Chapter 34: Under and Out.
Pairings: Naru/Sasu
Rating: M- NC17
Disclaimer: Naruto...yeah...Don't own it...
Summary: Remember that summer camp you went to: that quaint place out in the woods, by a lake, sitting around a campfire telling ghost stories and eating s'mores? Well this summer school sure as hell isn't that. Three months, Sasuke, teenage delinquents, illegal alcohol, prescription drugs, annoying shrinks, escape plans, a shitzu from hell and new relationships...welcome to camp.
"Everyone ready?" he asked looking them in the eyes, there wasn't even a bare hint of uncertainty in any of them; Pein most off all.
"Okay then...five...four...three...two...one!" Sasuke pressed the button, the timer in the EMP activated and in three split seconds the whole power grid sparked out. Complete darkness enveloped the whole camp.
Sasuke grabbed the laser optical sight Kiba had managed to smuggle out of the weapons room; crouched down facing the gathering.
"Let's go."
The group as silently and swiftly as possible crept through darkened camp; at the crossroads leading to the quad Sasuke carefully aimed the laser to the camera that covered the walkway. Even if the main power grid was down he didn't want to take chances cause who knew, maybe the camera had a back-up power system. Satisfied they then hurried to the quad, pausing every few feet to check if the way was clear and they weren't followed. They safely made it to the garden. Sasuke crouched down to the spot weakened by the corrosive and cleanly cut through the damaged links with the cutter, pulled it open wide and hissed 'go'.
Each one slipped through the hole like fish through water, except Neji who paused to yank his hair out of snag. Sasuke swore.
On the other side of the fence, they all ran to the farthest perimeter of the desert land where the tree line started to come in, they ducked under the foliage and ran deeper into the forest. At that moment the lights in the camp flared on, Sasuke breathed deeply.
Step one; accomplished.
Facing Pein he silently handed him the canteen and ordered him to sit down beside a sturdy tree. Pein obeyed, took the container and downed it in one gulp.
Step two, done.
At that split second a horrible blaring cut through the air. They have obviously found out about the escape.
Sasuke furtively checked his watch. Damn it. Where the hell was Orochimaru? He glanced over to Pein who had gone limp and pale against the tree. Looking up he saw Kin on high limb peering out on the space of land.
"Kin?"
She dropped down, "Sasuke...I think we have a problem."
"What is-"
A bullet sliced through the air, clocking Kin in her shoulder. Kin reeled back and stumbled, blood arching through the air. A series of gunshots followed just as five or six men, clothed in black barged into the area. Naruto, TenTen, Neji, Shikamaru, Kiba, Renjii and Gaara reacted then charged.
If Sasuke had the power to slow down time and replay it all over a cinema styled screen he wouldn't have gotten it all. While fighting for his life he got snippets of TenTen burying a kunai into someone's gut, Kin trying her best defend herself with her feet, Gaara's systematic disabling to weak spots, Naruto down on the ground wrestling the most muscled attacker.
While ducking and dodging, out of the corner of his eye he saw Neji trapped in a chokehold, struggling. He broke free but the man grabbed a hold of his braid...
Swishhh.
The knife that was aimed for Neji's neck, merciful, only cut through the metre length of hair like it was air. Strands of cinnamon hair fell like a waterfall.
Sasuke grimaced.
A horrified cry rang out, while daring to look Sasuke swallowed hard, Gaara face was bloody, he had just gotten sliced on the face and blood was pouring down his chin like a river. A horrible crack then sounded, TenTen's arm was bent in an unnatural angle.
A hard closed fist met his face with a crack; Sasuke stumbled, regained his balance and struck out. Then command slithered through the air like an incensed cobra's.
"Stop it fools." Orochimaru snarled, stepping out of the darkness. "If you damage Pein I will have you drawn and quartered."
Stepping up the Sasuke he said, "My apologies Sasuke, they're just stupid trained monkeys...where is Pein?"
Sasuke nodded to the tree behind him, Orochimaru knelt down, felt his pulse and reeled back. Snapping his head to Sasuke he snarled, "He's dead."
"Really." Sasuke sounding appalled. "How could that happen?"
Orochimaru stood up and pulled a glock from inside his jacket. "I didn't want to do this Uchiha. But if he's dead, he isn't worth anything to me, and neither are you."
