DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. (Though the OCs are mine!)
NOTE: Part two is up. This chapter probably would have been up days ago if my OpenOffice didn't keep messing up. But I hope everyone enjoys. And thank everyone for the reviews!
Webs of Deception
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Boxed In
Part Two
The white bandage was slowly removed. The end hanging limply toward the ground, as his hand worked on unwrapping it from his arm—revealing the two black six tailed foxes inch by inch. Once the bandage was completely undone, he let it fall to the ground. An unnatural silence followed, the ominous aura surrounding his whole arm making the entire area feel uneasy. He paid no mind though as he began to form a long series of hand seals. Pushing away the intense gazes directed at him and only concentrating on what he was doing.
When the seals were complete and the chakra gathered and formed appropriately, he punched the ground beneath him with his full strength. Creating a five inches in diameter crater with cracks extending further out. Upon impact, the foxes on his arm came to life and ran straight on into the ground. Disappearing from view from the other specters.
Naruto stood straight once more, a wicked smirk on his features as the atmosphere abruptly lowered in degrees—chilling the already cold night air further. He may not approve of using these type of foxes, but he always found it interesting the way they worked. Giving him an odd sort of thrill whenever he summons them.
Black shadows began to form on the ground by the blond's feet. The two owning the sharingan watched closely at the materializing blackness. These shadows becoming larger and solidifying into two six tailed foxes; the size of a panther. Their teeth bared and snarling at the unseen.
'I've never seen anything like this.' Sasuke thought astonished. 'There's no way to even copy it.' What the hell were they? He couldn't decipher even that.
Next to Sasuke, Gaara landed soundlessly there. Jumping away from the blond when the dangerous foxes began to form. "They're called, Kage Kitsune." he spoke to the raven like he understood everything that was going on in the Uchiha's mind. "Actually that's what Naruto calls them, there original name is unknown. Anyway, they're formed out of shadows—pure darkness. Indestructible, and only untouchable to anyone who's not their master." He took a short pause with Sasuke waiting to see if he was going to continue. "If anyone other than their master places any body part on them—no matter how small—their chakra will be immediately taken from them."
Sasuke's head tilted partly toward Gaara with barely noticeable widened eyes. 'Is that why the dobe warned me about staying up here?' His focus didn't stay on the Raccoon mask man for long, as he was brought back to watching Naruto when he began to speak.
Naruto stroked the two snarling foxes head in gentle caresses. "Find them, and drain one where he can't move. I want that one alive; kill the others." When he brought both of his hands back to lay by his sides, the two foxes were gone. They, faster than what the eyes could catch, were darting to where the counted three opponents were located.
Taking in a sharp breath, Sakura backed herself closer to the tree trunk she was near. Fear of the chakra those foxes were producing was running through her, and her frightened jitters grew worse when they—in a blink of an eye—were gone. Even with her training, she couldn't locate where they went or to where they were going. Their chakra filled the entire area, making it impossible to pinpoint their location.
A blood curdling scream resounded throughout the area which caused the blond's smirk to form into a sadistic grin at the twisted anticipation running through his body.
Sasuke's head snapped in the direction of the scream. Using his sharingan to analyze the area, he found a chakra signature that wasn't there a moment ago. This finding of one of the unknowns resulted in a smirk appearing on his features. He turned his head more slowly when another scream, with more gurgling like his throat was filled with blood, reached his ears. Locating yet another chakra signature that wasn't present before now.
A short moment later, one fox came back into sight with a leg in its mouth. This leg being attached to an unconscious person covered in a white robe which was stained with blood and dirt from being dragged along the ground. The fox stopped near Naruto's foot and dropped the leg from its mouth, nudging the limb with its muzzle toward Naruto like it was offering its master a present.
Naruto bent forward, his hand doing the same, and petted the animal on its head. The fox tilted and pushed its head toward its master's hand; mewling softly at the attention.
