Disclaimer: I don't own nor have I contributed to Naruto in any way! Nope! None!
Sky-eyed Kitsune and Gomi-kun blab & Updates
Sky-eyed Kitsune: Finally got a new compy and sent my lappy to get fixed, so my faster updates will now be happening again! XD Well my minions, how long have you been waiting for this? Don't answer! Just read!!
Reviewer Replies:
To lydia-chan: Thanks! Gr, I know, the decision on who to pick for Naru is so hard to make…XO
To DemonEclipse: O.o
To xBunni: Wa! I so sorry T.T The poll is closed! It's so hard for me to decide who Naruto will go with. You're right that Sasuke is selfish and Sai has been there, but what about first luv!? Gah!
To Darksouled Saiyanphoenix: Ah, thanks so much! Don't worry, this chapter will give you PLENTY to think about!
To seventhSINwrath: Ooooh, this is so hard! One person says sasunaru, another sainaru…and it's so hard! –shoots self—Xb
To wolfXdemonXgirl: Another sainari? Gods, this is gonna be a hard decision! Thanks for the review!
To Wassupkiba: Wow, thanks so much! Hm, I wonder how berserk Sasuke will go when he learns his little Naru is not so innocent anymore? XD
To MayIFall: Lol! Yea, I'm really struggling with who Naruto will be with as you can guess…T.T And thanks, I tried to make this fic a little different, but not too overly dramatic.
To ryandel: AHH FLYING BAGELS!! FBLJROWJHSJ!! :000
To Barking Spiders: (lol, I luv your penname) Oh god, another sainaru…eep! Everyone is so opinionated…sniff…I dun wanna make a bad decision! Waa! TT.TT
To Mixxz Silva: Ah, thank you! Wait no longer!
To QUEENJJ123ABDRESPECTBABY: Yea, Tsunade is definitely over the top, but for good reason! She doesn't want Naruto to die since the sealing couldn't work.
To xXCabbageXx: True, Sai was there while Sasuke was drunk off revenge…but he came back! Doesn't that count for something!? T.T
To Black-Dranzer-1119: Meh, I know, I know! But I have to do what I think flows with the story, regardless of who Naruto ends up with.
To Fiery-Moonlight: That's true, there really aren't a lot of sasunaru fics at all; this started off as sasunaru in my mind, but then I got attached to sainaru. I assigned Sasuke a genin team because Tsunade wanted to test his loyalty to the village again. If he could train a genin team without abandoning them or any other problems, then he had proven he was slightly attached to Konoha.
To MoonKaiser: I know, but I promise that later in the story when I FINALLY decide who Naru will be with, I'll write a yummy, tangy lemon! ;)
To lightdark54: Thanks! And I sorry, but the poll is closed! T.T
To Suicidal Black Butterfly: Ah, I know they do! But I'm being pulled both ways!
To Tilly-chan: No offence taken! ;3
To NoLifeWhatsoever: Ugh, this decision is so hard…Xb
To Bleeding Kunai: I'm with you! –sigh—Why did I get myself into this story? Wa! Cupcakes! Nomnomnom thank you soo much! :D
To yet-another-Gaara-fangirl: I really am being pulled to both sides pairing wise. It's so hard for me! Sorry bout the genin team, but Tsunade is testing the Uchiha's loyalty right now. Don't worry, they are a very minor part in the story, and they definitely DO NOT get adopted. I hate that. X(
To Masu-chan: Gaanara, ne? Hmm…that's an interesting idea! Maybe I'll insert Gaara in here somewhere- there's plenty of room for him!
To xXkawaii-chanXx: I really don't know who will get Naru at this point. I'm tugging both ways and am currently in a deadlock! –sigh—But thanks for the suggestions.
To Jinxblog: Don't worry, if this does turn out to be sasunaru, I'll make sure Sai doesn't get hurt. (That's be mean!)
To jenthecaliforniagirl2004: I think you'll enjoy this chapter!
To I've Got the Curse of Curves: Don't worry, he won't!
To moonlit dew: Yep, they meet! And….eep! Sasunaruness!? :O
To mmm.kai.mmm: Urg, still alive…barely…X(
To JadeAnime: Lol! I know, I love Sasunaru so much but…--sniff—oh great god of Yaoi, what should I do!?
To Gemstones: Naruto won't end up with Sasu for sure—I'm still debating it!
