Author's Note: Possible male/male romance ahead. Please read! J

Thanks to all that reviewed! Please feel free to do so again. Right now, I don't have much of my first novel done; I keep getting sidetracked by ideas for new ones in the series, so not much to tell yet. I am hoping to make a career out of writing, though, so, don't worry, I'm sure you'll all be getting a message of some sort about it eventually. ;)

ItaNarulover, thank you for the positive reinforcement and no matter what you say, kind words and good reviews always deserve an answer! J

Abhorsen3, I shall endeavor to keep you guessing, it is the highlight of any suspense/horror/drama novelist to do so for their readers. Such a thing is what keeps us all who are engrossed by a good story from putting the book away to sleep or do other mundane things that have nothing to do with the glorious craft (writing, not magic, though, you all knew that, right?)

Okay! Onto the next chapter!

Chapter 10

Trials by Fire, Sand and Sea

Naruto had heard the word love before. He had heard the terms 'true love' and 'the love of friendship'. Recently, he had even heard about the possibility of a 'great love'. Naruto had been told that it was the kind of love that could change lives, as opposed to the kinds that he would cease to feel or even think about after a while. Iruka had been the one to tell him that, right before he'd left and the doctors had taken his place. That had been just yesterday according to Sasuke.

Strange, but it felt as though he were floating in a sea, nearly drowning, and the more he floated the less he could hear or see anyone within reach. They were all slipping away from him, or he was slipping further from everything he had known before. He wasn't sure which was worse, which, if any, he wanted. To disappear himself, for all that he'd found familiar and comforting until just days ago to fall beneath the waves, or to stumble out of the water to try and piece it all back together. But, porcelain can never again match on all sides once shattered. Break it again, and the cracks become larger. Once more, and the pieces would be beyond repair. That was what scurried around his mind all day, every day, so far.

The doctors, in all their white coats floating behind them like angels wings that masked demon skin had yelled at him then, softly. He could hear the buzzing from their mouths, the disapproval, just as he'd heard it from Iruka before the man had finally begun to notice him, and from all the others. He shivered and clung tighter to his knees until the buzzing stopped and he was left to the welcoming silence. God, how had he ever wanted to be noticed, to laugh, to shout greetings and constant jokes? How had he ever managed to challenge anything? He was so tired. Sasuke was cooking, though. Naruto could smell it. Naruto saw mist and rain in his mind. He could smell the earth and rain that had been in Sasuke's hair without needing to think very hard. Maybe Iruka was right. Sasuke was his friend. Naruto loved him, achingly, constantly, without effort. He would go down in a little while, to eat. But, first he needed sleep.

His body was sore in places he hadn't been able to stretch or move well since the battle. Naruto felt his head swim and his vision blurred slightly, but he fought it off until he'd reached Sasuke's bed. The room was nondescript, yet tastefully decorated in the manner of an above average hotel. Rich blue carpet, soft grey walls, a painting of flowers over an oak bureau and a matching oak nightstand went well with the sight of the quaint square just visible out of the bay window. But, the bed was what he longed for. Sleep, without dreams or restless ghosts, was what he needed. Food would wait, Sasuke would wait. Although, the assurance did little to curb the gnawing sensation embedded in Naruto's stomach since Sasuke had appeared out of nowhere with promises Naruto feared he could not keep. He sighed heavily as his head hit the pillow and, eyes already heavy, he succumbed to sleep, the sound of footsteps and clinking cookware lulling and calming in its own way.

Sasuke stared down at Naruto for a moment before setting the tray of food down on the nightstand and leaving, softly sliding the door closed behind him. The food would keep for a while inside the warmer. He wondered if it was right, not to wake him. Naruto had looked so troubled, but sleep, he knew, helped a person to heal. Besides, he needed to see Tsunade. There wouldn't be much hope for Sasuke, or anyone else for that matter, to do any good while Naruto was still within the confines of the village. Things would be different for a while. They were already different. Sasuke was now being forced to watch over an injured and lost former friend instead of tracking down and assassinating the Council. He sniffed and shifted on his feet uncomfortably before deciding to clean out the kitchenette in his hotel room until it gleamed.

