A/N: Hello everyone and welcome back!
Thank you for the comments thus far. This chapter has a lot of stuff going on so I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Rated: "M" gore / adult situations / minor yaoi
So, without further delay, Chapter 6 of "The Collector" Inside the Gates
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Naruto had been keeping pace with Suigetsu's dogsled for almost an hour. He kept to the trees, bounding from branch to branch, his dark cape billowing behind him as he stayed just above Sasuke. His friend was only a small lump hidden under a blanket on the sled, with only his pale face and ebony locks visible. Suigetsu was constantly calling out commands to his eight powerful huskies. They yipped and barked in reply, their bodies straining, fur blowing, and tails sweeping as they pulled their load towards its destination.
Naruto still couldn't believe his luck. How fortunate was it that someone had found him and Sasuke in the vast snowy forest. He was relieved that Sasuke was on his way to a doctor, but was concerned about Sakura. "Where was she? Is she all right?" He shook his blond head saying, "Sakura is a shinobi too, and she'll be able to take care of herself." He said that, but didn't believe it. True, Sakura had a sharp mind, but in reality, her skills and abilities paled in comparison to either his or Sasuke's.
"Naruto!" a voice called from the forest floor. Startled by Suigetsu's voice, he almost lost his rhythm. He managed to make a quick save off one branch by pitching himself forward to the next.
"This ice and snow is really starting to get old," Naruto muttered. "I can't wait to go home and get me a nice big bowl of …Ack!" The blond felt himself falling as his foot slipped on a stray patch of ice. He tumbled backwards, his foot shooting out in front of him. It wasn't long before he hit the hard snow on the ground with a loud thud! Naruto cursed and sat up on his elbows. Suigetsu raised a thin eyebrow in amusement.
"Are you alright?" he asked. Naruto nodded, accepting Suigetsu's offered hand.
"Why did we stop?" the blond asked curiously. "I don't see any buildings or anything. There's nothing but more snow and trees." His azure eyes turned dark and he mumbled, "Maybe this guy's been out in the cold for too long."
"I'm sorry, Naruto, but this next part is a bit of a secret," Suigetsu said mildly, stepping lightly off the sled.
"A secret? Why is that?" Naruto's blue eyes filled with skepticism.
"Well, Karin just likes her privacy, I suppose," Suigetsu shrugged.
"Karin? Is she the doctor?" The blond rubbed at the back of his neck.
"You could call her that," Suigetsu snorted. "But really, we mustn't waste time." Pulling off his gloves, he tossed them aside, and brought his pointer and middle fingers up to either side of Naruto's temples. He pressed down, releasing an icy trail that snaked into the blonde's eyes, causing them to fog over.
"What the hell!" Naruto pulled back awkwardly. Blinking his eyes rapidly, he could not rid himself of the haze that now obscured his vision.
"It's nothing permanent, I assure you," Suigetsu replied blandly, as if he'd done this a hundred times before. "You can ride on the sled for a bit." Naruto sighed then squatted on the wooden edge, being careful not to crush Sasuke. Sulking about his poor vision, he let his ears take in his surroundings. Oddly enough, he didn't hear any birds, animals, or even the wind. The silence was broken at the whoosh of hand signs that were quickly being formed behind him. Suigetsu uttered something the blond couldn't quite understand as the rush of chakra washed over and past him. He barely caught a glimpse of the purple chakra that flickered and shot off into the forest ahead of them.
"Mush!" Suigetsu called to his team. The dogs whimpered, lowering their ears and tails. Eight pairs of eyes looked back, growing large and fearful. "Damn mutts, they always get like this," Suigetsu muttered. He shouted again, this time, his voice low and commanding. The sled began to move forward once again, though slowly and reluctantly. It's as if the dogs didn't like where they were going. Animals have a keen sense of danger, and this caused Naruto to become extremely wary. He looked back at Sasuke, sliding his hand over his friend's legs. No matter. If this was where help was, then this was where they needed to be.
