"Foolish Hearts"
'Chapter Thirty'
"Sasuke-kun..."
That horrible voice was in his head, whispering through his conscious and making him feel even dirtier than he already felt.
His body felt numb.
A new robe had been placed on him; the whole event a blur of movement and pain. Sasuke could feel the throbbing at the base of his spine, could still feel those horrible lips on his skin; the teeth on his neck and that disgusting tongue all over him.
Gods…
Sasuke took in a shuddering breath trying to banish the feeling; trying to banish all those horrible memories.
He hadn't broke down with Orochimaru took him.
He hadn't screamed, he hadn't uttered a word.
He had been racked with the man's nails and teeth; bruises of passion were on his neck, and angry red cuts were on his chest and sides.
He didn't feel them.
He felt weightless.
Sasuke was still chained to the bed -- Kabuto had washed and dressed him when Orochimaru had finished but the snake-bastard didn't think the Uchiha was broken enough to be let 'off the leash' just yet.
Sasuke's dead red eyes gazed around the room, his whole demeanor not as intense as usual. The frown on his lips wavered; he just couldn't banish the feeling of the man all around him -- inside of him.
Fuck…
Sasuke clenched his eyes shut, taking in another quivering breath as he tried to banish the bad feelings.
He could handle it.
He could take this.
No one would save him.
Sasuke just had to deal with this, cope, get his bearings back so he could gain leverage and fight Orochimaru himself.
It's okay.
He could do this.
--
Naruto continued to walk through the forest, just following his intuition. They had no idea where the Sound's last known position was, but he could guess. He was just going off of a sixth sense that was pulling him further into the forest.
He had to find Sasuke…
He had to.
There was no room for failure.
Naruto walked for hours, the sunset fading, the sky taking on a pitch black look, there was no moon. He was using all his senses to try and figure out where Asaia and Sasuke could be.
Stopping in the middle of forest, he closed his eyes and slowly let his chakra leak out...trying to find an irregularity among him…
As he slowly focused his mind, he slowly was able to feel the nature around him; sense the animals stalking the woods around him, the breath of the trees, the earth, everything was flooding his senses.
Then absolutely nothing.
Like the world just stopped in one certain spot in the spaces around him.
He focused harder on that spot, why couldn't he read it?
His brows furrowed in concentration; trying his best to keep focusing on it, to ignore the life surrounding him.
Still nothing...
Forcing more chakra towards that place he felt hope raise in him. This wasn't normal; the blank spot was circular, dome-like almost.
It was a barrier!
His eyes opened instantly, his chakra stopping.
"Sasuke!"
Pushing off the ground, the fox threw himself up into the trees, flying silently through the limbs to that place.
This had to be it!
--
Orochimaru looked up as Kabuto walked into his room, his face slack of emotion, "He's awake."
"Excellent." The snake pushed himself up out of the chair and started back towards the room.
He'd break Sasuke.
He'd claim him.
He'd take his revenge on him for betraying the Sound.
The plan had failed when Sasuke let his heart get in the way. Orochimaru was expecting it; he had implanted himself on the council on purpose to oversee his pupil, hoping he would have continued the plan by taking out the village after he recovered from the hospital.
But that didn't happen.
Sasuke allowed himself to be a caged dog, allowed himself to be at the mercy of Naruto and Konoha.
Uchiha Sasuke had betrayed Orochimaru and that just couldn't go unpunished.
However, if Sasuke played his cards right Orochimaru would forgive him, would accept him back into his ranks and perhaps they'd try again.
Sliding the door open he caught sight of Sasuke's dead orbs, and smiled crookedly, "Sasuke-kun, I see you're awake…" Orochimaru almost purred as he stepped into the room, the door closing behind him.
Sasuke's dull red eyes flicked to the dark-haired man. He wanted to muster up his strength, wanted to put back on his stoic front but it was difficult.