Suddenly Sasuke was shoved out of the way The three shots rang out, passed Sasuke's ear for less than an inch and struck the one person Sasuke knew was behind him; Naruto.
A strangled gasp was rang out behind him but before he could turn, he was grabbed by his lapels
"And you..." Orochimaru hissed, sticking the gun to his forehead, "are worthless now." he leaned down and trailed his tongue over Sasuke's cheek, "I had so much hopes for you Sssaassuke...you were perfect, but now they will never find you bod-"
"DROP IT!" someone shouted.
Orochimaru stepped back in shock. "What the he-"
A squad of grey and green military looking soldiers flooded the area. "DROP IT NOW! DO NOT MOVE!"
Orochimaru stepped back while staring at Sasuke. "You..."
Even though he was sure his jaw was broken Sasuke grinned, "Me...I told you, you don't mess with an Uchiha. You're screwed snake."
By the time he had leaned back the men Orochimaru had brought had been handcuffed, and were down on their knees, their weapons piled in heap. One officer glimpsed a slumped over Pein, pulled out a walkie-talkie and spoke, "Dispatch, we need a bus at No Man's Land and another jeep pronto."
Another stepped up to Orochimaru and asked, "Sir, out of respect for you station I'm going to ask you to freely follow us."
Sasuke rolled his neck just as another stepped up, "All of you, line up."
They did, and each one was handcuffed appropriately. "You're from the Maito Gai place, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"You know this might result in you all going to prison for life, right."
He nodded just as he heard the ambulance pull up, "It was worth it."
He stepped up to the jeep, felt dizzy and paused.
A hand braced on his back, "Kid, are you okay?"
"No.." he replied and fainted.
*Iwagakure Emergency Medical*
Sasuke knew he was moving. He felt the oxygen mask over his face, the intravenous cord pumping fluids into his veins and someone's fingers pressed deeply into his neck to make sure he still had a pulse.
His eyes flicked open momentarily; blaring fluorescent light burned his retinas so he closed them instantly, groaned and slipped back into darkness.
Sasuke woke up in a bed. His bleary eyes took in the EKG machine, the various drips, and the best part, his hand cuffed to the bed's rail. Against himself he chuckled; but seriously what was he expecting? The door opened and a blue clad doctor walked in, clipboard in hand.
"You're awake...finally."
"How long have I been out?" he managed to husk out.
"Three days." The doctor said, placing a hand under his neck and flashing a penlight into his eyes.
"Optical relays normal." He concluded then stood up, "Mr. Uchiha, physically you look fine, but I have to tell you, your internal organs are deteriorating at an unprecedented speed. We took a blood sample and we've found a chemical in your blood, a poisonous and unknown one. We've tried everything to slow the progression but without the exact cure or some kind of miracle, I'm afraid you might die."
"I know I've been poisoned. I just don't know with what."
"How?" the doctor asked,
"Airborne pathogen most likely." He answered hoarsely, "Dr. Tsunade should have all my records, check her."
"We have." he assured, "The microbiology team is working to isolate the pathogen and hopefully find a vaccine or find something to just cleanse your blood system. We're trying our best Mr. Uchiha."
Sasuke went silent. "How are the others?"
Brows contracted, "The other people you came in with, Mr. Sabaku had a near miss, the knife that carved in his face nearly missed his left eye, Tsuchi Kin has a broken femur and gunshot wound to her shoulder, TenTen has a broken arm, a hairline fracture and a displaced shoulder blade, Uzumaki Naruto had to be admitted to surgery, one bullet nearly pierced his right lung. The others, aside from minor scrapes and bruises are fine; they have been transferred to the local holding cell for processing."
Sasuke nodded; at least no one died and naturally Renjii had conveniently disappeared.
"And Nagato?"
"He woke up two days ago, we found a solution of Tantulla berries in his stomach, rendering all life systems seemingly dead, but he woke up, underwent a stomach pump and is currently recovering in his room."
"What about Orochimaru?" he asked.
The doctor shook his head, "I don't think I have the authority to inform you on Sannin-san. That is a conversation you should have with your lawyer."
A dark head shifted to the right, he felt exhausted.
Seeing that the doctor nodded and left, "Rest Uchiha."