It was almost a half an hour later when the sled approached a large two-story brick building. It was a foreboding place, dark and somber, with white paneling around the heavily barred square windows. A large black gate surrounded the property. "A little heavy on security, don't you think?" Naruto drawled.
"That's not to keep people out," Suigetsu sneered. Naruto's eyes narrowed in confusion before he burst out, "Hey!" The blond rubbed at his eyes. "I can see clearly again!" Suigetsu nodded as he jumped off the sled, removing the keys from his jacket to unlock the gate. It swung open soundlessly. "Shall we?" he smiled. Naruto gulped as the sled made its way up the path towards the front of the building.
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"It's about time," a woman snapped. She was standing on the front steps of the building, stamping her foot impatiently. She had a thin frame, and wore a long purple coat with a pink scarf tied around her neck. Her hair color was a bright magenta, which she chose to wear half of it long on one side while the other half was cut short. She pushed her dark-rimmed glasses back up onto her nose.
"Here he is, doctor," Suigetsu gestured towards Sasuke. The woman strode gracefully up to the raven. She brought her gloved hand up to his face, running her thumb back and forth along his jaw line. It was an unusual gesture for a stranger. And it was very irritating.
"Ahem," Naruto interjected, annoyance crossing his tan, whiskered face. The woman slowly turned her head to face the young blond teen. She pulled her glasses down, her matching magenta eyes traveling up and down his body. Naruto was dressed in a standard anbu uniform, well, except for the orange shirt he was wearing beneath his armored vest. He had a dark cape wrapped around him, insulating him against the cold. His blond hair was spiky, pushed down by the black bandana he wore on his head. Azure eyes stared back at her, then trailed to where her hand was on Sasuke's face. He let lose a low growl. The woman retracted her hand slowly, clasping it together with her other one. She knew what that look meant. These two had more than mere friendship holding them together.
"I am Karin," she said in a business like tone. "You've already met Suigetsu," she nodded over to the lean man who was unhooking the dogs. He waved back, a wry smile across his lips. "He's one of my assistants. As is Juugo," she gestured over to the tall, muscular man that seemed to materialize out of nothing and now stood next to her. A large green cape covered him from his neck to his feet. His dark brown eyes seemed to bore down into Naruto's blue ones. "You know where to take that one," Karin pointed over to Sasuke.
"Of course, ma'am," Juugo answered in a deep voice. He took only a few steps and he was beside the sled. Naruto reluctantly stepped off the sled and watched as Juugo undid the ropes that bound Sasuke, who stirred slightly, then fell back silent. The big man bent to lift Sasuke bridal-style into his arms, and turned back towards the building. Within seconds, he was inside, the door closing behind him.
"Wait! I want to go with him!" Naruto cried, leaping to his feet and dashing past Karin.
"Not so fast," Karin grabbed his collar, stopping him dead in his tracks. "You can sit in the waiting room. My assistants have to do some "prepping' on your friend before I go in and do the real work." She spun on her heel, walking quickly back up the steps. "Well, are you coming?" she asked in exasperation. Naruto nodded and bolted up the stairs behind her. He took a quick glance behind him at Suigetsu, who stared back at him, his smile widening to reveal sharp teeth that glimmered with an evil joy. Naruto tensed, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. He hurriedly took off after Karin.
They soon made their way to a large reception area. Karin wasted no time shoving Naruto into a stiff wooden chair with no cushion. "Hey! Do you have to be so rough?" he grumbled. But the woman was already rounding a corner, her purple coat tails dancing behind her. "What about Sasuke? Where did that big guy take him? Lady? Lady!" he called out. "Great," Naruto muttered sarcastically, slouching down into his chair. He started to drum his fingers on the chair's arms, but grew restless so he let his eyes roam the room. The walls were white with a pale green trim near the bottom. A few chairs littered the main room while a large curved wooden desk sat near the entrance to a hallway. There were no magazines to look at, nor any pictures that decorated the walls. His nose wrinkled at the smell of heavy disinfectant that hung in the air. Everything was so bland and minimal. "Nice way to welcome people," Naruto said wryly. He stood up as a realization just hit him. "Speaking of people, where are they?" he wondered. Rising from his chair he strode casually over to the reception desk, expecting to see a secretary or security guard. No one. "Hn," his brows furred. "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be a big deal if I took a look around to find Sasuke."