To dori-chan: You people are killing me! Sasunaru? No, sainaru! No sasunaru, no! dnhweiohdweidi—splode—
To EatAHomo: Thanks so much! I'll continue to do my best!
To saurion: Lol! I love your name for Sasuke! Omg, that made my day!! XD
To narutoluvr4evr: --sniff—Cookie…. –sniffle—
To xxtarragonxx: Wa! –huggles back—thank you so much! Wa! MUFFIN! OMGOMGOMG! –does the muffin dance—
To Kabuto-pants: --sigh—I feel your pain. I'm a dieheart sasunaru fangirl, but…sainaru just suddenly happened in this fic! T.T
To all other reviewers, I have read your reviews and love them all to pieces! I'm sorry I can't reply to them all, for the fic must go on!!
POLL RESULTS!
One-sided Pairing:
Sainaru: 10
Gaanaru: 3
Sasunaru: 7
Itanaru: 2
Only Kibanaru: 2
DIS POLL HAS CLOSED! MUAHAHAHAA!
Chapter Dedication: This is for xxtarragonxx, EatAHomo, and JadeAnime. Luv, luv!!
Chapter Eight: Resignation
--
Tsunade looked up as she heard the door to the special treatment room open.
"Shikamaru," she nodded to the ANBU, part of Naruto's team.
"Am I late?" he drawled, yawning.
"You just made it," she said, crossing her arms.
"Hn."
Shikamaru joined the rest of the shinobi in the room chatting amongst themselves quietly, some old and some new faces, but only eight total.
"Minna-san!" Tsunade said, and the room hushed immediately, all eyes on the current Hokage as she spoke.
"Everyone is here and Naruto and Sai will be arriving soon. Thank-you all for coming so early on such a crucial day. Not only will this forbidden sealing save the life of Uzumaki Naruto, but that of the Rokudaime. The procedure will be long and tedious with no breaks. I will need you to draw out every inch of chakra you can possibly spare and keep your concentration. The slightest slip off will undoubtedly result in the death of Naruto."
Heads bent downward.
"But please keep in mind during this that since we are infusing Kyuubi's chakra even more with Naruto's, Naruto could temporarily loose control of his body due to Kyuubi's chakra reserve being much higher than his own. In that case I have brought Yamato to use his sealing technique."
Yamato nodded within the crowd.
"If worst comes to worst and Naruto looses control, you will all be requested to place yourselves into the state of mind that Naruto is already dead, since it will be hopeless from that point. The chakra will burn through his body and completely devour him."
Sasuke clenched his fist from the back row and most other faces contorted into a look of pain and fear.
"Please keep in mind that though this is straining your bodies, it will hurt Naruto's the most. You see……"
Tsunade closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"….Naruto will be awake for the entire sealing."
"I forbid this."
Tsunade looked up to start into the jade eyes of the Kazekage, his gaze burning into Tsunade's fiercely though his face held no emotion whatsoever.
"That is torture I would not even subject betrayers of my village to," Gaara said. "I am well aware of this technique and how forbidden it really is. I won't allow Naruto-kun to go through such unbearable pain."
"We have no other choice," Jiraiya said near the back, and Tsunade nodded in agreement.
"If he is asleep or even under a genjutsu during the procedure then the Kyuubi's chakra will naturally take over instantly if it feels that it is being threatened, almost assuredly promising Naruto's death," Tsunade said sadly. "I'm sorry Kazekage-sama, but it must be done."
Gaara dropped his gaze to the floor and slowly nodded.
"Now, we must prepare for the sealing!"
Sai looked down at Naruto, snoozing in his arms as he carried him to the Hokage's building.
Naruto cuddled against Sai's chest, burying his face in the brunette's shirt as he clung to his warmth, and Sai almost melted.
"You will make it, Naruto…" Sai thought determinedly. "You can't die now…"
Heads turned to the door as it opened gently, and Sai walked in with Naruto in his arms.
"What's wrong with Naruto!?" Tsunade shouted, sprinting up to Sai and taking Naruto from him roughly.
"He's just sleeping," Sai said, and Tsunade calmed down as Naruto opened one sleepy eye to look at her.
"Baa-chan?" he murmured, rubbing the sleep away from his eyes so adorably that everyone in the room just wanted to coo. (Especially one certain Uchiha who hadn't seen Naruto for years and found him utterly breathtaking.)