Go away…
Just...go the fuck away…
Sasuke's lips twitched into a fragile frown, his muscles quivered under his skin as he tried to move himself away but it was useless.
The ropes were even tighter than before.
They cut into his wrists and ankles now; his skin was raw.
The kanji he had found out was a chakra sealing jutsu; he couldn't do a damn thing against the bastard.
Useless…
Sasuke was alone in this hell.
But god damn it he couldn't break!
--
Naruto easily leapt over the roofs of the dark and silent Sound village.
His heart was pounding in his chest; a small steady stream of blood ran down his arm. After he had found a small gap in the chakra he had been immediately been ambushed...if three guards were an ambush.
He was on the largest pagoda now.
Asaia was obviously connected to the Sound, so Sasuke had to be in here...he had to be close.
I'm coming Sasuke!
Naruto held on to the edge of the gutter and was easily able to drop down into a crouch, not a sound came from him. His Kyuubi eyes were focused, seeking out guards, Asaia...Sasuke.
The building was huge, he had no doubt that what he was searching for would be further in. Standing up, he took a deep breath as he rested his back against the wall, listening for movement...there was none. Letting the air out of his lungs in slow breath, he gripped the edge of the shouji door and slide it open and slipped into the Sound's Lair.
--
Reaching forward Orochimaru let his fingers brush against Sasuke's bruised cheek. "Just a beautiful as I remember..." He sighed in reminisce, before his nails curled and dug into the smooth skin.
Sasuke clenched his jaw tight as he felt the nails bite into his flesh -- the blood hot as it ran down the side of his face.
The pain was a muffled feeling in his brain…
The Sharingan only slightly active due to his inner trauma and the chakra seals.
What hurt the most was that horrible smooth voice, the feeling of that wiry hair against his bare chest and face; the smell of his breath and the sight of those bright gold eyes.
--
Naruto swore to himself as he leaned in the wall, his hand covering a snake bite.
"Stupid, fucking snakes! Fucking biting..." Naruto knew there was a slim chance that the snake that bit him held any venom, since it had shot a stream at him just moments before it lunged to his side; but Kyuubi was probably adequate enough protection against the minor snake poison.
He was moving deeper and deeper into the fortress. He looked up, there was a large room ahead -- almost throne-like.
Naruto had to be close!
--
Not caring that his fingers were blood-soaked, Orochimaru trailed them down Sasuke's neck, his fingers squeezing at the bruised skin around his neck. "You know how to end this..." He purred as he moved back on the bed, straddling Sasuke, whom he had turned on his back. "Just call my name."
Sasuke felt the cold hand around his neck, felt the unpleasant weight of the man as he straddled his middle. Sasuke tried not to squirm, tried to remain calm under the bastard as his fingers clamped tighter over his neck. Sasuke's dull red eyes flicked to Orochimaru's hideous gold ones -- The Uchiha spit right in the man's face as it hovered before his. "Fuck you." Sasuke snarled; showing he still had some spirit left; Orochimaru still hadn't broke him.
Orochimaru sat back slightly and lazily brushed the spit away, his hand tightening around Sasuke's neck. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes calculating the red orbs. "So unwise."
Naruto could feel something, a dark, malicious chakra..
He knew that feeling.
Asaia never had that!
But if this were true...then it would mean...
"Fuck!" He swore as he raced towards that feeling.
Orochimaru was alive.
--
"I'm going to make you regret those words, Sasuke-kun." Orochimaru breathed out just before his hand tightened, cutting off the air flow to Sasuke's lungs.
Sasuke's head tilted back in an attempt to get away from that constrictive hand but it was futile. Sasuke couldn't draw air to his lungs; they were starting to burn as those claws bit into the bruised flesh of his neck. His heart was beating wildly -- pulsing in his ears and the Uchiha didn't know how much longer he would last.
Naruto…
Sasuke saw spots behind his closed eyelids; his body starting to spasm from lack of oxygen.
--
Naruto let himself be guided by feel and instinct alone.