Naruto rounded the desk and entered the long narrow hallway. The same white-pale green walls lined the sides while numbered doors seemed to extend forever down the corridor. Bright fluorescent lights ran along the ceiling. Naruto cautiously took a few steps, his shoes squeaking along the linoleum floor. Stopping at the first door on his left, he pushed it slightly ajar, and glanced inside. He didn't bother flicking on the light switch, as the sun's last rays were enough to highlight the room. It seemed like an ordinary hospital room: a bed, bathroom, a few chairs. He shrugged and kept moving. Naruto stopped and glanced in each of the rooms as he continued down the hallway. It was just more of the same cookie-cutter rooms. And still, no people. After a few minutes, the corridor ended with a door that read "Employees Only." Naruto casually checked the handle. It clicked open with ease. Glancing over his shoulder, his azure eyes searching to make sure he wasn't being watched. Satisfied, he quickly slipped inside.
A long narrow staircase led down to a lower level. Naruto shivered, but he wasn't sure if it was because of the drop in temperature or because of something else. He rubbed his arms with his hands and began the long descent down the stony steps. "There is something else going on here," he thought nervously to himself. Reaching the bottom, the layout was similar, though not nearly as clean and polished as above. The walls were drab gray, bare bulbs hung from the ceiling, and gray identical doors ran down the corridor. He checked the first one. Locked. He tried peaking into the small rectangular window that was set at eye-level, but it was too dark to see anything inside. His ears perked up when he heard muffled voices. Naruto stepped quietly forward, following the sound, and saw a crack of light coming from one of the doors ahead. He slid up against the wall, and slunk over soundlessly to the source.
A young teenage girl with pale blond hair and pale blue eyes was secured with thick leather straps to a thin bed. "You'll get caught, just you wait!" the girl hissed angrily.
"Really? What do you think has changed after all these years?" Karin mocked. "The village has grown no wiser these past ten years and they will never catch me."
"Sai will figure it out. He's smart and he'll discover the secret to this place!" The girl struggled against her bonds.
"If he's so smart, perhaps I'll add him to my collection and dissect his brain," Karin mused. The girl paled, as did Naruto. "Well, consider yourself lucky, I don't have time for you right now." Karin rose from a chair and walked towards the door. "I can't have someone wandering my hospital without a proper escort, now can I?"
Naruto backed silently away from the door. "She knows I left the waiting room. I have to hide." His eyes danced quickly back and forth. Sneaking along the corridor with his back to the wall, he was hoping to find another open room. Sweat broke out along his brow as he saw Karin's shadow growing bigger as she moved to exit the room. "Come on, one of these has to open," Naruto muttered, checking more of the handles. Finally, a soft click was heard and he dove inside, quietly closing the door behind him. He held his breath and slid towards the floor into a crouch position.
Karin left the girl's room. "That blond sort of reminds me of the other one I had here so many years ago." Pausing, she let her mind wander back to fourteen years ago, smiling at the sweet memory. He was her blond, and she was enraged when he had disappeared from the compound. She shook her head, shaking her hair. "No matter. I need to find Naruto." She took off down the hall opposite from Naruto, her footsteps fading into silence.