"That's a good girl." Naruto cooed at the fox. Choosing to never care that neither fox were either male or female. He still picked which one was going to be the girl of the two and who was going to be the boy. Maybe he was more attached to them than he revealed. . .
A scream that wasn't suppose to occur came from behind Naruto with a loud, "Sempai!" following afterwards.
Naruto immediately stalled in his petting and whipped his head in the direction of the three Suna genins. Taking in the scene of his other fox snarling and growling at the three youngsters. With only a second in passing, he ran toward them and quickly put himself between the three and his fox. Staring down with reddened eyes at what he considered the boy of the two to show the animal who was in charge, and to silently tell it to back down.
Upon Naruto appearing between them, the fox quieted down. Its posture cowering with its ears flattened against its head. It began to take steps away with its head lowered to the ground, with its eyes doing the same. Once it reach a safe distance, it turned around and walked over to the other fox. Naruto followed right behind it, keeping a close eye on it to make sure it didn't decide to take another detour. Sometimes they couldn't differentiate between who's the enemy and who isn't. Which is the main reason why he prefers not to use them at all.
When the fox reached the other one, Naruto bent forward and petted what he considered the girl. While the boy whimpered lowly in the back of its throat, like it was attempting to apologize, causing Naruto to smile at how real they acted. He petted the other fox, who reacted just as strongly as the female with the attention.
Soon, Naruto straightened himself and said, "Alright guys, time to go back." He formed hand seals as the two foxes stood on all fours. Then held his arm out straight, exposing the bare skin of his right arm. The two foxes crouched down, like they were ready to pounce on an unsuspecting prey. And in one leap, they jumped, morphing back into shadows and slithering up through the blond's arm until they formed the two fox tattoos as before.
Naruto gasped, falling to his knees, and clutched to his arm that just went through the painful merging with his Kage Kitsune. Bring the foxes back in was never as graceful as taking them out. It always hurt like the burning flames of hell. Sweat dripped down his face as he groaned again at the pain racking his arm. This one little detail was also another reason why he would rather refrain from using this particular jutsu. It was just painful. Plus, if used too much, he could easily lose mobility of his arm in the process. Not something he was looking forward to.
He felt Ruri land by his side, going to his right to examine his arm. Hopefully making sure it was still usable. Not a moment after Ruri came, Sasuke was there also. Finding that it was safe when he saw Ruri descend to his blond.
Sasuke stood by him, looking down at Naruto's face contorted in pain. He clenched his teeth together and clenched his hands that were folding across his chest as he fought the sudden, strong urge to bring the male into his arms and protect him from what dares to harm him. But he refrained himself and instead focused his attention on Gaara who was currently securing their recently acquired prisoner.
His body tensed in anticipation. His senses telling him that just within the mind of that unconscious man, were unknown answers to questions that were haunting everyone that knew said questions.
He turned back to Naruto when he heard him groan and the shifting of his body as the blond maneuvered his body into a more comfortable position. He watched as he leaned to the side and reached out with his arm that wasn't in pain toward the white sealing wrap a few feet away from him.
Just before he managed to grab the wrap, Sasuke grabbed it within his hand first. Catching Naruto's eye as he looked at him in mild surprise.
Sasuke bent down by Naruto, roaming over the cloth until he found the end and then waited expectedly for the blond to hand over his arm. Not asking, but demanding with his eyes.
Naruto jutted his bottom lip out in a pout. "Be gentle." he said in an almost whine, bringing his now stinging arm to the raven. "It sensitive."
The smirk that formed on Sasuke's features was purely sensual. His mind coming up with complete different ways those four words could be placed in more pleasurable situations. He had to bite hard on his inner cheek to stop those strands of thoughts before he became fully aroused with too many people around to witness his erection that would be quite noticeable in his pants.
Naruto caught the meaning of the smirk when he repeated exactly what he said over in his head. "Pervert." he muttered as he tried to discreetly hide the forming blush and smile with the lowering of his head.