He ran towards the door he saw part way down the hall, drawing three kunai from his pouch as he went.
Sasuke!
The fox threw himself against the door, shattering it. He tucked into a roll as the momentum from the running and hit threw him to the floor, but it worked just fine, he threw the three kunai at the blur of black and white. His hand went for his katana drawing it out swiftly. "Let him go!" Naruto ordered.
Orochimaru had easily deflected the kunai, slowly releasing his grip on Sasuke, the Uchiha immediately gasping for breath.
Sasuke was on the verge of passing out with that hand had left his throat..
Sounds were slowly feeding back into his conscious, his red eyes re-focusing as he gazed around the space.
Naruto..?
Sasuke could see the fox crouched on the ground, his heart beating faster for an entirely different reason now that the blonde was here.
…so it had been real.
All those memories…
Sasuke…wasn't alone…
"How very valiant," Orochimaru murmured, turning to the blonde annoyance, his bright gold eyes narrow as he regarded the fox. "Coming to save him on your own."
"Let, Sasuke, go!" Naruto snapped again.
"What if he doesn't want to be saved?" Orochimaru asked, a sinister smirk on his lips. "He did come here on his own after all, he is my property."
Naruto didn't answer, his eyes focused on his enemy, the one who had ripped them apart so many years ago, the one who had almost destroyed Sasuke. Naruto needed to focus his anger, wait for the opportune time, yet Orochimaru's words were slowly chipping away at his resolve.
It couldn't be true.
Sasuke couldn't have wanted any of this willingly; not a second time, not when he knew what was going to happen, not when he knew what he had waiting for him back at Konoha.
"Speechless I see." Orochimaru drawled, sounding almost bored as he walked away from the bed and towards the fox though aware to keep his distance.
Naruto was no idiot, he knew Orochimaru was cunning, a trickster, he couldn't barrel into the fight. Those words weren't true; he knew that, in the pit of his stomach he knew Sasuke wouldn't have left him again. "You stole him." Naruto said with conviction, his sword steady in his hand, his blue eyes blazing as he glared at Orochimaru.
"You are mistaken." The snake-bastard tried again, though he noticed the stern look in Naruto's eyes and knew the time for talking had passed. In an instant the man had launched himself at the fox, propelling himself along the ground – in the same moment erupting the Kusanagi from his mouth and parrying Naruto's defensive blow.
Naruto deflected the Kusanagi blade and pivoted out of the way of a feint attack coming for his head. Ducking he reversed the grip on his katana, and balanced on his toed as his leg shot out to try and take Orochimaru's legs out from under him, but they only met air.
His instincts screamed at him to move, and he found himself backward somersaulting out of the downward thrust. With his legs under him, the fox flipped the katana back in his hand and lunged up at Orochimaru, a war cry escaping his lips, his eyes blazing as the blade missed it's target, the man rolling out of the way.
Orochimaru stood before the blonde, his sword drawn and catching the failing light of the candle. "Quick." He said simply, his tongue running across his lips as he stood close to the bed.
His golden eyes never left Naruto's bright angry blue, watching for his next attack. As the blonde lunged, Orochimaru dodged, whipping the sword to the side in hopes of meeting flesh -- wanting to draw first blood.
Naruto felt the bite of a blade scorch his back, breaking through the white straps of his chest armor, causing it to fall off, leaving his core and heart unprotected. He felt himself start to lose his balance, but he somehow managed to catch himself. Planting his feet he growled as he turned back to the battle, katana blocking the second attack, throwing Orochimaru's blade out wide, before he slashed at the man's chest.
Sasuke watched the entire event before him, unable to do anything about it as Naruto fought for both their lives.
Naruto was unguarded....his armor on the floor…
Orochimaru smirked as he jumped back, easily avoiding the wide arc of the blade, landing next to the bed.
Orochimaru's bright gold eyes flicked down to Sasuke -- the Uchiha's own eyes stuck on Naruto and Naruto only.
