Important Chapter 8, a naruto fanfic

Hello, readers. It's that time again, finally! It's been well over a month, and I can do nothing but apologise and beg for your forgiveness.

ATTENTION: Please read all of the following, don't just skip it. I wish to explain myself, so please read it! Thank you.

I truly am sorry. I know how frustrating it is when you really get into a story, and then the damn author suddenly stops writing it! Let me try to explain...

Of course, you all know that I've been having a rough time lately. It started with just the usual family problems, and a bit of stress at college. For the past month or two, I've been put under more stress than I can actually cope with, and believe me, I can cope with a lot. Some of my teachers and classmates have been messing me around a lot with coursework and the exams I will soon have to face. I pulled many all-nighters doing work for other people, just to keep them happy.

On top of this, my work colleagues and even my manager have all started to treat me very poorly. I've been shouted at, and blamed for many things that weren't my fault, and I have had all of the workload dumped on me, while my colleagues sit eating cake, drinking tea, and chatting. I'm being serious and perfectly honest about this.

My parents are going through some rough times too. Each time they argue, they separately come to me to talk about what's happened and how they feel. The pressure of being the shoulder to cry on for both of them is taking its toll on me.

To make matters worse, I am now on crutches once again because of the knee disorder I have had since I was 10 years old.

I am not telling you all this in some attempt to get your sympathy. That's not what I want. I just want you to understand. I love the reviews you lot give me, and I appreciate your kind and encouraging words so much...

I hope you can all forgive me for my lack of dedication.

Here is chapter eight, I'm sorry it's not much longer than any of my other chapters. If I were to make it any longer, I would just be forcing it too much, and then it would come out even worse than what it already is. Please don't leave horrible comments saying I should have made it longer to make up for not posting anything in such a long time.

Warning! A lot of you will consider the characters in this chapter to be very OOC.

Please, enjoy.

Naruto's legs moved at an almost illegal speed as images of what could be happening to Sasuke flashed through his mind. Sasuke, the man he still loved with every particle of his soul. Sasuke, the man who had broken his heart. Sasuke, the man who needed him.

'I'm coming, Sasuke… hold on…'

The thoughts of what could have caused those two loud thuds that Naruto had heard down the phone almost pushed him over the edge with sickening worry. This only urged him on, making him run faster and faster, 'till he was no more than a blur of colours. He dashed past people, not caring as angry voices and threats followed after him. He even ran across streets without looking for oncoming traffic.

His footsteps echoed loudly as he took a sharp turn, going down a narrow alleyway that served as a decent shortcut. Directly at the other end of this alleyway he knew there was a fairly busy street, but this didn't slow him down.

Lights flooded his vision, and the sound of panicked car horns invaded his ears and made him cringe at the loud noise. He stumbled slightly and turned. Blue eyes widened in horror, and then clamped shut. His whole body tensed up painfully as wheels screeched along the concrete.

Naruto could only think of one thing...

'Sasuke… I…'

"Wonderful…"

Sasuke groaned as the sick voice of Orochimaru waded through his hazy mind. He tried to shake the dazed feeling away, but it was to no avail. He needed to be alert, ready to defend himself should Orochimaru try to harm him further, but whatever he had been hit with had done its purpose well. Sasuke could barely see straight. Orochimaru noticed this, and rubbed his hands together gleefully with the knowledge that he now had Sasuke exactly where he wanted him.

"Oh Sasuke, feeling a little light-headed, are we?" he asked mockingly. Sasuke threw the dirtiest glare he could manage, and Orochimaru smirked in response. His long tongue whipped out from between his thin lips, wetting them as he eyed Sasuke like a predator. He leaned forwards slightly, positioning his head next to Sasuke's ear, and drove his tongue in, swiping it around with satisfaction.

"Gah!" Sasuke voiced his protest, and rather ungracefully shoved himself against Orochimaru, forcing him backwards.

"Hn, I see you still have some fight in you," Orochimaru mused, adoring the panicked yet defensive and powerful look in Sasuke's eyes.

"Sasuke," he breathed seductively, drawing the name out as it rolled across his tongue.

"Fuck you," Sasuke spat back at Orochimaru, feeling little strength behind his bold words.