Naruto, an injured Naruto, should not matter. Nothing should matter. Just what the hell had happened for his drive to so suddenly crumble? It wasn't a genjutsu. Sasuke had had enough experience with them that it was virtually impossible to trick him into doing anything he didn't want to. That thought rose up in him like an angry pit viper, hissing and spitting the whole way. Itachi; Itachi had tried to use such a thing several times before. This place had ravaged his brother, taken his sanity, his blind faith, and mauled his mind and body beyond repair until Sasuke was forced to kill him.

They had known, they had all known, what had been happening and why. How could they not and still profess themselves the ultimate protectors and judges of every person present? Sasuke gritted his teeth painfully and slammed his fist into the counter he'd recently cleaned, denting it slightly. He had so many questions now, so few places to search for answers, but he felt certain of one thing, at least. They could not have him, and they would not erase what was left of Naruto. Moving as silently as his training dictated, he crossed to the spare bedroom in the suite, now his, and retrieved his scrolls and weapons pouch. It would not be safe, not to mention quite stupid, to travel anywhere in Fire Country without them no matter what the Godaime had declared to the other ninja.

Sasuke secured the outer lock he'd fashioned on Naruto's door before heading out. He didn't want the young man to suddenly end up in a more dangerous situation than at the festival should he wake up and find himself alone. Sasuke couldn't believe the Hyuuga girl had finally stirred up enough courage to say more than two words to anyone only to use that strength to send Naruto into a near catatonic state. Well, he had to admit, grudgingly, the situation before had not been much different, but Sasuke could have done something about it. Now, he would have to work all that much more to shove through all the mental breaks, gates and chains, crushing each lock as he went. Sasuke hated it.

If it had been him . . . if it had been him, he would not have appreciated such a violation. It would not matter if he'd come out whole and healed and well on the other side. He was sure Naruto would see it the same way, were he completely conscious of everything around him. To Sasuke, he seemed to drift in and out of reality in a semi-sleep state with eyes wide open, one without sound. Shrugging slightly to ward off a sudden chill, Sasuke prepared to make good use of the rooftops connecting his street to the main fairway, and further on, the Hokage Tower. A surge of foreign chakra stopped his ascent. A sound not unlike sighing reached his ears and Sasuke knew exactly who was behind him. The feel of the dirt beneath his feet shifting and rising like waves confirmed it. Turning, he met the steady, empty gaze of the Kazekage, though he caught something underneath it. It was like he was watching a hurricane from the center, spinning outward with the churning winds. The eye of the storm; Gaara, no the Kazekage, was using the eye of the storm to both fuel and quiet his rage.

And, what rage. Sasuke could feel the other ninja's intensity and chakra prickling and sizzling its way up his spine. He grimaced. I don't have time for power-plays or mind-games. Let him suffer in silence. Apparently, the silence angered Gaara further, who pulled sand from the surrounding road and secured Sasuke's feet to the ground. Sasuke made no move to draw them free. Sucking in air, his hands fluidly moved through the hand seals and roiling and rolling fire cut through the sand barrier Gaara had erected to counter it. Sasuke pulled back the technique before it could make contact. He smiled grimly.

"It would seem your run-in with Akatsuki has left you deficient, Kazekage-sama."

"Uchiha, I am not here to play. If you want to test your skill with me, you are welcome to accompany any of a number of Konoha ninja that travel to my village regularly for joint-training. I am here," Gaara's sand had begun to bite into Sasuke's skin, pressing mercilessly into his aching muscles, "for him."

"You mean Naruto," Sasuke clarified unnecessarily.

"It is so."

Sasuke snorted. "Are you going to try and kiss him, too?"

Gaara merely stared, eyes widening significantly. Sasuke could not contain the derisive laughter at the sight. Really, maybe it was worth it, just for this moment, not to have killed them all.

"He's fine, or he will be."

Gaara's brows lowered and furrowed.

"Like he was fine at the festival?" he asked lowly. "For all that I respect the Hyuuga clan and understand Hinata-sama's situation that should not have happened."