Naruto finally let his breath go. "Whew! That was close." He was relieved, but confused. "What kind of collection was Karin talking about?" His eyes roamed the room while he thought for a moment. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he was able to see the vague outline of a desk and small lamp. Making his way carefully over to them, he snapped on the light. A few pictures dotted the desktop, mainly of Karin and some pale skinned guy, both of whom seemed to be in their early twenties at the time the picture was taken. They seemed happy. Lying on the desk itself were a handful of manila envelopes, each one labeled with a particular letter. Naruto carefully reached for one, wondering what kind of doctor this Karin really was. He picked up "H" and read the file. There was a headshot of a ten-year-old kid named Deidara, a detailed blurb about his vital stats and personal history, plus pictures of the boy's hands from every angle. They certainly were unique as they had little mouths on the inside palm of each hand. The hands themselves were circled and marked with a stamp, alongside a handwritten date from years ago. As for Deidara himself, it read "Subject status: unknown." Naruto eyebrows furred reading the faded red ink. "Acquired? That doesn't sound good," he frowned. He was placing the file back in place with the others when a light blue light caught his eye from the adjoining back room. "What could that be?" he wondered.
Naruto stepped cautiously towards the light and stopped dead in his tracks. Before him stood a giant glass cylinder-styled tank. His jaw dropped when he saw someone was in it. A young man, in his early twenties, was blindfolded and on his knees, legs sprawled to either side, and nestled in a pool of blood. One arm trailed lifelessly towards the ground, blood having dried and crusted onto his pale skin. The other arm was strung up, held by thick white ribbons. His head was tilted back, his spiky black hair falling from his face, while the circular part of a kunai protruded from his mouth, the blade having pierced the throat a long time ago. Naruto felt sick and turned to gag. "The guy from the pictures."
"I see you've met my intern, Obito," a familiar feminine voice called from behind him.
"Crap. It's her," Naruto muttered under his breath.
Karin strode up to the glass prison, passing Naruto without so much as a back glance, and placed her palm near Obito's cheek. "He really was a genius, you know. He knew everything about anatomy and how the body was put together. That's what made him an important part in all of this. We had worked together for three years, yet in all that time, he probably never realized I was stealing his work for another, darker purpose. He was so trusting, the fool. But he grew wise. He threatened to go to anbu in the Village of the Trees and expose me. Then he helped one of my subjects to escape. It was pretty obvious he did not support my idea." She ran her nails along the glass, carving deep claw marks into the thick glass, the sound piercing Naruto's ears. "And so, he became the first of my collection. Usually I pick apart my subjects, but Obito, his whole body was finely crafted. I wanted to display it in its entirety. Though he'll be used for my personal viewing pleasure while the others I take on tour with me."
"You're sick," Naruto whispered, backing up slowly, eyes never leaving Obito.
"He reminds me of your dear friend Sasuke," she added smugly. Naruto's eyes darted over to hers and deadlocked on them. "They'd make a nice set, don't you think?" Naruto's nostrils flared and he clenched his fist, charging at Karin.
"Don't even think about it!" he shouted angrily. But Karin was fast. She easily dodged and back flipped up onto the top of the glass cage. Naruto snarled up at her.
"Feisty little fellow, aren't you?" she raised a thin magenta eyebrow, surveying her quarry that paced restlessly beneath her. "Using you in his visions was definitely a nice touch." Naruto blinked.
"How do you know about those?" he spat through gritted teeth. Karin put her hands under her chin, her feet dangling over the tank's edge.
"I know a lot about Sasuke and you and your village. Unlike how unknowledgeable you all are of the Village of the Trees. As to your friend's nightmares, that's my special ninjutsu. Fun, isn't it?" she mocked.
"Fun?!" Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. Those nightmares caused so much pain to Sasuke. They were anything but fun. Naruto flexed his fingers, feeling the sharpness of his nails extending into fierce talons. His hair grew shaggy, the whiskers on his face furrowed, his eyes darkened to a blood red, his pupils shifting into thin slits.
"Oh, I've heard about you," Karin exclaimed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "What a nice addition it would make to my collection."