Hm.
How adorable.
In a rush of movement the long-haired ninja swept his katana in an arc of shimmering silver at Sasuke.
In one foul move the blade was buried deep in the Uchiha's side. Sasuke screamed; not expecting the attack, barely catching sight of it. His face contorted in pain, his red-black eyes flickered before they were a solid obsidian; clenching shut tight as Orochimaru wrenched his blade from the wound.
"No!" Naruto yelled out, his defense dropping, his eyes wide as the blade drove into Sasuke. He felt like things were moving slowly around him; he could see the pain register in Sasuke's mind, his face contorted as he tried to pull away. "Sasuke!"
Orochimaru chuckled low in his throat, watching Sasuke spasm on the mattress as blood poured easily from the side wound; he had made sure to dig the blade in deep, yet making sure he didn't graze the heart or lungs.
Slow and painful.
In case he lost to Naruto he wasn't going to allow his precious Sasuke to live on after him, to have a life after him.
No, Sasuke would die here, or Naruto would.
He wanted to watch the Uchiha die; wanted to see Naruto's anguish as the man failed in saving him.
Orochimaru once again lunged for the blonde, not giving him a moment to react as the blood-stained Katana arced for his neck.
Reality caught up, there was movement coming at him, turning his head, he felt warm blood splatter of his face, Sasuke's blood. He jumped back out of range of the katana attack; he could feel the blade cut into his face, drawing a line across his cheek, over his nose and across the other cheek. His face whipped to the side with the force of the blade.
Hot, wet blood trailed down his face.
Naruto felt anger build in him, and he let out a low growl before his head snapped back up to Orochimaru, the scars on his cheeks longer, darker.
Orochimaru grinned at the blonde, watching as the scars of his cheeks grew darker; his chakra building.
Yes…
Get Angry Naruto-kun…
In a rush of movement the dark-haired ninja was upon Naruto again, the blade a blur of silver as he tried to make contact -- trying to connect with Naruto's un-guarded middle.
Naruto had to hurry.
Sasuke wouldn't last much longer.
The mere thought made Orochimaru want to laugh with glee -- this was all too amusing.
Naruto side stepped the blade coming at his middle, his katana tight in his grip. His eyes were focused on Orochimaru, his muscles ready to move.
Three steps.
He drew in a deep breath, his gritted teeth loosening.
Two steps.
He exhaled.
One Step.
He paused in his breathing, his fingers tightening on the blade. Taking in a deep breath, the fox let out a loud war cry, as he brought the blade up right for Orochimaru's exposed throat. He felt the blade cut into the skin, easily slicing through the layers of skin, and breaking through the windpipe and spinal cord before he got caught on the vertebrae there. Lunging in place, the fox threw a burst of strength into the katana forcing the blade through the bone and out of the back of Orochimaru's neck.
Or, that was what Naruto had thought happened.
Instead the man he had once been fighting seemed no more than a life-less doll; the blood that exploded from the wound was dark and tar-like, coating the walls, floor, and Naruto. Orochimaru's head hadn't been severed but the fox didn't think it mattered; this was no longer Orochimaru.
It was a puppet.
A puppet filled with ink.
Naruto cursed glaring at the ground where the supposed body lay, watching the milky black blood ooze into the cracks in the floor as if the substance was alive.
Orochimaru still wasn't dead, but he had escaped.
Damn it!
Sasuke's eyes were closed; his breathing concentrated as the pain racked through his body; his muscles on fire.
He was still stuck; displayed in the hideous manner Orochimaru had set him up in; the blood long since had soaked through the thin robe and started to bleed down into the mattress.
Sasuke was starting to feel cold.
His mind was fuzzy, his heartbeat slow and deliberate in his ears. "Na..." Sasuke's voice was quiet, blood on his lips and in his mouth. He could barely breathe; was the fighting over? Sasuke didn't have the ability to open his eyes; the effort it took was too great right now.