Sasuke, himself, frowned at the mention of the Hyuuga girl. The way Gaara spoke, it was like he was intimating some kind of relationship between Naruto and that girl. Sasuke shook his head clear of thoughts and feelings he did not have time to unravel further. He did not know how long Naruto would stay asleep or how long the locks and barrier seals on the doors and windows to his room would hold.

"He will be looked after, that is one thing I can promise," Sasuke made the concession.

The Suna ninja nodded slowly after appearing to consider his words and retracted the sand. Then, his body began to dissipate and float away on an errant breeze. Sasuke huffed out a shallow laugh; a sand clone. Why not?

Sasuke slipped slowly and carefully through the nearly deserted streets of Konoha. He'd concealed himself well, using a non-descript appearance from a village he'd traveled to in the past while he'd belonged to the horde amassed by Orochimaru. It wasn't that he feared any retribution from the Konoha ninja that he could sense floating from place to place along the way. He simply didn't relish getting caught up with the members of the village who seemed to be under the impression that he'd left under coercion or had been carried away by demons or renegade ninja. He'd already been forced to endure hours of constant babbling from the attractive - and unattached – females who had apparently spent the last three years lamenting their loss of a prospective husband. He felt nothing but disgust curling inside his stomach at the thought of marriage or having children with anyone, let alone someone who could not understand all that he, as a ninja, had seen and done.

Fortunately, the Hokage Tower was already in sight and Sasuke breathed in deeply, preparing himself for only his second appearance before the Godaime in the week he'd been back. Sasuke entered the Tower through the main door rather than leaping to the rooftop under Tsunade's window as Kakashi was wont to do. He absolutely despised the Jounin and could not abide assimilating any of the man's habits into his own life. He despised Naruto for becoming injured, for saying what he had said, for making Sasuke question, even for a moment, his resolve. That was unconscionable and Sasuke would now have to fight to get it back. Not wanting to give Naruto the chance to decimate his hotel room or possibly injure himself in an effort to release the barriers, he traveled the stairs and down the winding halls to the Hokage's office quickly. Sighing slightly at the sound of mumbled voices coming through the door, Sasuke leant against the far wall and waited.

The voices rose to a crescendo of shouts and irate language that Sasuke did not have any desire to follow. He didn't need to the moment he heard a familiar voice yell Naruto's name within the rush of words at the same time that the door burst open. Shikamaru exited Tsunade's office quickly and glared harshly at Sasuke before leaving in a silent huff of fury. Tsunade called him in and Sasuke spared no more time with formalities than most people did when confronting her.

"I'm here to discuss the limits of my current mission."

Tsunade blinked before settling her hands on top of her desk, drumming her fingers on the wood impatiently.

"If you are suggesting that Naruto is too much trouble for you to deal with, then you should have refused it the minute Kakashi offered you the chance."

Sasuke frowned. Kakashi hadn't given him a choice, though he refused to admit that he might have made the same decision regardless.

"He is too much trouble. He has always been too much trouble, too loud, too aggressive, too . . ."

Sasuke had almost let it slip, and that kind of lapse in control was neither warranted nor healthy. A ninja was easily overtaken who could not control their own behavior. The fact that Naruto really was 'too constant', always there, always dependable and supportive to his teammates, whether they wanted him to be or not, was not the issue and not something Sasuke was sure had survived the torture and so should not be estimated just yet.

"But, that is not what I mean."

Tsunade pursed her lips, narrowed her eyes and cupped her chin with one hand gracefully.

"You want to take him from here," she guessed.

Sasuke did not move in the slightest, though he was surprised at her insight. His face remained the blank expanse that he had perfected during his training, only letting it slip during his final encounter with his brother. But, he had realized all too late, Itachi had deserved to see more of Sasuke than unveiled and unbridled rage. Sasuke kept quiet. No one would ever see that regret, or anything else genuine, not ever again.

"Yes," he replied simply.

"I cannot grant your request," Tsunade raised a hand at Sasuke's silent protest, his mouth thinning and his brow rising slightly.

"I cannot until Kakashi has agreed. He is, after all, the one who has secured and paid for this mission. Sometimes, not even a Hokage can cross certain lines, though they may want to," Tsunade was searching the scenery outside the window now, speaking wistfully and almost to herself.

Seeming to finally remember where she was and what she was doing, her face and voice hardened again when she glanced back at Sasuke.