Naruto let out a deep throaty howl and sneered, thick full fangs jutting out over his lower lip. "You won't lay a finger on Sasuke!" he snarled. Red chakra encircled his body, two long tails protruding from the base of his spine. Narrowing his eyes, he dropped to all fours, his body trembling in excitement. Shifting his weight back towards his hunches, he sprung off the ground to attack. But it was too late. Something sharp had pricked his neck in mid-jump. Naruto's muscles jerked, and then he lost all feeling in his extremities. He slammed into Obito's glass prison. It barely dented as Naruto rebounded off and rolled onto the floor. Hitting the wall with his back, a loud thud was heard, and he gasped. His vision grew fuzzy and dim. Naruto grunted then fell silent.
Karin hopped down lightly from her perch on top of the cage. She stepped purposely over to the sleeping ninja, pulling a small dart from the teen's neck. "Nice work, Juugo," she said, eyes glancing towards the shadowy doorway. The tall man nodded curtly, stepping into the light. A small crossbow dangled from his right hand. Karin focused back on Naruto, pulling back his orange shirt to reveal the seal that was quickly fading on his stomach. "So that's the source of your power," she whispered in awe. "Juugo," she commanded, "You know where to take him." The big man walked over to Naruto, picked the teen up, slinging him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He was about to leave when Karin asked, "What about the other one?"
Juugo turned slightly answering, "Suigetsu's taking care of him."
"Excellent." Karin checked her watch. "And just in time for dinner too."
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Sasuke groggily opened his onyx eyes. His head was pounding and he was pissed. That Suigetsu didn't just knock him unconscious; he'd stuck him with some sort of needle that kept him comatose for hours. "Speak of the devil," Sasuke though wryly, staring straight into the purple eyes of the man he wanted to cause severe pain to.
"Good evening princess," Suigetsu mocked, "did you sleep well?" Sasuke wanted to tell Suigetsu exactly where to put his 'good evening' when his stomach let out an embarrassing growl. "Glad to see you're hungry." The raven wanted to reach out and strangle that thin pale neck when he realized that he was tied down, or rather strapped down to a table. He was lying on his back; thick leather straps ran across his forehead, chest, arms, legs, and ankles. He even had a leather bit in his mouth.
"This is oddly familiar," Sasuke thought uneasily to himself. His eyes widened in realization. "It can't be?!"
"Ahh…I see you remember," Suigetsu smiled sadistically. "Though it's much more fun when you're actually experiencing it. The room isn't exactly the same, but you get the idea. Oo..here's a nice touch I know you'll enjoy," Suigetsu smiled smugly, clicking on the large silver lamp that hung above Sasuke's face. His black orbs dilated and he squinted his eyes against the bright light. Suigetsu flipped the lamp over, the light shining and rebounding against the ceiling, highlighting the room. Sasuke blinked his eyes back into focus, then they dilated again, this time in terror. Jars upon jars lined the shelves that ran along both sides of the narrow room. Each jar contained one pair of eyeballs, kept in a white murky liquid. They all seemed to be staring at him, though they were all blank and soulless. "I bet you always wondered what was in this room. Heck, I suppose Karin didn't want to ruin all the fun," he chuckled to himself. Sasuke struggled against his bonds. Suigetsu's expression turned to one of annoyance. "Come on now, I thought you would have remembered this part. You know, the more you struggle, the tighter the bonds?" He rolled his eyes. "Whatever, let's get your dinner ready." He glanced over to a small bucket and frowned at the contents. "Glad it's you and not me eating this," he muttered. "A mix of water, corn meal, salt, and milk. Yummy," he added sarcastically. Reaching over Sasuke, Suigetsu unhooked the clip that held Sasuke's bit in place. Sasuke licked his dry lips and ran his tongue along the inside of his mouth, trying to get some moisture back in.
"When I get out of this, I'll kill you." Sasuke stated flatly, his eyes narrowing into an intense death gaze.
