Title: The handover
Rating: G
Pairing / Characters: Konoha's eleven, Mori Isamu, Murai Sachiko
Word Count: 1, 137 words
Warnings: Not much, some violence but nothing serious
Summary: Shikamaru hands the former ANBU members over to the guards, Isamu breaks free and attacks Naruto
A/N: Was the last part confusing? I certainly aimed for it – but don't worry, all will become clear – and kudos to those who figured out just what happened! (I did leave a clue if you read carefully)
I can't do this, Naruto told himself in a panic. I can't take anymore, I can't be near them anymore, I can't stand to be around myself, let alone anyone else…
'Naruto, could you help me with this?' Sakura asked, breaking into his thoughts. Automatically, Naruto moved towards her, helping her with the bags she was carrying. As he took them, he shot a glance towards their prisoners, both of whom were being forcefully dragged through the trees by a grim Chouji.
Oddly enough, he didn't even seem to be struggling, despite the fact that they were fighting him frenziedly.
'Idiots,' Sakura muttered pithily.
Naruto found a smile curving his lips, a movement that was almost unnatural. Lowering his head, the smile faded away to be replaced by sadness. It was so hard to believe how much he had changed in the last three months, and he wondered if things would ever return to normal.
As soon as you actually talk to them, things might, a small voice inside his head muttered.
Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. 'We're nearly there, Naruto.'
Naruto forced himself to smile. 'I know, Sakura-chan. I – I just want this over and done with. I'm tired of it – of everything…'
Sakura remembered Kakashi's words before they had left. 'Naruto… if you need to talk, we're here for you,' she offered softly.
Naruto glanced at his team mate. 'Thank you, Sakura-chan,' he said simply, but didn't take her up on her offer.
Sakura wasn't really expecting him to, and pushed him away from Isamu and Sachiko, and closer to Neji and Kiba.
The latter glanced at her worriedly, and Sakura shook her head faintly. Its meaning was clear – don't ask.
Kiba grinned at Naruto. 'Making trouble again, huh?'
Naruto glared at him. 'You idiot, don't always assume stuff like –'
'Yeah, yeah, yeah, get over it,' Kiba interrupted, laughing.
Naruto glared at him a moment longer before huffing indignantly and folding his arms behind his head.
Shikamaru sighed in relief. 'I see the detention centre, thank heavens. This has been so troublesome…'
Naruto glanced ahead, seeing the tall building in the distance, the flags waving in the breeze.
If Shikamaru was relieved to see the detention centre, Naruto was overjoyed. A part of him hoped that it marked the end of a difficult period of his life, but for the most part, Naruto was simply glad to be away from his tormentors. Even now, he wasn't sure that he could stand to be in their company any longer, and was on the verge of telling Shikamaru he wanted to wait – but Naruto had never been the type to abandon a mission, and he wasn't about to start now, no matter how hard it was to keep his feet moving in a straight line.
It's almost over, he told himself firmly. Just a little longer and I'll be free forever…
By midafternoon, the eleven of them had reached the detention centre and the guards who were standing outside, waiting for them.
The first guard, a short stocky man with a balding head, greeted Shikamaru casually, his relaxed demeanor belying the strength that lay beneath the surface.
'Been expecting you,' he told them. 'Well, let's get these two off your hands, and you can be on your way.'
Shikamaru straightened as the guard unlocked the manacles, his hand lingering near his kunai. This was the most dangerous part of their mission, but he didn't think they were stupid enough to try anything.
He glanced at Naruto, and in the process, missed the glances between Sachiko and Isamu.
It happened so fast, none of them could react.
As the manacles fell free of Isamu's wrists, he lunged forward, expression contorted with rage. Naruto hadn't been expecting the attack, and Isamu managed to overpower him, jerking a kunai free of Naruto's kunai holster and lifting his arm above his head before bringing the kunai down.
Ino screamed, but Naruto twisted instinctively, and Isamu buried the kunai to the hilt in his shoulder, dragging it through the muscle.
The guards were already moving, grabbing him and wrenching him away, but not before Isamu formed a seal and touched three fingers to Naruto's temple.
The genin stiffened, his eyes wide with shock and horror as Hinata flew to his side, pulling off her jacket with the intention of stopping the flow of blood.
She touched him, the world went dark.
Naruto's vision cleared.
The first guard, a short stocky man with a balding head, greeted Shikamaru casually, his relaxed demeanor belying the strength that lay beneath the surface.
'Been expecting you,' he told them. 'Well, let's get these two off your hands, and you can be on your way.'
Shikamaru straightened as the guard unlocked the manacles, his hand lingering near his kunai. This was the most dangerous part of their mission, but he didn't think they were stupid enough to try anything.
He glanced at Naruto, and in the process, missed the glances between Sachiko and Isamu.
It happened so fast, none of them could react.
As the manacles fell free of Isamu's wrists, he lunged forward, expression contorted with rage. Naruto hadn't been expecting the attack, and Isamu managed to overpower him, jerking a kunai free of Naruto's kunai holster and lifting his arm above his head before bringing the kunai down.
Ino screamed, but Naruto twisted instinctively, and Isamu buried the kunai to the hilt in his shoulder, dragging it through the muscle.
The guards were already moving, wrenching him away, but as they did, Isamu pulled off the gag.
'Monster!' he roared. 'Filthy little demon, you should have died, you should have been killed at birth! If you had died then the monster inside you would have died along with you and we'd all be free of your evil!'
Naruto went white.
No. no, it wasn't happening, it couldn't be happening, he couldn't have spilt the secret Naruto had carried with him for so many months, he couldn't have…
He forced himself to look at his friends, seeing the confusion on their faces. Isamu sneered at them.
'You don't understand, do you? This child, your so called friend, is a monster. Sealed inside him is the nine tails that attacked the village twelve years ago, destroying everyone's lives. He's a monster, a real live, demon fox…'
Naruto's heart was breaking as he watched their expressions change from bewilderment to shock, to horror, and finally, disgust as Isamu's words sank in. Naruto dragged himself to his feet, opening his mouth to speak, but tears welled up instead as one by one, his friends turned their backs on him.
Breath harsh in his throat, Naruto stared at them for a moment longer before turning and fleeing.
It was over. It was all over.