"There are rules. They will be followed. You will be allowed to take Naruto for a short trip outside the village, lasting no longer than two weeks, if you can get a signed approval from Kakashi," Tsunade delivered the terms sharply.

Sasuke frowned at the strict guidelines, but surmised that it had something to do with the Council. It did not matter, he would have what he needed soon, and he and Naruto would be able to slowly edge their way across the gap that lay between them. That had to come first before Sasuke could begin to understand, and then help Naruto acknowledge then heal, the wounds jaggedly crisscrossing through his conscious and subconscious mind. Kakashi, for all his flaws and experience with damages of the psyche in his own life, had been right to do this. Sasuke would merely have despised them more had any of the older ninja responsible for guiding and teaching the newer members simply foisted Naruto off inside some facility to wither and fade away.

"Fine," the Godaime concluded. Then, something Tsunade had said clicked inside his mind. Sasuke turned away.

"But . . . ," he continued speaking while studying the dark whorls of wood in the wall then turned to match Tsunade's glare.

"It will be longer than two weeks. He will remain with me, outside of the village, for as long as I deem necessary or until Naruto can literally tell me, himself, that he wishes to return. You have no say in that, Tsunade." Sasuke deliberately left off any title or honorific. Such a woman, despite her ability to command true respect from hundreds, had not earned it from him.

Tsunade shook her head and drummed her fingers on the desktop faster than ever, frowning at him so hard Sasuke could trace the progress of the vein in her temple. Sasuke continued to calmly inspect the wood accents of the room without looking at her. Finally, he heard her sigh loudly and turned to nod his head in answer to her own affirmation before striding sedately from the room. A ninja is easily overtaken if not for their control.

Naruto won't have to know about any of this, but Sasuke found himself letting in a small amount of relief at the prospect of leaving with him, for as long as they dared. He hoped that Naruto would see it as some form of absolution, not that Sasuke thought he needed any, not really. But, he did need Naruto to trust him, even if only a little; and maybe . . . maybe he wanted it, the same way as he'd been slowly awakening desires for other things. Or, was that also something Naruto had been capable of and Sasuke had not? Sasuke moved through the village, again donning his poor man's disguise, in search of Kakashi.

Kakashi was sitting in the gazebo not far from the Ninja Academy that Sasuke had discovered during a training mission with his brother many years before. He knew, from what Itachi had told him that it was kept there so that Jounins could rate the current Genins' technique levels, strengths and weaknesses. They also, every so often, according to what he'd heard whispered throughout the school hallways, chose a student or two from the group and asked that they be set aside for them to train further. Sasuke tried to envision Kakashi doing just that more than three years ago as he must have cringed while watching Naruto make a fool out of himself along with Sakura doing the same, albeit for a different reason. He could not see it, but then, he never would have believed a spiraling, spawning hopelessness would be the end of Naruto. He still had trouble grasping just how it had happened. Sasuke knew about the torture, or more accurately, he knew that Naruto had been tortured and burned. But, Naruto had also suffered an entire body's worth of skin being melted away and replaced. Could it really have been worse than that? What could possibly have happened to force him to run so far?

He cleared his throat to warn Kakashi of his presence out of formality. There were so many of those that he'd forgotten over the years as a renegade, in places that did not care who your father was or whether or not you could spin a roundhouse kick faster than it took for a raindrop to reach the earth. Sasuke watched Kakashi turn his head idly and flit his lazy stare over him disinterestedly. He was leaning against the rail, gazing at nothing. There were no Genins training here today.

"What do you want?"

Sasuke stopped a moment, suddenly hesitant to breech whatever Kakashi was using to keep him away. Sasuke had thought that haughty indifference and arrogance would work for him. He could not tell whether Kakashi's lack of expression and blank stare were the old techniques he'd used to try and help him cope with the stress of ninja life or if he was truly beyond caring about anything other than Naruto's welfare. Well, whatever it was, Sasuke could at least clear some of the tension. And, perhaps he could free himself from some of the nagging queasiness in his stomach that flared up every now and then whenever he thought of Naruto and his plans for the two of them. Not that he would do anything aside from lighten some of the immeasurable weight Naruto seemed to be dragging by his fingertips.