"Like I haven't heard that before," Suigetsu smirked back. He sighed, picking up a thin red tube and running it down Sasuke's throat, neck, and stomach. "Hmm…this should be long enough."
"What the hell are you doing?" Sasuke looked warily at the tube.
"Open up," Suigetsu ordered.
"No." Sasuke deadpanned.
Suigetsu sighed. "Must I always do this the hard way? How about I give you a choice then. Either I run this tube down your throat and into your stomach, or I jam it up your nose, down your throat, then into your stomach." Sasuke paled. "Well, what'll it be?"
Sasuke stared icily back. "Let's see you threaten me when I'm not tied down like this."
"That's not an option," Suigetsu snorted back. He balled his fist and brought it down right onto Sasuke's stomach. The raven gasped, but it was enough for Suigetsu to shove the tube into Sasuke's mouth and start it down his throat. Sasuke began to gag.
"You have to swallow it, but try not to choke," Suigetsu advised.
"Bastard!" Sasuke thought angrily. But it was hard to focus on his anger when a tube larger than his esophagus was being shoved down his throat. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth and stray tears slid down his cheeks. It hurt like hell. After a few agonizing minutes, the tube stopped. Sasuke breathing was rasp and ragged. His ebony eyes settled on Suigetsu who was attaching a funnel at his end of the tube. Suigetsu chuckled saying, "You think that was bad, wait until you actually taste this crap." Tipping the contents of the bucket slowly into the funnel, Suigetsu wrinkled his nose at the smell. "Down the hatch." The slop crawled thickly and slowly down into Sasuke's throat. It was ice cold, causing his skin to break out in goose bumps. The texture was chunky and grainy. Disgusting was a huge understatement. The mass caught in his throat, panic setting in, as he couldn't breathe. "You have to relax," Suigetsu said blandly, "That's the only way to get through this." Sasuke willed himself to calm down, letting the mass sink in and settle into his stomach. How humiliating. The process seemed to last for an eternity before Suigetsu began to retract the tube. Bringing the tube back up was even more painful. Sasuke's throat had constricted around the foreign object and didn't want to release it. Suigetsu tugged harder, hoping it wouldn't catch on one of his lungs and tear it. "Karin is going to kill me if I damage something she wants," he muttered grimly. After a final hard pull, the tube came free, leaving a mix of blood and saliva dangling from it. "Delicious, huh?"
Sasuke was too exhausted to answer, nor did he ever feel so sick and dazed. "See, Karin likes her people well-fed. Well, fed anyways," Suigetsu said, tossing the bucket and tube into a nearby sink. "I can see why Karin took an interest in you," he said, running his eyes up and down Sasuke.
"I'm not a piece of meat," he grumbled back hoarsely through cracked lips. But Suigetsu had turned away and had already started on another task. He was busy readying some black dye, stirring it with a tiny paintbrush. Once he was satisfied, he dabbed the brush on the side of the glass jar it was in, letting any excess dye drop from the bristles. He reached for the collar on Sasuke's shirt and pulled it down.
"What the hell are you doing now?" Sasuke snarled, though it came out as more of a wheeze.
"It's her mark, the crow's foot. I'm just setting it. I'll make it permanent later. Everyone has one," Suigetsu explained coolly. Sasuke felt the cold dye hit his lower neck, the small brush strokes being carefully applied. He couldn't keep up with all of this. What the hell was going on here? Where was Naruto? His nightmares were becoming real and it terrified him. "Oo..I almost forgot. One more present for ya," Suigetsu smiled, slapping a silver band onto Sasuke's left wrist. "You know, these are more to remind us of who is who, cuz you know sometimes, the bodies aren't very easy to identify after awhile." Sasuke's eyes grew wide in fear and confusion. "And last but not least," he took another slam into Sasuke's stomach, causing the raven to gasp again. This time, the leather bit was fitted securely back into his mouth. "We don't want you calling out for help, do we now?" Suigetsu leered. "Though it's not like anyone will hear you or come to help you anyways." Suigetsu took his leave and headed for the door. He pulled it open, calling over his shoulder, "Welcome to Hell."