But Sasuke caught the rising color in the whiskered, tan cheeks before it could become unseen with his hair following gravity and obscuring his view of the cute pigmentation. He looked down at the strong arm held out toward him. Instantly fantasized by his golden tan and how the black from the living tattoo blended naturally with his complexion. He gazed up the muscled arm, following the tantalizing tattoo to the blond's shoulder. It was truly exquisite.
The ominous aura emitting from the tattoo was something that was least to be desired of. Actually it was plain ass creepy. But putting that aside, it was beautiful; having its own elegance that he didn't noticed before.
He took a small glance up at Naruto who was still hiding under his strands of hair. Or maybe it was beautiful because of the man it was permanently attached to?
Sasuke placed the end of the white cloth at the blond's wrist. At his touch, Naruto flinched at the dull sting that spread like lightning through his sensitive arm. He kept his arm in place though, the raven's touch also soothed the pain right after the pain was issued. The gentle touches as Sasuke wrapped the sealing cloth around his arm surged through him, forcing a sigh of contentment from his mouth just to feel the other's skin against his own.
He tilted his head to the side to watch Sasuke work, gazing intently at the other's nimble fingers. The urge to touch the raven brewed just beneath the surface with each feel of the other, causing his blood to slowly come to a boil.
Sasuke finished wrapping the cloth around the blond's arm and secured the end. He then looked up from where he was concentrating on and saw the half-lidded, lust-filled eyes staring back at him. With a smirk adorning his pale features, he leaned forward; close to the blond's ear and breathed out against the tender flesh, "What's wrong, dobe? Something got you hot?"
A low sensual purr came from the blond's throat. 'If it's not growling, it's purring. I wonder what other noises he can make?' His smirk deepened when he knew exactly what other noises his dobe could make.
"Teme. . ." came the husky sound of his nickname. "You enjoy teasing me, don't you?"
Mock coughing interrupted the two's moment before Sasuke could respond to Naruto's comment; taking each of their attentions away from the other and tuning back into the rest of the world. Naruto's complexion shaded a deep red when he noticed that every individual nearby were shamelessly staring at the two of them. And if his ears heard right, a couple of snickers coming from Suna team behind him. 'Brats.'
Sasuke's smirk fell and his expression settled back into its usual impassiveness as he stood up. Naruto stood also, but lacked the gracefulness that Sasuke possessed with his embarrassment handicapping him. He exaggeratedly ran his hand through his hair, his face not lowering in its redness with the continued staring that a few individuals were still doing. Taking a few deep breaths to calm his embarrassment, he pulled his Tatsuo facade forward—his face abruptly falling flat and serious.
He walked over to Gaara, who was standing by the now bound captive, and stared down at the brunette male in a white robe. Without having to say a word, Gaara lifted up the man's right arm and bared his inner wrist.
There tattooed in black was a snake eating its' own tail. A symbol that belonged to Akuma's newly found enemies; Ouroboros.
"Dammit." Naruto cursed.
Gaara dropped the limb as he spun around and began to pace in anxiety.
He didn't get in two rounds before Kakashi spoke in a tone that discreetly said he didn't trust them even after their little excursion of joint battle. "You have a few things to explain, don't you think?" His features feigning calm as usual.
Naruto stopped and turned toward the older man. Who's posture reinforced the other's suspected mistrust in him. He pursed his lips, then shook his head partly. "No, I don't think I do." His head tilting a small bit before it straightened once more. "At least, not at this moment. There's other more pressing matters to deal with than to correct your theories about me." He was about to turn away, then changed his head as he continued to speak, "But I will tell you this; I didn't betray Konoha."
He noticed that Sakura was about to open her mouth. And before she could speak a word, he snapped out, "You, be quiet." while focusing his eyes in a cold stare at her. Effectively causing her to click her mouth shut with a furious look covering her face. He refocused on Kakashi, "Will that be enough for now?"
The two stared at each other for what seemed like a long while. But in all actuality it was only seconds. Kakashi was searching for any lies that might be hidden within the other's sapphire orbs. These orbs that were surprisingly wide open for him to pry within. And no matter how deep he searched, he couldn't find that he was lying. All he found was deeply embedded pain from past sorrows.