Naruto wriggled out of Tsunade's hold and looked around the room.
"Eh? How did I get here?" he said.
"I carried you," Sai said simply, and Naruto bristled a bit.
"Relax brat," Tsunade said. "No one is ever up this early unless they're going on a mission. The streets were deserted and no one saw you….unlike last time."
Naruto blushed and looked away, pouting a bit.
"Fine, fine," he griped. "Let's just do this already!"
"We need three more minutes," Tsunade said. "Sai, why don't you and Naruto step out into the hallway? If you need to say anything to him, now would be a good time to do it."
Sai nodded and took Naruto by the hand, stepping out into the empty hall, unaware of a raven that camouflaged himself and swiftly followed.
Sasuke watched, hidden from the senses as Sai faced Naruto in the hallway, his eyes tilted to the ground.
"Naruto…" he said, searching for the right words to say. "I…you better make it back."
Naruto smiled a bit.
"Baka, of course I will. A stupid seal isn't going to take me down."
"I'm serious," Sai said, connecting his gaze with Naruto's as he looked up.
Sasuke bit his lip angrily as Naruto pulled Sai down into a kiss.
"Naruto's dating Sai…not that Rikka guy," Sasuke thought bitterly. "But then what's his relationship with Rikka?"
Sai cupped Naruto's face, running his thumbs along his whisker marks lightly as he tried to memorize the blonde's taste, his touch, his smell…everything.
Naruto gripped Sai's shirt and kissed him desperately, his eyes shut firmly as he tried not to think of what lay ahead.
As they broke for air Naruto rested his head against Sai's chest, the brunette in turn wrapping his arms around him tightly and burying his head in his mat of calm golden spikes.
"Sai……………I'm afraid…" Naruto said quietly, finally letting his fear show.
"Me too…" Sai said, holding the blonde even more tightly. "But because of this…I've realized something."
"Hm?"
"I don't ever want to leave your side, Naruto. I want to be there for you always, even when you're angry or upset. I want to be the person beside you that follows you through it all."
Sai pulled away and Naruto gave him a confused look as he reached into his pocket.
Naruto's heart jumped as Sai took out a black velvet box and he lowered to one knee.
"Naruto…I always have and always will love you, forever. I'll never leave your side. So, Uzumaki Naruto…will you marry me?"
Sai opened the box and revealed a shimmering golden and silver entwined band, beautiful kanji carved over it reading, "Forever, my golden kitsune."
Naruto's breathed hitched in his throat.
His voice seemed to disappear into oblivion as looked from the shining ring, to Sai's pleading eyes, and back to the ring again.
Meanwhile Sasuke was ready to scream, pounce from his hiding place, and rip out Sai's throat.
Tears started to gather in Naruto's eyes, and Sai stood up, kissing them away softly.
"I…"
"Naruto!"
Naruto, Sai, and Sasuke looked to the door, Tsunade poking her head out.
"We're ready for you, Naruto."
Naruto nodded and walked forward, Sai (and secretly Sasuke) following behind him as the door shut.
Naruto looked at the intricate seals on the floor all revolving around a circle from one center point. Around the circle were special unlit candles and Naruto's friends and fellow shinobi cross-legged, ten total.
Some nodded as he walked in, and others didn't move, too saddened to see their soon to be Rokudaime walking the fine line of life and death.
Sai moved into a vacant spot on the ground, and Naruto's heart jumped for the second time when he met an all too familiar pair of deep onyx eyes.
"Sas-"
"Naruto, I need you to remove your shirt and lay down in the middle of the circle please," Tsunade said.
"Hai…" Naruto said softly. He peeled off his shirt, revealing soft muscles carved gently, almost loving, into his golden skin, kissed by the sun to perfection.
Many of the girls (and guys) in the room sighed longingly and gazed at him with devoted admiration, while a few others openly squealed, unable to contain themselves.
"Shut up," Tsunade said, crossing her arms. "If there are those of you unable to keep you hands off of Naruto, then I'm sure that Sai will be more than happy to give you a proper beating later."
Sai glared at the few girls who squealed, and they looked down, still giggling a bit. He looked across the room, and time seemed to stop for a moment when he saw a certain Uchiha sitting across from him.
He curled his lips into a thin line as Sasuke looked back at him impassively, a cold glare hidden beneath his eyes.