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Naruto found himself standing inside his apartment. He knew it was his because a large ramen poster hung on the wall near his bed and a healthy plant grew near the window. Dressed in a black tee shirt and orange shorts, he gazed around in confusion. "Why am I here? I though we were in that weird hospital?"
"Naruto," a deep husky voice called from behind the blond. Naruto spun quickly to see his best friend, Sasuke, leaning casually against his doorframe. He was dressed in one of his large white shirts that left his chest exposed. Black boots adorned his feet; navy blue pants covered his legs while a royal blue wrap went around his waist and butt. Running one hand up and down slowly following the length of his purple rope belt, he looked at Naruto with half-lidded eyes.
"Sasuke! You're alright!" the blond was relieved. Sasuke shifted positions and made his way slowly and seductively towards Naruto. Running a pale hand up his opposite shoulder, he casually slid the white shirt down, revealing a lean and muscled shoulder. He did the same with the other and the shirt fell, hanging limply from his blue wrap. He brought his fingers up to his chest and began to rub at one of his pink taut nipples, a smile creeping at the corners of his mouth. Sasuke leaned over towards Naruto's ear, nipping playfully. His long thick bangs brushing lightly against the blonde's whiskered cheek. The raven pulled back and began to untie the belt from his waist. It fell carelessly to the floor and morphed into a giant viper with sharp golden eyes and an inky black tongue that darted quickly in and out. Its dark purple scales glistened as it began to wind itself up the blonde's legs. The blond shivered as he felt the smooth scales cross over his bare skin. The snake continued its trek up Naruto's body, entering through his shorts and up into his tee shirt.
Seeing the wariness in his friend's eyes, Sasuke breathed, "Don't worry about it, Naruto." The viper stuck its head out of one of Naruto's sleeves, its head and neck bobbing, tongue flickering, awaiting instructions. The raven placed his hand on Naruto's chin, gently turning his face away from the snake. A thin black eyebrow quirked, and the snake lunged for the tanned skin on Naruto's neck. The blond flinched at the contact of the viper's fangs digging into him. It struck hard and fast, then withdrew, sliding the rest of its body out of Naruto's sleeve and onto the floor. It coiled in on itself on waited silently. Sasuke's head moved nimbly towards the bleeding wound. His tongue ran along the bite marks, lapping at the blood. He drew closer, planting soft lips over the sore. Naruto gasped. Sasuke then withdrew himself from the wound, deftly sliding his hand under Naruto's chin and behind his ear, reaching back behind the blonde's neck. Naruto closed his eyes, his lips pursing for what was to come. Sasuke tipped the blonde's head back a bit then brought his pale lips down upon tanned ones.
"How heavenly," Naruto thought to himself. Sasuke was actually being receptive to his advances, and after all this time too. Wait a minute. Naruto blinked open his azure eyes. Sasuke wasn't like this. He was never this bold or aggressive. Something was wrong. Very wrong. The kiss turned from one of passion to one that was cold and vicious. Naruto felt a sharp pain in his lips as the salty taste of blood entered his mouth. He tore his face from Sasuke's, but that only allowed the raven to continue biting and ripping at the blonde's tanned neck. His grip slid down and tightened on the blonde's upper arms, causing Naruto to wince in pain as sharp nails dug into his flesh. More blood trailed down his arms. "Sasuke! What are you doing?" The raven paused in the assault on his friend's neck, glancing up into confused azure eyes. Naruto gulped. Those were not the sharp ebony colored eyes he was used to. Instead, two bright golden orbs stared back at him; the whites of Sasuke's eyes had gone black. Two wicked looking fangs protruded from under Sasuke's pale lips. They were covered in his blood, and Sasuke was eagerly licking at them.