Naruto rushed to Sasuke's side, his eyes on the wound, "Sasuke!" He looked up but only found closed eyes. "Sasuke! Open your eyes!" He begged desperately, one hand pressing down on the wound, the other sheathing the katana and pulling out a kunai and reaching to cut the bounded ankles. Shifting hands, he pressed down on the wound, and reached for the wrists until Sasuke was finally free. "C'mon, Sasu, open your eyes!" Naruto ordered, his hands leaving the wound, smearing his body as he reached for the fallen back pack and easily opened it up, pulling out gauze patches and a simple blood-stopper tablet, and a blood pill. Crushing the blood-stopper tablet he let the contents trickle down into the wound before he covered it with gauze and pressed down hard, trying desperately to stop the bleeding.
Sasuke drew in painful breaths, his heart a dying sound in the back of his mind.
Painfully the Uchiha opened his pure black eyes; looking at Naruto's pained expression, trying to focus on him, knowing his hands were on his chest to stop the bleeding and yet he felt miles away.
"Na.." Sasuke started, blood trickled down the side of his mouth, "..You.." Sasuke couldn't get the words out, the blade had nearly ran completely through his side; leaving him nearly cut all the way open.
...he had lost a lot of blood while Naruto was fighting.
Sasuke's skin was paler than usual, clammy, the color drained almost completely from his face.
"Shit!" Naruto cursed and started to channel his chakra down into the wound. "Don't do this to me, Sasuke!" He felt something ripping at his chest, something more painful than a blade. "Don't you dare do this to me." He sniffed trying to hold back the feeling of dread.
He was really losing Sasuke…
Sasuke felt the warmth of chakra on his side; flowing through his cold numb body. Sasuke's eyes slipped shut as Naruto's words pulled at his mind yet he couldn't speak; he wanted to say something, anything, but Sasuke just couldn't.
Sasuke felt unconsciousness pull at him, drawing him into that dark abyss.
Naruto…
Naruto felt a panic run through him the moment Sasuke's eyes slid shut, his hand shot out, his blood soaked fingers pressing to Sasuke's neck, desperate to find a pulse.
It was there.
Sluggish, but it was there.
He didn't have much time!
Naruto reached back for more gauze and set them on the blood soaked ones, the blood had to be slowing! Risking a glance, the fox pulled the fabric back, a fast stream of blood trickled out of the simple wound, but it was slower than before.
Setting the gauze back on the wound, he started to try and man handle Sasuke up, so he could pillow him to his chest. He had to field bandage the wound, and get the blood pill in him.
It felt like an eternity, but it only took a few minutes.
Keeping Sasuke's limp body sitting up, the fox crouched at the foot of the bed and moved the Uchiha so he was draped over his own back. Standing he grabbed the broken back pack and held it under one arm before he started out of the Sound.
He had to hurry, but yet, he had to be gentle at the same time' too much movement would upset the wound. Despite the new weight on his back, and the awkward burden under his arm, Naruto was able to make it outside without being seen. Launching off of the patio he moved across the pagoda tops as quickly as he could.
The barrier was either destroyed, or set down on purpose, he wasn't sure which.
Landing in a tree the fox fished one hand out from underneath Sasuke and formed a simple seal.
A Kage Bushin popped up; its cerulean eyes wide, "What happ-"
"Go ahead to the village! Tell Shikamaru the location, and give him the orders to destroy this place!" Naruto snapped leaving no room for hesitation.
The bushin didn't hesitate; it just nodded before it started through the trees, its originator not far behind.
--
A/N:
Sorry for all the scene changes, we weren't really sure how to go about everything since she and I played Orochimaru and of course Kareian is Naruto and I'm Sasuke, so it was a little difficult to have everything flow properly in the chapter.
Despite that I hope you guys enjoyed it! If you did please leave us a review, I posted an additional chapter with this one so I hope everyone is happy for that! Hehe.