"Alright, let's begin!" Tsunade said, and she formed six seals in rapid succession. She murmured something, and the black seals on the ground crept up almost snakelike, and traveled over Naruto's skin in the center of the circle.
Naruto closed his eyes and bit his lip, the seals wrapping him around him in an intricate web, burning his skin as they made contact. They folded over the Kyuubi's seal which turned red instantly, and Naruto hissed in pain.
"Stay still Naruto," Tsunade said, still holding her last seal.
Sasuke averted his gaze. He couldn't stand to see Naruto like that, in so much pain already.
"Katsu!"
Tsunade slammed her hand down on the floor at her shout, and the remaining seal markings on the ground leapt up like wild serpents and clasped over Naruto's wrists, ankles, and neck in black chokers.
Naruto gasped, claws protruding from his fingertips and fangs elongating over his lips immediately. He dug his claws into the floor beneath him, leaving deep rifts in the wood.
"Kuso…I didn't expect the Kyuubi's chakra to respond so quickly," Tsunade thought.
She looked over at Jiraiya who shared the same nervous look.
"Minna-san! Please perform the seals I showed you earlier this morning and pour your chakra in Naruto to suppress the Kyuubi's!" Tsunade ordered, and the shinobi around the blond reacted quickly.
Naruto felt his eyelids drop as the pain that engulfed him became so heavy that it numbed his body.
"Naruto! Stay with us!" he heard Tsunade say, but it was just an echo by the time he blacked out.
Naruto slowly opened his eyes.
"Neh…?" he murmured, blinking as the room around him focused.
A thick red fog surrounded him, raindrops falling from above. He held out his hand to catch the drops, and one pattered onto his palm in a small pool.
"Black…?" Naruto said, watching the midnight water ripple in his hand. He looked up and saw the other black droplets being swallowed up by the red haze around him.
He walked forward cautiously and swept a hand through the fog, only to have it skitter in the air from his touch as if it was alive.
Naruto furrowed his brow and walked forward.
The smog parted for him as if afraid as he strode ahead, and huge black iron bars came into view.
"Kyuu!" Naruto cried, running forward as his feet splashed against the water at his feet.
"Kit! Stay back!" he heard the Kyuubi echo.
The blond stopped.
The dank chamber was silent with the exception of Kyuubi's heavy breathing. Breathing…that didn't sound quite as loud as it used to.
"Kyuubi…?" Naruto said softly, taking cautious steps forward. He was met with no reprimand from the fox, so he continued forward until he was face-to-face with the colossal iron bars of Kyuubi's prison.
He reached out to rest his hand on one, but quickly pulled it away as the bar seared his skin as if deathly hot.
"Naru…g-get out…" Kyuubi panted, and Naruto noticed the obvious change in his once booming voice.
"No," Naruto said, shaking his head. "I'm not leaving you. I'm staying here with you until this is all over.
Naruto slid his arm through the bars, hissing as they burned his skin, but kept reaching until he felt soft fur.
Kyuubi shivered at Naruto's touch and whimpered so pitifully, that Naruto could practically hear his pain.
Naruto grit his teeth.
Kyuubi didn't deserve to be in so much pain. He was like an older brother to Naruto. He looked out and cared for him, and even showed the blond compassion when need be. And now when Kyuubi was the one who needed comforting, Naruto couldn't reach him.
But that wasn't going to stop him.
Naruto positioned his body to the side and slid through the bars, wincing, until he was inside Kyuubi's cage.
He didn't bother to examine the burns on his bare chest as he slowly neared the fox.
But…this isn't, couldn't be Kyuubi. There was no humongous demon, no warm wave from his breath, nothing…nothing but a small shivering figure on the ground.
Naruto leaned down beside the figure. He turned it a bit and could barely contain a gasp.
This was Kyuubi.
A human one.
Kyuubi lay on his side, curled up. His crimson hair flowed long and freely down to his thighs over two human-like, but pointed ears. His bangs fell over his face, making it invisible. His body was lithe and slightly toned like Naruto's, only a bit paler. His clawed fingers dug into the marble floor under him, leaving rifts and scratches in their wake. Nine, beautiful red tails tipped white at each end flowed from his backside and wrapped around his naked and quivering body.
"Kyuu…" Naruto breathed. He ran a hand lightly down Kyuubi's shoulder. "What happened…why are you-" Naruto winced as the seal on his stomach suddenly spread out over his skin, now overlapping the markings obtained from Tsunade's sealing technique.
