himself lost for words, unable to find the strength to restore even his own faith for the moment.

The one person who possessed that ability was currently incapacitated with no guarantee that they would be rising anytime soon. Sasuke continued to sit beside him, waging a silent battle with his unrelenting doubts.