Orochimaru's lips spread wider across his pale face as his smirk broadened. He leaned forward once again, whispering in Sasuke's ear, "You're most welcome to… Sasuke…"

"Naruto!"

Air. Naruto inhaled deeply, taking in as much as he could. He didn't realise how long he had been holding his breath out of sheer terror. A voice he recognised kept calling out to him, but he couldn't move. Strong but gentle hands took hold of him, making him snap back to his senses.

Red hair, green eyes…

"Gaara!" he half shouted, collapsing into the red-head's arms. He didn't care why Gaara was there, or how he had gotten there, he was just glad.

"The moment I saw that car coming towards me," Naruto blurted out in between harsh breaths, "I thought… Gaara, I really thought…"

"I know," Gaara cut in, holding the blonde tighter as angry people sat in their cars, honking their horns in annoyance at the hold up. This caused Naruto to look up from the strong embrace he longed to stay in. He glanced over Gaara's shoulder and gasped at the huge queue of cars, all because of one car which was positioned sideways across the street, having skidded to avoid Naruto. Sat inside the car was one slightly agitated looking Neji.

"Gaara, you and Neji-?!"

"Yes, the moment you left, we dropped everything and chased after you, but you are a very fast runner, Naruto. You had already disappeared from the street by the time we got outside. We knew you'd be going home, so we got in the car and were heading straight there. It's fortunate we found you." He tugged on Naruto's arm a little, making the blonde follow him quickly to the car. "Let's move. If Sasuke is in trouble, there isn't time to lose."

Naruto nodded, but didn't speak. Everything was happened so fast, he didn't trust his voice to not break with raw emotion the moment he tried to talk.

"Don't ever do such a stupid thing again, Naruto!" Neji shouted as Naruto clambered into the back of the car.

"I – I wasn't thinking, Neji," Naruto muttered.

Neji made a 'tut' sound with his tongue, showing his disapproval. Naruto almost smiled, knowing that really Neji wasn't angry. He had been afraid that Naruto would get hurt.

The roar of the engine and the radio suddenly turning on brought Neji's and Naruto's thoughts to an end. Horns continued to make themselves heard, even as Gaara drove off. Images of what could be happening to Sasuke still flashed in Naruto's mind. He tried to focus everything on the song playing on the radio, willing himself to not be so plagued by the thought of his lover being in pain.

Prison gates won't open up for me
On these hands and knees, I'm crawlin'
Oh, I reach for you
Well I'm terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can't hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please, I'm callin'
And oh I scream for you
Hurry, I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

Naruto felt like ripping his hair out. The lyrics of the song couldn't be more inappropriate at such a dire time. He felt a tight pain in his chest, and just managed to hold back a sob. What if, all this time, Sasuke truly needed him?

'What if…'

Show me what it's like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I'll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me

'What if, all this time, Sasuke, you've needed me? What if, all I have been doing is thinking about myself, and how much I needed you to be there for me, to not care so much about your damn job. What if you needed me…?'

Heaven's gates won't open up for me
With these broken wings, I'm fallin'
And all I see is you
These city walls ain't got no love for me
I'm on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh I scream for you
Come please, I'm callin'
And all I need from you
Hurry, I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

'What if, during those times I thought I was being a good boyfriend, a good person, I was actually just dragging you down? What if I was just putting you under more stress? Those times, you worked late, and I let things like that get to me and break my heart, because I thought, your place was at home with me. What if I made everything you do seem completely insignificant? What if you needed me by your side?'

'What if…'

Hurry, I'm fallin'

'What if…'

All I need is you
Come please, I'm callin'
And oh, I scream for you
Hurry, I'm fallin', I'm fallin', I'm fallin'

'Sasuke, what if, you really have loved me all along, and while all I could think of was my own suffering, I never noticed how hard you were trying to keep everyone happy…'

'What if…'

Hurry I'm fallin'

'What if…'

Say it for me
Say it to me
And I'll leave this life behind me
Say it if it's worth saving me…

'You need saving.'

"Gaara!" Naruto shouted, determination flaring in his bright blue eyes, "Drive faster, please! I know he's in trouble!"