"Too much…"
Naruto leaned down to Kyuubi despite the pain as he heard him murmur.
"Too much human chakra…" he shuddered. "Suppressing mine…it's making me loose my demon form…get it out!!"
Naruto's eyes widened as Kyuubi leaned up and gripped his shoulders tightly, staring at him frantically with two churning dark scarlet eyes. His beautiful face was searching Naruto's desperately, pleadingly.
Naruto sighed and ran a hand through Kyuubi's hair, attempting to calm him.
"I can't," he said. "They're suppressing your chakra to make sure it doesn't take me over…so I won't die."
Kyuubi swallowed and looked away.
Naruto stood up shakily, his body on fire, when something shot out and clasped onto his wrist.
"Please…"
Naruto looked down at Kyuubi who didn't meet his eyes but kept them focused on the floor.
"Don't go…"
Naruto kneeled down beside Kyuubi, then laid his body on the floor and pulled the demon close to him.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said gently.
Kyuubi unfurled his tails from his bare body and wrapped them around both Naruto and himself. He pulled Naruto close, wrapping his arms around the blond's waist, and buried his head in the soft golden spikes atop his head. (He was, after all, taller than Naruto even in his human form.)
Naruto sighed and rested his hands against Kyuubi's paler chest, letting his head drop to the crook of the demon's neck.
Tsunade's breath hitched in her throat as Kyuubi's markings previously covered by her seal started to stretch and glow red.
Naruto winced in his semi-conscious state, and Sai felt the urge to reach out and hold his lover's hand…if he wasn't already holding a seal with his fingers to focus his chakra.
Sasuke felt a stab in his heart as he watched Naruto's face contort and gasps of pain left his mouth. He didn't come back to see his dobe in pain, no, after years of not seeing the pain Naruto went through on a daily basis, he wasn't about to let the blond suffer more. Sasuke saw a tear slip down Naruto's whiskered cheek, and he wished he could hold the blond and kiss it away…kiss away everything painful that he had ever experienced until there was nothing left to hurt for.
The room tensed as a red aura surrounded Naruto's body and his whisker marks grew thicker.
Tsunade's hands shook as she continued through a succession of seals, the pressure suppressing her chakra almost too much for her to take.
"Yamato!" she saidurgently.
"Hai!"
Yamato jumped forward swiftly to the middle of the circle and placed a paper seal over Naruto's stomach.
Naruto let out a cry as the seal pulsed red before disintegrating on the spot.
Yamato jumped back beside the hokage.
"Damn," Tsunade said. "The Kyuubi's chakra is going haywire."
"How long can you keep this up?" Yamato asked.
"That depends on how long Naruto can hold off Kyuubi's chakra for." Tsunade looked sadly at the quivering blond in the center of the circle. "I know he's aware of what's going on, even if he's only half conscious. He can do this."
Yamato looked over to Naruto.
"I hope you're right."
Kyuubi flinched and looked down as Naruto shook against him, curling his body tighter and gripping at his stomach.
Kyuubi felt the pressure thrashing around them, suffocating the air space. But he knew that as much as he was going through, it was just as bad for Naruto, if not worse. After all, it was his body, and suppressing demonic chakra from overtaking your body was no easy task.
"Kit…" Kyuubi said softly. He carded a clawed hand gently through the blond's hair, trying to comfort him. "Don't give up."
"Kyuu…it hurts…so much…" Naruto breathed against Kyuubi's neck. "Don't know how l-long…I can…"
Kyuubi looked down as Naruto's voice faded and then stopped completely.
"Kit? Kit!"
Kyuubi gripped Naruto's shoulders and shook him rapidly.
"Stay awake! If you go unconscious here my chakra will take over immediately!"
Kyuubi's tails twitched as the red fog around the cage began to grow even thicker in seep in through the bars of the cage.
"Naruto!!"
Naruto gasped as Kyuubi gave him a swift smack across the face, bringing him back to reality.
Sasuke bit his lip as Naruto's body began to shake more violently, claws growing from his fingers.
His eyes pricked as he watched Naruto writhe under his restraints. They hadn't been working for more than an hour, and already the blond was loosing control, as were the rest of them. Their chakra was no where even near rivaling Kyuubi's, now so strong that Sasuke was sure that the only thing keeping it locked away was Naruto's will power.
He would need more than that to make it through.
"C'mon, open your eyes…I can't help you unless you do…" Sasuke thought impatiently.