*Holding Cell, Iwagakure Central Police Station.*
Footsteps; and officer walked down to their cell, said, "You'll want to watch this," and clicked smoothing. The television mounted high in the cell room switched on to show the local news.
A smartly dressed woman spoke: "Simon, you and the whole country are not going to believe this; even I don't completely believe it. Orochimaru Sannin, the proctor and handpicked favourite of the Governor has been arrested last night. Our news station received the call about one AM this morning from the local militia. Apparently an anonymous caller tipped them off to a breakout at the Maito Gai centre, and it was confirmed that eight inmates from the centre had broken out last night. They have been recaptured and their names are currently being withheld until final processing.
But here's where things got complicated, shockingly one of the men admitted to an officer that Orochimaru had engaged an inmate in the camp into breaking out and delivering a man just known as 'Pein' to him that night; apparently an associate of Orochimaru that had been kept at the camp secretly under orders of the ICJ.
Under what circumstances the man was imprisoned we don't currently know, but what we do know is that Orochimaru had been found in possession of guns and thirty rounds of ammunition when the local forces arrested him.
Simon, this situation is confusing to the maximum, and I'm predicting that this will rock not only our country but the world. Be assured though, we will keep track of this story, relating to you with every development as it happens.
Back to you."
The guard clicked the TV off and left.
A moment...two...three...
Fifteen minutes later...
If Kiba paced the floor anymore they would have to deal with a foot deep ditch, galvanized concrete floor notwithstanding.
Shikamaru leaned back and yawned, "Jesus, Kiba; stop that shit please, it's annoying as hell."
Kiba spun around eyes wide, "Are you out of your damn mind, Nara. If get sent to prison, hafta live eat and sleep with some big-ass sumo murderers, get ass-raped with a broomstick, bleed out and die, I'm haunting your ass for a lifetime."
Neji snorted from his place on the bench while incessantly running his hands through his chin length hair, "Calm the hell down Inuzuka; we haven't been formally charged yet."
Kiba slumped down to the floor and groaned, "I'm dead."
"No, you're not." Kakashi's form strode down the hallway faithfully being followed by Iruka and Gai. "Bail has been posted for all of you; on command of course that you all be returned to the centre until this whole malaise has been sorted out."
Kina hopped up, hazel eyes wide. "I'm free?"
"Not technically, Inuzuka." Gai said, "With all intents and purposes you are all under house arrest."
"Damn," Shikamaru snorted gazing up to the ceiling, "I was beginning to like this place."
* September 1'st; Sasuke's Hospital Room*
Sasuke's room door opened and a man, dressed on a police officer's suit strode in, closely followed by a man with a briefcase and lastly Itachi.
"Uchiha Sasuke?" the police officer asked drawing up a chair and plucking out a notepad.
He nodded.
"You are officially under arrest for breaking and escaping a remand centre, conspiracy, aiding and abetting the escape of seven follow inmates and damage to government and private property."
Itachi started, "W...what...that's not right... he's isn-"
Sasuke glanced up at his brother, silently asking him to be quiet.
The officer continued clicking out a pen, "We are going to need a statement from you."
The raven sat up, looked him in the eye and started talking; "My name is Uchiha Sasuke, I was sentenced to the Maito Gai Rehabilitation Centre for pyromania..."
*The Office of the Public Prosecutor, 9:30 A.M. September 1'st, Iwagakure Judicial Centre.*
"Sir," the aid to Dr. Samuto entered the room, "It's been released."
The man sat up and directed for it to be played. It wasn't long but what he heard made him shiver to his core. To think that a man, a man he had talked with, a man he trusted, a man trusted by the whole nation was a criminal.
The head lawyer stood up, "Where is Orochimaru?"
"According the latest news he is under house arrest."
Dr. Satoshi Samuto nodded while putting on his cloak, "Call my driver, I think I'm going to make the most important visit of my life."
*Sasuke's Hospital Room, ( 3:45 PM, same day)*
Silence reigned in the hospital room. Shocked faces mirrored each other to the point of being doppelgängers.
The office, hereby known as SSP Roderick Matorashi, stared at him for a long moment; Itachi himself looked both sick and amazed with every word that came out of his brother's mouth.