"Naruto…" Neji breathed, looking a little shocked at Naruto's sudden outburst. "You haven't been this determined in a long time."

"Hn." Gaara smirked. "It's about time we got the old Naruto back."

Naruto nodded. A smirk worthy of rivaling the Uchiha's made its way across Naruto's face as Gaara put his foot down, not caring about breaking the speed limit.

Naruto's heart continued to pound harshly against his ribcage with worry and terror, but he wouldn't let it show on his face. He was determined. He would save Sasuke.

Lights flashing and sirens blaring loudly, Naruto couldn't believe it. He turned in his seat and gazed out of the rear window at the police car heading straight for them. It was gaining speed at an exceptional rate, catching up with them within seconds.

"Gaara…!" Naruto exclaimed, turning back around to see what Gaara would do.

"Heh, a chase as well," Neji said in a low whisper, turning his head slightly to smirk at his lover. Gaara smirked back and gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Naruto," he said crisply, getting Naruto's full attention, "hold on."

Naruto gulped, but nodded anyway, and held onto whatever he could in the back of the car. The seatbelt alone wasn't enough to stop him from bouncing all over the place as Gaara sped over speed-bumps and skidded around sharp corners, making the car tip slightly onto two wheels, and then slam back down hard.

"Shit, Gaara! Where did you learn to drive like this?!" Naruto shouted in shock.

Gaara could only smirk more. He'd not had such a thrill in a long time.

Sasuke sprawled out on the hard, wooden floor of the bedroom as Orochimaru's fist collided with the side of his face once again.

"Now now, Sasuke, you shouldn't say things you don't mean!" Orochimaru said mockingly as he towered over the half-conscious young man before him. Sasuke glared up at the despicable excuse for a human as he pushed himself up onto shaky legs, and stood face to face with Orochimaru.

"I would not be with you, even for all the money in the world," Sasuke spat with as much venom in his voice as he could muster. Orochimaru's smirk faltered slightly, and his eyes narrowed.

"I think you will find, dear Sasuke, that you will have no choice in the matter…"

Sasuke clenched his fist, and sent it directly at Orochimaru's stomach. His eyes widened as his fist was caught easily, and held onto with an insanely strong grip. That didn't deter Sasuke though. He clenched his other fist and sent it hurtling towards Orochimaru's face, only to have that grabbed too. As a last resort, Sasuke swung his leg round, ready to connect with Orochimaru's side, but before he had made much movement, he felt the wind knocked out of him, and the metallic taste of blood in his mouth as Orochimaru's knee crashed into his stomach with sickening force.

Sasuke fell to the ground on his hands and knees, gasping for air and coughing up blood.

An echo of sounds suddenly reached his ears. He wondered for a moment if he was blacking out, but there was no mistake.

Tyres screeching, police sirens, someone running, shouting, entering the house...

'Naruto…?'

"Go, Naruto! Find Sasuke! We'll hold back the coppers," Neji ordered as he and Gaara got out of the car and blocked the police officer's way into the house after Naruto.

"They could be of some assistance to us…" Gaara mused, glancing around at the three other police cars that had pulled up near the house, having recently joined in the chase.

"You really think so?" Neji muttered sarcastically, "After the way you just drove? Hah, Gaara, we are done for sure."

"Hands where we can see them!" a police officer shouted as he got out of his car, armed with a gun.

"I guess you're right," Gaara said with a slight smile on his face as he raised his hands.

Neji did likewise. "We have to hold these guys off. They'll stop Naruto before he's had a chance to find Sasuke."

The police officer made some hand signs towards two of his colleagues, who then started making a move towards the house. Neji and Gaara both glanced at each other, knowing the same thought was running through both of their minds. As the police officers approached, Gaara shuffled over to the side as much as possible without being noticed. Neji remained stationary.

The moment the police officers were within range, Gaara shouted, "Now!" and rammed into the officer nearest to him. Neji ducked down and rolled behind Gaara, sticking out his leg to trip up the remaining officer. Once this was accomplished, they both dived towards the nearest bush and used it for cover as they sprinted round to the back of the house, hoping all of the police around would take chase once more, and forget about Naruto for the time being.

Their plan worked perfectly.