He growled and released a burst of chakra, smashing it against the others flowing into Naruto's body.
The group lost their momentary focus, and Naruto gasped, half opening his clouded over eyes.
"There!"
Sasuke quickly activated his Sharingan and caught Naruto's eyes in a gaze right before they were closed again.
"Uchiha! Do you want Naruto to die!?" Tsunade yelled after they all gained focus again.
Sai shot Sasuke a glare, and his brow furrowed when he saw the symbols swimming in the Uchiha's crimson eyes.
Naruto felt like he had been punched in the gut when he felt a sharp rise in the chakra being pushed into him.
Kyuubi held him more tightly and placed a light kiss on the top of the blond's soft spikes.
"Nnn," Naruto whimpered, a tear rolling down his cheek from the pain.
Kyuubi unraveled his tails and wrapped them completely around Naruto, leaving out one, creating a cocoon around the blond's body. He used the one still lying idly on the ground to wrap around his lower naked half. (Even he had some decency.)
Naruto gripped the tail covering his chest, feeling the soft fur beneath his fingertips. He felt safer now, but Kyuubi's comforting did nothing to lessen the fire streaming through his body in the form of demonic chakra, writhing and attempting to escape.
Kyuubi held Naruto tightly against his chest, one arm around his waist, his hand rubbing his kit's back soothingly, and the other buried in Naruto's golden locks.
The fox's nose twitched suddenly, and he lifted his head from the ground and he felt the presence of a familiar chakra…but then again there were many familiar chakras whizzing around. He felt his head become dizzy as he tried to pick out the chakra he was feeling, exerting energy that he just couldn't spare. He let his head fall back down again, making a low rumbling purr in his throat to try and comfort Naruto.
"Well, this is interesting. I always thought Naruto hated you."
Kyuubi flicked his dark scarlet eyes up, and they dilated a bit when he saw who it was that spoke.
"Uchiha," he hissed, glad that Naruto was only semi-conscious. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm here to save the dobe," Sasuke said firmly.
"Pfft. Why should I believe you'll help my kit when you're the one who hurt him more than anyone else in the first place?"
Sasuke didn't say anything, but instead looked Kyuubi hard in the eyes.
"Because right now…I'm all he's got."
Kyuubi was a bit taken back by this answer, and blinked a few times, registering what the correct course of action to take was. Kick him out? Let him stay? Eat him?
As Kyuubi pondered Naruto let his eyes flit over the demon's form.
"Aren't you supposed to be a huge fox?" he said.
Kyuubi tipped his head to the side and glared.
"No dumbass, I look like this all the time." Kyuubi scoffed. "I'm much too weak to use my normal from, and all of the human chakra in here is manipulating what shape I take."
Sasuke nodded. He let he gaze travel to Naruto, pressed up against Kyuubi as eight red tails twined around him like red ivy. He kneeled down and reached a hand forward to caress the soft blond tresses when his hand was smacked away by Kyuubi.
"Hands off Uchiha," the fox growled.
Sasuke stopped. He let his arm fall back to his side as he looked about the huge cage.
He saw the red fog slowly seeping in and could feel its demonic nature almost immediately.
Sasuke stood up and walked over to the bars. He pressed his hand against one and sent out a stream of chakra. The fog fled back like a wounded animal as if afraid, then sliced through Sasuke's chakra as it gained force.
"I don't have enough chakra to hold this back…" he thought aloud. He looked over at Kyuubi.
"I don't feel any of Naruto's chakra. Why?"
"My own demonic chakra is suppressing it greatly," Kyuubi replied. "So much so that Naruto can't force any of his out to push it back. Right now he's struggling to maintain his body and keep it from taking him over completely."
"So…that means he still has all of his chakra?"
"Yea, but he can't use it when he's fighting for control of his body."
"Wake him up."
"Wha-"
"I have an idea."
Kyuubi eyed Sasuke up and down, then looked down at Naruto and sighed. He didn't trust the Uchiha, but at the same time he knew very well of the raven's feelings for the blond, and he wouldn't dare hurt him more.
Kyuubi sighed again and looked down at Naruto.
"Kit," he said gently, shaking Naruto by the shoulder. "C'mon, open your eyes."
Naruto groaned and shook his head, burying it further into Kyuubi's tails that surrounded him.
"T-tired…" he breathed. "Hurts..."