"What do you want?"

Sasuke looked up at Kakashi, who seemed to be letting the tight threads of his will fray at the ends.

"I need to take him." Again, as with Tsunade, he aimed for a simple approach, but he could not help but soften his voice a little. He had not ever imagined that this would be the outcome for his life before his parents' had been murdered so ruthlessly. He had not predicted that he would be this kind of person when he had met Kakashi and Naruto or when he allowed Sakura to become so much closer than any of the other helpless, hapless doe-eyed admirers at the time. He just could not help it; he had been drawn in, once again, by whatever it was Naruto exuded so effortlessly and so freely.

"Take him? Take who? And where?"

Sasuke could see by the raised eyebrow and the complete lack of confusion or curiosity that Kakashi knew very well what he was talking about. Anger bubbled warmly in his stomach and managed to melt into his cheeks and faintly quivering arm muscles before Sasuke drew it back. He remembered Kakashi's face, his words, and the way he had said them while they had visited with Naruto.

"Naruto, I need to take Naruto away from here. This place is bad for him. I can't tell you how I know this, or why the feeling is so strong, but it's there. He needs someplace open, and preferably far away. I know of one, to the south, near the sea, a little village," Sasuke rambled. He knew that it was happening as soon as he heard himself recount a description as if he were trying to sell a hotel tour. He took a breath before continuing.

"Tsunade said that I couldn't leave without your written approval," he mumbled. God, I can't believe I've been reduced to this. I'm actually having a conversation with this asshole. Naruto, you had better . . .

"Here." Kakashi handed him a slip of paper and Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

For the first time since coming up on the man, Sasuke saw life in his single eye and then watched it roll up and away from him, fascinated.

"It's the approval," Kakashi explained impatiently. "For your trip?"

Sasuke nodded numbly and walked off. Had he really seen Kakashi leak so much of himself, and in a single instant, than he had the entire time he'd been a part of the team? The pangs of near regret and almost loss came again, a bit sharper than before. For the first time since leaving, Sasuke wondered just how far he'd managed to drive himself, really, if this was all it took. Again, he shoved everything aside. Not now, later, there will be time for all this later. The disguise once more in place, Sasuke strolled sedately back to the hotel, just like any other visitor or currently vacationing villager would. The tiny smile was just a bonus for any who happened to be passing in the other direction, though Sasuke, unaware of it himself, would not have admitted how much better he felt at that moment. The sound of footsteps from behind stopped him in place just as he reached out for the door to the hotel.

"Sasuke."

Sasuke turned to face Kakashi wondering if he was here to deny him what it was he truly needed, wanted.

"One more thing before you go," Kakashi said calmly.

Sasuke shifted on his feet then gestured to the alley between the hotel and the restaurant placed so conveniently next to it.

"Make it quick."

Kakashi nodded. Sasuke knew the importance of leaving Naruto alone longer than was necessary had not escaped him.

"There a few things you should know in order to have the best chance at helping him. I know that you are aware of the nature of his injuries and how they came about." Sasuke waited, holding his breath just a little.

"He was tortured, but the physical injuries will heal, are already healing. I have no doubt that had they been caused by anyone else, Naruto would not be in such a desperate situation."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, not liking where the conversation was going.

"The man responsible is a former member of the village. He was connected with the attack on the village nearly sixteen years ago but not in the way you might think."

Sasuke drew in a quick breath but Kakashi had already continued speaking, overriding him.

"His name is . . . was, Tachibana Hiroku and he was the man who made Naruto a true orphan. Naruto's father died during the attack, helping the village, but his mother . . . Her murder is entirely the work of Hiroku and his deranged imagination, the delusions his mind created in order to encompass the loss of his own clan."

Sasuke wondered if this was some kind of trick, an attempt to drive home just how reprehensible he was, and should be, for all that he'd failed to do and could have done to drive the overpowering rage and despair from his own heart.

"I told you. This is not about you," Kakashi reassured him softly. Damn him, the asshole.

"I don't understand. Naruto's never said anything about this," Sasuke frowned in confusion.