He closed his visible eye and let out a long breath of defeat as he nodded his head at the younger blond. Who lowered his facade and let one of his unique grins to spread over his features. "I'm glad. Now once—" He froze, his grin completely falling as dread soared through his system once again.
It wasn't even a half a second after his internal alarm went off before several chains emitted from the surrounding trees and wrapped themselves around everyone's(including Akamaru's) necks except Naruto's. Who turned an inch and caught Sasuke's eye just as the chains wrenched everyone away through the forest. Before Naruto could even react to help the others, four figures appeared in white robes like the one they recently captured, and surrounded him in a perfect square.
The four figures, upon immediate arrival, began to chant lowly with their hands positioned together in front of them. A vicious, feral growl rumbled from Naruto's throat, the red already in his sapphires bleeding out and almost completely covering the vibrant blue with raging red. His chakra rose also; the mixture of his own and Kyuubi's causing the air to crackle with its intensity. Non of this seemingly broke their concentration in the slightest.
He was pissed. Seeing Sasuke being dragged away fueled his lividness even further. He charged at the cloaked figure to his right first; raising his fist and preparing to send a powerful hit to the other. But when he came within a foot from him, he was met with a barrier. In which, the electrical force of the barrier sent him flying back. He flipped himself back on his feet, glaring at the four around him.
'Kit, stop playing around.' Kyuubi said, 'If you haven't figured it out quite yet—with you're slow brain and all—they're after us! And personally I don't want to know what they plan to do to us if they get their dirty little hands on us. So blow these fuckers out of the water!'
Naruto chuckled as his lips upturned into a feral grin, his hand lifting like the side of his mouth. Bringing the wrist that held the bracelet with the chakra beads secured throughout its threads.
Just as he was about to take out a Level Two chakra bead that would ensure these fuckers would regret ever messing him, the fours' voices rose in volume; which sent voltages of electricity scourging through the space of the square.
He bit his lip to keep himself from crying out as he fell to his hands and knees. The electricity sizzling through his body like a blazing fire; burning him inside and out. He gripped the grass in his hands, his mouth unwillingly letting out small whimpers of pain. But god dammit, he down right refuses to give them the satisfaction of hearing him scream in agony.
All the while, his chakra continued to heighten. Heightening to the point where it began to expand out from his body and move around him.
From the forest, spikes of sand soared through the air and hit the barrier surrounding the four from the outside with enormous force. Gaara, with his black cloak and Raccoon mask still in place, casually walked into view. His eyes tightened behind his mask when he noticed that his sand did nothing against the powerful barrier. He brought his sand back to him and prepared to launch another round of attacks. But waited a second. . .
On the opposite side from where Gaara stood, an inferno burst forth from the trees and engulfed the entire barrier in its fiery flames. Gaara even had to take a couple of steps back to avoid being seared.
Sasuke stepped forth, his furious aura matching with the intense fire he just produced. His sharingan spun wildly in his eyes as he glared murdered on the barrier that still stood strong. And his fury only deepened when he took in the sight of Naruto on his knees in pain.
The chanting of the four grew louder, the barrier shining brighter with their increased volume and the electricity within growing stronger, causing Naruto to let out a pain filled cry.
Sasuke charged the barrier; in a split second forming hand seals and creating a powerful chidori that crackled and screeched in its intensity. As he did this, Gaara stepped closer and sent his sand at the barrier again. And at the exact same time, Sasuke's and Gaara's attacks hit the barrier with such force that it caused a shockwave to surge out through the area. Sending all the others, who got themselves out of the chains clutches and were coming to help, landing roughly on their backs on the forest floor.
Kiba and Kakashi were the fastest to recover. Jumping back onto their feet and each forming an attack to afflict upon the barrier. Both running on instinct; instinct that told them to help save Naruto from whatever these four figures plan on doing to him.