"I know it hurts, but I need you up now. You can't go out without a better fight."
Naruto cracked open one eyes, followed by the other, and looked up at Kyuubi.
"You know a way…to help?" he said.
Kyuubi shook his head.
"No, but he does," he said, and pointed to Sasuke.
Naruto's gaze met with Sasuke's, and two worlds collided. Naruto felt a rush of painful, but at the same time soothing memories flood his system, and Sasuke could do nothing but hold his breath.
Sasuke cautiously leaned down in front of the blond.
Naruto didn't say anything. He searched Sasuke's eyes for a moment, then looked away to the floor as if in even more pain.
"Naruto," Sasuke said. "Look at me…"
Naruto didn't raise his eyes, and Sasuke felt his soul drop.
"Please," Sasuke whispered, and Naruto's eyes widened a bit as the Uchiha embraced him. Not a small, awkward hug, but a full embrace. He wrapped one arm around Naruto's back, holding him as close as possible, and his opposite hand rested in Naruto's spiked golden locks.
"Forgive me…" Sasuke breathed, so helplessly, so brokenly, so totally beyond Uchihaness, that Naruto felt his resolve slowly crumble as if a mountain was being fractured.
Sasuke thought he was imagining things when he felt a tug at his shirt, but was proved wrong as the grip became harder, and he realized that two tan hands were clutching the fabric tightly.
"Teme…" Naruto said scornfully, and then softly, "Sasuke…"
Sasuke pulled back and met Naruto's gaze once more.
"Where…where have you been?" Naruto looked down at his hands clutching the raven's shirt. His expression grew angry. "All those years…where!? You leave for years and expect me to forgive you just like that!? Bastard, I--"
Naruto was suddenly cut off as something was pressed against his mouth. It took him a moment to realize that it was another person's—Sasuke's.
Naruto didn't know how to react as he saw Sasuke's gently closed eyes, his black lashes resting against the pallid skin beneath them comfortably.
He felt Sasuke caress his lips softly, tenderly, so tenderly, as if he would shatter at the wrong touch.
Naruto realized that this wasn't like his dreams. In his dreams Sasuke's kisses had started somewhat sweet, then grew rough and demanding before he was stabbed in the back. But this…this was so…
It was as if Sasuke wasn't kissing him at all, but pleading, crying for forgiveness through his angel soft touches.
Sasuke positioned one hand at the base of Naruto's neck to steady him, and the other resting on his cheek, his fingers brushing against the golden silk by his ears.
Naruto felt his pupils dilate as he felt something hot and wet trail his mouth, and registered that it was Sasuke asking for entrance.
Naruto may have been in pain, but his mind was in no way clouded now. His judgment wasn't smudged, his perception as clear as ever, and his anger towards the raven was burning a hole through his stomach. Why then, did he open his mouth? He couldn't really tell. He had felt his heart detonate into a thousand shards, then piece itself back together with every second that the raven caressed his lips.
Naruto felt his eyelids fall as Sasuke's tongue cautiously explored his own, meticulously mapping out every crevice he could reach in that moist cavern.
His heart practically leapt from out of his throat as he felt Naruto grip the front of his shirt and pull him closer as he began to kiss back.
Kyuubi meanwhile, turned away. He knew that Naruto had been waiting for this, for Sasuke's return, but he also knew that he wouldn't give in so quickly. And yet……how much love did Naruto still harbor for the Uchiha?
Naruto softly groaned as his tongue and Sasuke introduced themselves to one another, before dancing and rubbing up against each other in delectably gentle friction.
Sasuke lightly moaned himself, the sensation of kissing the only person in his life that he had ever loved so much bordering on nothing less than astonishment.
He broke away to let Naruto gather air, and pulled the blond in close, burying his face in the sea of golden hair.
"I promise to answer all your questions later," he said. "Right now, I think I know how to help you."
Naruto looked up and searched Sasuke's eyes for any hint of doubt, and finding none, he nodded.
Ah, what an emotional chapter! EXTREMELY IMPORTANT POLL ON MY PROFILE!
Oh, and for those who didn't get the memo, I am now also posting my fics on Dev. Art for people without accounts and for people to send their fanart…cause I know no other way…-.-' My user name is kaito-kit. On my page I will also post spoilers and questions about my fics to the readers that you wouldn't find on ! :D
Sky-eyed Kitsune
Translated by Gomi-kun