It was the lawyer that shook himself out of the daze first, "I think it is safe say Mr. Uchiha was under duress. He feared for the life of his closet kin and was pressured under unavoidable circumstances to perform the acts he did."
The police officer rubbed the back of his neck, "Kid, I've got to say this is a marvellous story, if it's true we're going to need correlation and solid proof."
Sasuke nodded, "Then you need to check with the Director of Public Prosecution; he has all the proof you need."
The man's eyebrows narrowed, "Why would he h-"
"Trust me..." the raven said voice slurring with tiredness, "Check him..."
They, the officer and the lawyer looked at each other, nodded and left the room. Itachi stood alone silently facing his paler than usual brother.
"Sasuke... I...I don't even know..." he trailed off, pain creasing his face, "... I talked to the doctor...he say's you're dying..."
Sasuke faced him, "Probably."
Itachi lost it; tears started silently pouring down his face; Sasuke sat up shocked. He had never seen Itachi cry. "Are you...crying... Aniki?"
"Sasuke...why did you..."
The younger held out his hand to the older, "Because someone had to do it; I chose to...It was a sacrifice I made to ensure you would live...trust me I knew what I was doing...if I die so be it...it was worth a good cause."
Itachi just stared at him. "You haven't changed at all have you...the Sasuke I knew is still there."
"He never really left." The younger murmured leaning back and closing his eyes.
*Sasuke's Hospital Room, September 2'nd, about midnight*
Someone was in his room, Sasuke could literally feel it.
The gloom didn't block out the shadowed form in the corner, Sasuke marshalled a sleepy grin. "It's you...isn't it?"
The form stepped out into the slight light. Sasuke took in the form of Madara Uchiha silently; the man was tall, pale skinned, clad in superbly cut grey suit with a dark cloak over his shoulder sweeping the ground. Sasuke glanced up to his face, dark eyes with a touch of ingrained malice, smooth skin, slight crow's feet at his eyes and mouth, dark shoulder length midnight hair with streaks of silvery grey and to top it all off a cane, more a power symbol that anything else.(1)
"Yes," Madara said, "It's me."
"How did you get in?"
"Don't worry about that." Madara said tapping the cane twice, "Let's talk about you. Son, I've been trying for decades to find some way to exposed that snake...he's been causing me problems for years, and then lo and behold you drop into the picture like manna from heaven. I must admit Sasuke, that for a neophyte, you went above and beyond my fairly high expectations, you work is marvellously done."
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
Madara snorted, "You're dying, and I think I know exactly how."
"Please enlighten me."
A pale hand reached out, rested of Sasuke's forehead, slipped down and softly closed his eyes. "Let me worry about that; sleep."
*September 3'd, Sasuke's Room*
Even though he was still hospitalized the police officer had gotten a court order to have his testimony recorded on camera, with the supervision of his attorney.
Sasuke sat up before the recording device and faithfully repeated every word he had said yesterday; he was almost finished when the door opened and the director of public prosecution himself stepped into the room, followed by two nervous looking aids.
"This interview is suspended." Dr. Samuto announced. The officers looked up at him in confusion.
"Sir...we have a court order to perform this interview."
"And I have a counter order to suspend it." he replied while facing Sasuke, a glimmer of deep respect in his eyes, "New evidence had just been unearthed and upon the nature of this situation I will be personally handling this case."
Sasuke looked at him: "It's been opened, hasn't it?"
"Yes, son. And I can tell you, I can truly tell you that in my forty-five years on the bench I haven't seen such a scandal."
"Sir?" SSP Roderick Higurashi asked, "What new evidence is it; is it admissible to his defence?"
The man pierced them with cutting look, "Trust me, this is not going to just admissible; its' going to cause an earthquake."
TBC
Damn; do you know how much Criminal Minds I had to watch just to piece this thing together... trust me... y'all don't want to know...
Anyways...coming close...
'cane, more a power symbol that anything else.' ... Tacky and cliché I know...just couldn't resist.
BLACK PRODIGY
YOUR FAITHFULLY DELIVERING CLIFFHANGER QUEEN.
XD
Tonight is going to sooooooooooooooooo rock. Season 3 'King of the Nerds' starts on TBS...
*doing cabbage –patch dance to Vanilla Ice, 'Ice Ice Baby' Psi 'Gangnam Style'