disclaimer: not mine

warnings: AU, male/male(in the future)

This is the seventh try to upload this chapter without ffnet mysteriously cutting off paragraphs. It always is right in the preview and then, bamm, it's still missing in the uploaded chapter.

If this try doesn't work out, I'll put the whole story up on my lj, where I can be sure nothing will be missing, it might take me the weekend to do so though.

Chapter 3

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he looked at the cave. The summoning seal was glowing a deep, pulsating crimson, its light casting demonic shadows on the twelve adult Uchiha men giving life to it with their chakra, hands frozen in different seals, eyes closed in concentration.

It had taken them the better part of the week to seal the cave off, to avoid detection by their fellow shinobi. It didn't do to be caught red-handed in an act of treason before they were ready, after all.

Slowly his gaze wandered to the middle of the summoning circle, where a small figure was tied to a wooden post. The young boy's head was bowed, either a sign of exhaustion or the remnants of the drugs his family had fed him with his breakfast.

Sasuke's eyes had looked deliciously betrayed when he woke up tied to the post, half naked and bleeding from several shallow cuts on his chest and abdomen.

Orochimaru would have preferred the boy's body to remain unmarred, but the blood was needed to build the connection between the demon they were summoning and the soul he would be allowed to devour to seal the summoning contract.

And what use would Orochimaru have for the boy's soul? He was merely a toy to be played with.

Still, they were way behind their estimated schedule and he couldn't help the feeling of anxiousness that crept up his neck. Their window of opportunity was rapidly closing. If the summon didn't work, he needed time to take off with his prey and the Uchiha to stage the fake kidnapping attempt and death of their youngest clan member. If it did work, it would still be better to usurp the village in the Yondaime's absence.

Loath as he was to admit it, Namikaze Minato wasn't Hokage for nothing.

Forcing his mind back on the matter on hand, Orochimaru smiled greedily as he watched the seal flare one last time in bright, blinding crimson light.

That smile however quickly turned into a frown when there was no flare of malevolent chakra, no sign of a demon at all. The only change in scenery was a small shadowy form crouching next to the bound Sasuke.

O

I

O

Naruto groaned. His body felt beaten, his chakra burned in his veins and he felt like throwing up. Mind still caught in a haze, he concentrated on that mesmerizing, achingly familiar smell in the air.

He smelled blood and fear and anguish and underneath it a flavour that was so dear to him it had been branded into his mind, despite not having smelled it for two agonizing years. It was the scent of one of his, only younger, more vulnerable.

"That's Sasuke's scent." He thought groggily. Weak and confused as he was, his thoughts and feelings were rooted in the feral part of his mind he had gained after the merging with the fox. Therefore he ignored his situation and concentrated on the task of finding Sasuke and easing his pain.

Slowly his other senses started to work, too, his brain finally able to translate the messages it was sent.

Hitched breathing next to him caught his attention, turning his head narrowed azure eyes fastened on a young boy with midnight black, spiky hair, skin pale as moonlight and obsidian eyes, who was bound to a wooden post and bleeding from several cuts on his torso.

Naruto felt the world spin around him. "He looks just like…Sasuke."

The boy held Naruto's gaze, frightened eyes pleading for help.

Carefully Naruto crawled closer, one trembling hand stretching out to the boy who didn't move a single muscle, frozen in place by fear and confusion.

Feeling warm flesh beneath his hands Naruto took a deep breath. He was real. The boy all his senses told him was Sasuke was real.

"This is Sasuke and he's young and afraid and in pain." echoed through Naruto's head. It was then his instincts kicked in full force. Kit in pain, kit helpless, kit afraid!

Letting his chakra flow freely through his body, Naruto stood up, cut Sasuke free and ducked behind the post in one blindingly fast move.

There were thirteen chakra sources in the cave, thirteen enemies that stood between them and safety. Naruto snarled, no one hurt his kit and lived to tell the tale.

It took him three seconds to dispose of the six enemies in their back, his wind infused chakra arm cutting of their heads in one blow.

The others would be trickier, he knew. They were warned now and he was astonished to see their eyes changing into the blood red form of the Sharingan. If there hadn't been a quivering kit behind him Naruto would have stopped out of simply astonishment, but as it was he didn't care.

Grabbing Sasuke he ran up a wall, neatly avoiding the fire jutsu that had been aimed at them. Jumping back onto the cave floor he swung the bundle in his arms onto his back and told him: "Hold on and don't let go, no matter what, kit." His voice was rough and deep, a growl just below the surface.

Sasuke did as he was told and clutched to his saviour like a baby monkey to its mother, his small legs around Naruto's waist, his arms around his neck.

As soon as he was sure the kit had a secure grip, Naruto exploded into action once again, his movements a blur to even Sharingan enhanced sight. Five minutes, two chakra arms and one Rasengan later Naruto's clothes were red with the blood of his enemies and only one target was left.

Growling menacingly Naruto stalked to the cave's entrance where the last chakra source remained.

When azure met yellow that growl changed into one rage filled scream: "Orochimaru!"

Of course he had heard the sounds of fighting, but Orochimaru had seen no need to join in. If whatever had been summoned destroyed his co-conspirators Orochimaru wouldn't have to share his power.

When the attacker turned out to be a half-starved adolescent who held an eerie resemblance to the one man he feared, Orochimaru reconsidered his option of retreat.

Even that option was shattered, when azure eyes widened in recognition and the boy screamed his name in rage.

Orochimaru didn't remember ever having met the boy before, but the chakra swirling around both of the adolescent's hands didn't leave him any time to ponder the hows of the situation. Dread flooded his body as he recognized exactly what had formed in the boy's hands. Impossible as it was, there were two deadly Rasengan headed straight at him.

For the first time in his life, Orochimaru was frozen in place. His mind was still caught on all the impossibilities he was witnessing.

It was over in seconds, his body ripped to shreds by two Odama Rasengan.

Naruto was breathing hard. He felt his body weaken and knew he would have to leave and look for a den, a sanctuary for the kit and him.

Stumbling he made his way out of the cave and out into the forest, giving his instincts free reign to find them an appropriate resting place.

TBC