"What's wrong, Naruto?" Sasuke's voice had turned harsh and gravelly. The curse mark that sat upon Sasuke's left shoulder had activated. Black splotches covered the raven from head to toe. Sasuke recoiled as a shock of pain coursed through him. He then dropped to the ground, releasing his grip on Naruto. He doubled over onto the floor, his ebony locks obstructing his face. Naruto wanted to reach for his friend when the raven's back and shoulders began to ripple. The movement intensified, causing the skin to stretch, tear, and finally snap, revealing two giant gray hand-shaped wings that reached out, the fingers spreading wide and flexing. Blood shot everywhere, covering the walls, and even Sasuke himself. The blonde stepped cautiously backwards. Sasuke lifted his head, gazing up at Naruto, blood and sweat trickling down the contours of his face. He seemed to be caught and was struggling between the two forms. Naruto didn't have much time to figure out what was happening to his friend, before a clawed hand reached out, grabbed his ankle, and pulled. Naruto fell onto his back, and within seconds, Sasuke had climbed on top of the blonde's chest, his knees pinning down Naruto's arms at his sides.
Naruto had never seen Sasuke like this and called out, "Stop it Sasuke, get a hold of yourself!" A crazy grin had crossed Sasuke's usually expressionless face.
"Let me ask you something, Naruto." Naruto's eyes grew wide in terror as the hand-wings on Sasuke's back curled and twisted forward, getting ready to attack, sharp tips glistening. Sasuke leaned in closer and whispered, "How does it feel…" He jerked his head back quickly while his hand-wings shot forward, their wicked talons piercing Naruto in the chest. "…to die!" Sasuke spat out the final words. Naruto wanted to scream but he couldn't find the words. He choked on his own blood and could feel the warm sticky liquid pooling around his body.
"Why?" Naruto whispered, his eyes glazing over and growing dim. Sasuke rose from the blonde's dying body.
"You have sentenced me to death by bringing me here. It's only right that I return the favor," he smirked. He rose from the blonde's dying body as Karin's maniacal laughter echoed throughout the room. Sasuke searched frantically for its source, panic seeping into his bizarre golden eyes.
"How does it feel.." Karin mocked viciously, "…to kill your best friend!" Sasuke shook his head, his hands covering his ears.
"Get away from me! Leave me alone!" Sasuke shouted. Naruto recognized the woman's laughter, but couldn't place the name. His mind and memories were fading. He felt something slither over his body. The viper. Even it had come to seek refuge from its master, who was now losing all self-control. The raven's eyes grew wide as recognition entered them. "Naruto?" he choked out.
"A crime must extract a punishment," Karin's voice boomed. Sasuke reeled backwards grasping at his chest. "Can't breath," he panted out. He flopped onto the ground like a fish out of water, his hand-wings pulling themselves free, ripping more of Naruto's flesh. The blond could do nothing but watch through fading blue eyes and drooping eyelids. Blood poured from the raven's eyes as he screamed and howled in agony. "The burning! Make it stop!" He continued to squirm on the ground, his body withering in pain, his nails clawing at his own eyes. Karin's laughter grew louder, now joined with that of Suigetsu's and Juugo's.
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"NO!" Naruto screamed, intense azure eyes bolting open. "Sasuke!" His body was drenched in sweat, his blond hair matted to his forehead. He found himself lying on his back on a thin, hard bed. The soft glow of a lamp nearby did little to light the room itself. Naruto felt the pinch of restraints around his wrists and ankles, and struggled against them. Chains rattled, but held fast. "Damn that Karin," he thought bitterly to himself. "Am I now trapped in her nightmare jutsu?" His body sagged back onto the bed and tears slid down his cheeks. "What have I done?" he whispered.
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A/N: Comments are appreciated! Thanks!
Chapter 7 coming soon!