Kakashi attacked the barrier with a raikiri, while Kiba used an technique with the combination of Akamaru to create a large tornado and striking a bare spot in clear of others on the barrier. Although, even with their added strength, the barrier still remained unbroken.
Ruri was the next to get back to her feet and made it back to the barrier; with Jun, Yuuto and Cho making it back not a second after she did. Sakura hesitated, her feelings toward the blond causing her to fault in her instincts to help him. A part of her told her to move her ass and do everything she possibly can to help free him, but the part that kept murmuring about his now known disappearance continued to strike the raw betrayal within.
The agonizing yells of pain grew, becoming more animalistic as Naruto lost all sense from the excruciating pain scorching through him. All that was left was the wild animal snarling and growling crazily inside, increasing his flaring red chakra to the perimeter of the barrier. His chakra crackled viciously against the power of the barrier, fighting to break loose from its confines.
Naruto's yells made Sakura's decision; loading chakra into her hand as she came closer to the barrier where the four men were simultaneously attacking. A yard to her left, Ruri was concentrating intently on the four cloaked figures keeping her Captain within their walls. Attempting to put them into a genjutsu. But her attempts were failing. The barrier wasn't just keeping general ninjutsu attacks was entering but also mental.
Sakura drew her arm back, ready to send a powerful blow to the damning wall that separated them all from the one person they were trying to get to. Her eyes squinted from the several unnatural air currents whipping through the small area as she pulled her arm back. And just as she was going to punch the barrier with all her strength, the chanting voices within increased their volume once again.
But unlike those previous increases, the barrier became blinding and sent a sharp burst of energy outwards. Sending everything and everyone within several yards flying back.
Shikamaru threw the book in his hand across the room, making a loud cracking noise when it made contact with the wall. He was frustrated. No, he's moved passed frustrated and skidding into being down right furious with all the decoded documents scattered in front of him. He was a hairs' length away from shedding them to tiny little pieces. Oh, how he was close. . .
But he refrained himself. Knowing that Naruto wouldn't be all too pleased if he did so. And when that man got mad, it was somewhat scary. Only because he was so used to seeing him with a wide smile and joking around like he was still ten. He rarely saw him with his Tatsuo facade showing, and personally he didn't care to see him like that. It just didn't fit him, but then again, it also fit him at the same time. It was weird.
He ran his hand through his tousled hair. His pony tail was barely that; it was hanging low with most of his hair hanging from the band. In all honesty, he resembled a homeless person. He doesn't even remember the last time he actually saw a bed. These past days all he's seen have been the dining room mostly, the kitchen, the way to the bathroom and the bathroom itself. Other than those, he's been deprived of the rest of the world. Secretly hidden away to undergo slave labor.
Resisting the urge to scream out, he snatched another book from the ever decreasing pile of resources and began to scan through its' pages. He took a quick glance down at the encoded documents before he looked back at the book in his hands. His brows furrowed in confusion. Without moving his head, he looked back down at the documents that now had there letters glowing.
He turned his head fully, then jumped back; knocking his chair over when the letters glowed brighter and began to morph and rearrange themselves.
His mouth was agape with his eyes wide. When the glowing dimmed until it was completely gone, he tentatively took a step toward the pieces of documents. Leaning his head forward in hopes to get a better look without getting too close. As he took in the contents from a distance, his eyes grew wider and he immediately snatched one of papers from the large pile, uninterested in the possible threat that the papers posed. Because all his attention was focused on the completely legible text on the piece of paper in his hand. The same text that he's been trying to decode for the past week or so.
'What the hell. . .'
Sasuke groaned from the brutal impact he made with several trees that caused black spots to invade his vision. He shook the coming darkness away and pushed himself into a standing position. Moving his feet quicker than the eye could see, he was back where the four figures were holding his dobe in the barrier. And almost cried out when all there was, was an indent in the ground where the barrier once stood. The four figures in white were gone. . .
. . .and so was his dobe.
