Mizu: What do you guys think of the plot line so far? I hope you guys are liking reading it as much as I'm liking writing it. Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did, Naruto would have talked to Hinata sometime after she confessed instead of just leaving to go beg for the Raikage's forgiveness for that bastard Sasuke. (*Note* I am NOT a Sasuke fan. He's the worst character in my opinion but for this story, he's rather nice.)
Their Impossible Mission
Chapter three: Hiding the bruises
"I said let him go!" Sakura shouted, trying to make it to Naruto.
"Beat it, girly," one of the many villagers snapped.
"Sakura!" Ino's voice could be heard.
Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, Neji, Lee, and Ten-Ten ran to Sakura's side.
"What's going?" they all snapped.
A scream of pain was heard causing all of their friends to look at the source.
"Naruto!" Lee gasped.
"What's going on, Sakura?" Ino snapped.
"Why is the village torturing Naruto!" Lee shouted.
Naruto's screams of pain echoed throughout the village.
"I'll tell you guys later. Right now, you guys have to help me get Naruto out of here! Sasuke's waiting at the edge of the village for me to bring him. But I can't get near him," Sakura explained.
Lee, angry that anyone would hurt Naruto, was the first to jump into action. He punched and kicked a path way Naruto. Ten-Ten followed and cut them down. Shikamaru, Sakura, and Neji grabbed him and ran. Choji, Ino, Ten-Ten, and Lee stayed behind to fend all the villagers off.
"Stop!" Sakura ordered on Naruto's apartment, "I need to get some things from here. You stay here, Neji. Shikamaru, you take the a piece of Naruto's clothing and run in any other direction that you can."
"Right."
Sakura was back within four minutes and Neji and her set off for the exit to the village. When they made it to the gate, Sasuke was pacing the entrance. As soon as they landed, Sasuke grabbed Naruto and was about to start off.
"Wait!" Sakura snapped, "I managed to pack him a small pack of things he'll need."
"Thanks," Sasuke whispered, managing to take the bag. He could see the sorrow in her eyes, "Don't worry, Sakura. I'll be back after dark before anyone can notice that I'm gone. By then, the village should have gotten a lashing from Tsunade."
"It's not that," Sakura stated, "It's his injuries. They're so severe."
"Don't worry. Naruto never gives up," Sasuke chuckled, "You better have something good for me to eat when I get back."
"What? My cooking is always good," Sakura snapped.
"Just kidding," Sasuke laughed, running out of the village.
"Be safe," Sakura whispered.
Sasuke was running as fast as his legs would take him. He remembered this route from the last time he left the village without permission. Then, it was him was the rogue ninja. Boy did he feel horrible for what he had caused to Naruto. If it was the last thing he did, he'd save him.
"Sasuke!" Shino's voice sounded, "This way! Kiba found a cave where Naruto can stay!"
"Right!" Sasuke said, turning on a dime.
In mere minutes, the three boys arrived at the cave in mention. It was huge cave with many hidden areas.
"Kiba, hold him for a moment," Sasuke ordered.
Once free of Naruto, Sasuke made the hand signs for his fireball jutsu. True, he used a very weak one but that's all he needed to start a fire to light up the area.
"K. This will have to work. Set him down over there. I'm going to find something that we can use as a bed for him," Sasuke stated.
"I just hope that we're far enough out of the village," Kiba stated.
"We should be. And don't forget. A lot of the Anbu now are friends of Naruto so they won't let anything happen to him," Shino stated.
"True," Kiba and Sasuke agreed.
"H-h-Hinata…" they heard Naruto whine, "I'm sorry."
*whine*
"There you go," Sasuke murmured, covering the unconscious body of his closest friend with a blanket that Sakura packed, "That should do till we get more stuff out here."
"Sasuke. Shino and I are heading back before anyone notices that we're gone," Kiba stated.
"K. Be careful. Anbu members are sure to be out and about," Sasuke warned.
"That's how you're hiding. Lucky," Kiba scoffed.
"Hey, don't blame me for being stronger," Sasuke teased.
"Whatever," Kiba sighed.
"We'll bring Hinata out tomorrow. Hopefully Naruto can stand the night alone," Shino told him.
"Don't worry. I'll stay with him till midnight. After that," Sasuke stated.
"Then what?" a voice sounded.
The boys jumped and turn to get ready to fight the intruder. But luck was on their side. It was Tsunade.
"Next time you make a run for it, cover your trail!" she barked, "Now, let me see him."
The boy's stepped aside to let her past.
"Tsunade…" Sasuke murmured as the Hokage sat next the to Jinchuuriki.
"Yes?" she questioned.
"Naruto's going to hate me…because of this, he'll be a rogue ninja and never be able to return to the village!" Sasuke snapped, "So please, let me take his place in punishment!"
The Hokage stood up and walked over to him.
"If I remember correct, you were also a rogue ninja, right?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, but…" Sasuke tried to argue.
"But Naruto stuck his neck out and took your punishment for you. He received many injuries on your part," Tsunade paused, "but the man who was giving the punishment did onto him two times the amount he was supposed to."
"What?" the boys snapped.
"Yes. The man hated him that much. But Naruto never said a word nor showed how much it hurt. Do you know why?" Tsunade asked.
"No," Sasuke shook his head.
"Because he was numb to it. In his life, there have been many attempts to take his life. But none of that could out measure to the joy in his heart he felt on succeeding on bringing you back, Sasuke. Sasuke, you have no idea how much he missed you. You were the first to ever fully understand him and because of that, you made his life better. You became his only brother. He'd do anything to protect you. And so," Tsunade placed her hand on his head and smiled a smile much like Naruto's, "I'm sure he'd hate to see you in pain."
"But what else can we do?" Sasuke snapped, tears threatening to break through.
"I'll assign it as a mission for him. I'll make something up so that the village can't say that he ran away," Tsunade said, returning to Naruto's side and began healing him.
Sasuke bowed his head in gratitude and ran to her side. There was no way that he'd let Naruto die now.
"Well, we have to go. Don't worry, if we see any Anbu, we'll throw them off course!" Kiba shouted.
"WOOF!"