"Because he was never told. The Sandaime lied to him about his family, made up some story about a village by the sea and a fisherman and his wife with too many children and tool little money. They died when Naruto was three. Well, they were fiction, it's true, and so they didn't really die. Though, I'm sure there's a family like that somewhere."

Sasuke bared his teeth, clenching them tightly and aimed a practiced fist at Kakashi's head. Kakashi dodged it without a thought. The graceful, easy movement only made Sasuke angrier.

"How dare you! How dare you joke about something like this! And, just when I thought you'd managed to grow a soul!"

"That's not fair!" Kakashi had used that speed again to come up in Sasuke's face, his breath mostly hidden and his voice muffled in that odd way caused by the mask.

"I did all that I could, all that I was capable of, for you, for him and even for Sakura. You don't think I know that it wasn't enough?!"

Sasuke, unable to move though his hands itched to rip the man apart, breathed heavily. Kakashi shook himself and lowered his gaze to the floor.

"You need to hear this and not because it's forbidden to speak of it just as it was forbidden for any of us that knew to tell Naruto about the demon he carries," Kakashi continued bitterly.

"Things have changed. I've realized . . . ," he stopped to take a breath, "He's important to me, Sasuke. You both are. Had it meant something different happening to him, even if he were injured in the effort, having you here, with us, means more than you would believe. Now, we need to help him. So, you need to listen and listen well."

Sasuke, after a few tense moments, finally nodded. He wanted to crawl away to the hideout he and Taka had picked out for the assault on Konoha. He wanted to breath air that was not infected with the despair and hatred he had felt from the first moment he'd set foot inside the confines of this place. Naruto would tell him it was only his imagination and that it didn't matter anyway. Worse, Sasuke wanted to hear him say it. Maybe he could believe it then.

"Hiroku killed Naruto's mother and nearly killed him trying to hurt his father. The rule is still in affect, but if Naruto knows, which is what Tsunade and I suspect, then it is moot. You will need to get him to show you that torture in some way. I know it will be hard, no matter what you say, for you to see it. I also know it won't be just because of your own loss. Find out what happened, and then, you can start to help him past it."

Sasuke nodded once not able to trust speaking. His throat had suddenly gone dry. He told himself it was the dry heat of the atmosphere. He told himself it was just more useful information to complete a mission. It's only a mission.

"Oh, and, in case you don't have any idea how to treat catatonia, here," Kakashi threw a scroll toward Sasuke who caught it easily. Kakashi left then and Sasuke continued on his way, as though he was floating in a world not his own.

"Naruto," Sasuke called into the quiet suite. Naruto could hear a faint muffling sound coming from outside the door. He supposed it was Sasuke. He didn't care. He didn't care because it didn't matter. Nothing mattered, though he felt strangely soothed at the thought of someone like Sasuke being close. He didn't move to answer though. The air had gone stale and neutral; the feeling of the sheets beneath him had slipped back to a place in his mind he could not break into, not that he was going to try. He was so tired, and that muffling, mumbling was back along with a warm pressure on his hand. Naruto refused to focus on anything, refused to answer to the tingling in his hand or the warning in his head that someone was close, someone who could very well be dangerous.

"Naruto," Sasuke called again. Naruto heard his name, a faint ringing in his ears covering over most of it. The pressure on his hand had increased, become insistent.

"Come with me," Sasuke was gentle now. Naruto's fragility and the full catatonic state made Sasuke nervous. He shrugged off the unease and the anger before it could manifest in any way. The last thing either of them needed was for it to get out of control and risk Naruto being injured again or collapsing into a vegetative state. Naruto felt the tugging at his elbow now and realized Sasuke wasn't just leading him but lifting him. The thought of having to be carried should anger and embarrass him beyond limits. But, he didn't move, not once, never again.

"I have you," Naruto could hear the words, softly caressing his ears. Strangely, that warm sensation was seeping back into his mind, but the fear and pain eclipsed it once again.

"I've got you. We're going now. Remember? I said I'd take you from here, someplace better. We're going," Naruto heard him and Sasuke continued the litany until he'd managed to get them safely past the edge of town, and then, he began to walk. It was a long way to the coast and Sasuke would not allow for rest until he was sure they were at a safe distance from the shadows enveloping them both.