"Go, go, go!" Gaara and Neji heard one of them shouting, followed by the heavy sound of feet clapping against concrete as all of the police took chase after Gaara and Neji.

"Sasuke!"

Alarm bells rang in Sasuke's head. The one person he wanted there the most had finally arrived, but at that moment, realisation dawned on him, as if the sound of Naruto's voice had awoken him from his sudden panicking since he picked up that phone and called out to Naruto in desperation.

'Naruto is now in danger!'

Sasuke glanced up at Orochimaru, just in time to see the look of annoyance upon his face slither off, to be replaced with a sick smirk. Orochimaru's eyes were fixed on the door, just off to the side of where Sasuke remained on his hands and knees.

"Sasuke!"

Naruto's voice seemed to be getting closer now. The sound of someone running up the long staircase could be heard clearly from inside the bedroom.

Sasuke watched as Orochimaru licked his lips, and the menacing predatory look blazed in his eyes more fiercely than before. He slipped one of his thin, pale hands into one of the pockets on the inside of his jacket, and slowly pulled out something that made Sasuke's heart skip several beats.

He inhaled deeply, shooting his head round to face the door as he heard Naruto just outside.

'No… no. Naruto, don't come in here. Don't come in here!'

Sasuke found himself incapable of speaking, incapable of moving. The door handle started to turn. Orochimaru smiled as he raised his arms.

'Naruto, no! He… he has a gun!'

Orochimaru aimed. The door flew open as Naruto burst into the room, prepared to attack with his bare fists. He froze the moment he saw the sleek black weapon, aimed at his heart.

It felt like time itself had stopped. Naruto stood frozen to the spot while Orochimaru kept perfectly still, enjoying every inch of fear he instilled in Naruto. Neither noticed the raven headed man forcing himself to his feet.

'Naruto… all this time… I've not been there for you. All I have been doing is focusing on my job, my work. I put it before you… I shut you out… I abandoned you…'

The muscles in Orochimaru's finger tensed.

'You've always been a good person to me, always by my side, and I… I pushed you away. I didn't acknowledge all that you were doing for me…'

Using what little strength he had left, Sasuke threw himself at Naruto

'I don't know how you could still love me after all that I have put you through… but, I…'

Orochimaru's finger pressed down fully on the trigger. A loud, heart stopping bang echoed throughout the entire area.

"Sa-Sasuke…" Naruto whispered, staring at the tear filled eyes of his lover. "You – you saved me, Sa-"

"N-no, Naru-to…" Sasuke choked out.

Naruto gasped at the sudden realisation that Sasuke was injured. "Sasuke… Sasuke! You…"

"Naruto… you…" Sasuke was unable to completely finish his sentence as his knees gave in, and he collapsed to the floor.

Naruto fell to the floor with Sasuke, not caring that Orochimaru had run out of the room in an attempt to escape. All he could think about was what Sasuke had just done. What Sasuke had just sacrificed, for him…

Sasuke stared up at the ceiling, his mouth half open in silent agony.

"Sasuke… Sasuke, look at me. Sasuke…" Naruto sobbed, clutching tightly onto Sasuke as he lay bleeding in his arms.

"Naruto," Sasuke whispered hoarsely, forcing a smile as he looked at the weeping blonde. "You…"

Naruto leaned closer to Sasuke as his voice drifted into almost complete silence. He held back the sobs in his chest, intent on hearing what could be Sasuke's last words to him...

"You… saved me."

Hmm... is this another horrible cliff-hanger? I'm sorry. I've always been the dramatic cliff-hanger kind of person...

Perhaps this story won't have a happy ending after all...

Or will it?

I don't usually request that my readers review, but in this case, I would be extremely grateful, just so I know you lot don't completely hate me!

Oh, and the lyrics in this chapter are from the song Saving Me by Nickelback.

I won't promise that the next chapter will be up soon. It could be another month, judging by the way things are going at the moment. my last exam is at the end of this month. Once that is over, I will be under less stress.

Please continue to read the story, even if it does take me a long time to update, I promise I will always get around to writing more for you guys. And I quite like this story anyway, so I do want to finish it.

Until next time everyone, take care.

-Kasia