Chapter 6

Sasuke had left Tazuna at the meeting point and had been so fortunate as to borrow a messenger bird. He quickly wrote down that they needed something to transport the people they had captured and their position. He released the bird and was soon on his way back again.

He stayed away from Naruto keeping an eye out for more enemies or the people sent to help them. Sai was sitting beside Naruto, who was lying on whatever fabric they could find. The pain was bearable as long as he didn't move. He still couldn't get the sight of the other mans face out of his head. He seemed so smug. Like he knew something Naruto didn't know, as if he was so sure they had the upper hand. He shook his head and tried to forget. It was nothing. The man had just thought for a moment that they were winning, he shouldn't think about this anymore.

A couple of hours later the help had arrived. Two men on horses pulling a large wagon came into the clearing. Sasuke got back to the others and helped shoving the men inside. They tied each person to a small metal hook to keep them in place. One of the helpers and Sai was carrying Naruto inside the wagon too. He wasn't able to walk anymore and had to ride with the captives. They closed the door and were on their way back again.

They stopped by the hospital and Naruto slowly walked inside. Sasuke walked behind him, keeping an eye out for him. He was the leader and he therefore had to make sure that every member was well and didn't get too injured. They all three went to a small waiting room and waited for Sakura to come. Sakura had been assigned to their group and was the one who always treated them after every mission. Even if they weren't injured they had to come here for a cheek up. It was procedure and Sasuke just followed orders.

He heard Naruto groan as he sat down on one of the chairs and his anger flared up again. Or maybe not really anger. But some kind of emotion. It was uncomfortable. He was… scared. He had been scared. When he saw Naruto got hurt he had frozen. The sight. The blood. This time it had been different. This time he had cared and he didn't like it. He wasn't supposed to feel something like this. He wasn't supposed to care for someone. He tried to grab a hold on his anger. He wanted the anger. It was easier for him, he knew that feeling. The anger slowly pushed the fear away. He glared at Naruto and soon after he was in front of him.

"Now tell me. Why?"

"Why what?" Naruto asked confused. His brain felt scrambled and it was beginning to get warmer and warmer inside every minute.

"You never told me why you acted so irresponsibly and just left our subject. I can't believe I have to get stuck with you as a teammate. You're not fit for this job. You can't control yourself. You have to do as I say. I am the leader. Do you know why that is? It's because I'm so much better than you. It's because I'm stronger, smarter and better in every thinkable way than you. So next time I tell you something you do it"

Sasuke threw the harsh words at Naruto. He could see the despair on his face and wanted to stop, but he couldn't. He had to get him to understand that they couldn't be friends. He enjoyed being together with him too much, he couldn't let him get to him more than he already was. Their bond was already too strong, he needed to break it. No not break it, he had to burn it. Burn it to ashes so there wouldn't be any evidence left that he had ever felt something.

"We could have lost our subject, you idiot. You have to protect him at any cost and not think about the other members. They are replaceable. You are replaceable." Naruto flinched at that.

"I had to save you. You hadn't seen him, he was going to attack you" Sasuke didn't like how fragile his voice sounded.

"And so? You have to protect him no matter what. We have to complete the mission, nothing else matters."

"In my opinion missions are important. I know that those who don't follow the rules are worthless humans, but those who abandon their comrades are not people in my book. They are machines. I don't ever want to be like that. To be like you Sasuke. You think feelings are a hindrance. You just follow all the rules and do as everybody says. I'm not like that" Naruto's voice got higher and higher until he was yelling at Sasuke. The power in Naruto and the harsh words against Sasuke fuelled his anger. He grabbed a hold of his shirt and bashed him against the wall.

"Don't raise your voice at me. I'm in charge here. You know nothing about me."

"Could you wait with that until Sakura has looked at his wound" The cold monotone voice cut through both of their anger. Sasuke looked down and saw that the blood had completely soaked through the gauze. Sasuke dropped him as if he had been burned and walked out the room. He was feeling a mixture of anger and fear and didn't want to hurt him further. Sai helped Naruto up and into a chair. He gently patted his shoulder.

"He's just worried, you shouldn't take what he said to heart. I have read that some people show one feeling to people, but inside they are feeling something else. You know how Sasuke can be. He wouldn't just admit to be worried" Naruto looked towards the door

"As if he would feel something like that for me." Sai smiled sadly and walked out to Sasuke to try and get him to calm down. Why was it that he always had to mend what ever was going on between them all the time?

The room kept getting warmer and Naruto was feeling feverish. Sasuke really hated him now. He had just thought that they really could be friends. It was going so well. Naruto coughed violently and slowly got up. His legs were trembling making it hard for him to walk. He coughed again and felt wet around his mouth. He tried to walk again, managing to reach the door and opening it.

"Sorry" They heard him say in a very soft and almost distant voice. They looked over at him and froze. His face suddenly seemed so pale. It stood in deep contrast to the very real and very red blood flowing from his mouth. He opened his mouth again, but nothing came out. Instead he suddenly fell down. Not like an elegantly fall to the side or slowly sliding down the wall until he's sitting. No it was just straight down, like his body was a rag doll and nobody was holding it up anymore. His body was limp and just lying down there on the ground.

Everything was quiet except for the soft blowing sound to their ears. The surrealism of the situation made the two men just stand there looking at the unmoving thing on the ground. Thing. Cause what just happened couldn't be real. It was like they couldn't really recognize what was happening. The thing that was lying there wasn't a person. It wasn't someone they knew. Suddenly the sounds were back and the two men began moving again.

Sasuke hurried over and lifted Naruto up and ran out to get the nurse. He quickly found Sakura and with just one look at him she knew it was serious. She guided them to a room and Sasuke put Naruto down.

We have finally reached the flash forward that was in the prologue. So what do you guys think is going to happen?
Please leave a review, so I know how I'm doing. I hope you're all enjoying this so far.