Naruto closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "When's...the best time?"

"What?"

"When can we escape?"

Kurama huffed before answering. "You're always one damn step ahead of me. Look, as much as you do I want to escape as well, but it's not that simple."

Naruto stared bluntly in a loss of hope. "...we...I guess...find...an opening...could work..." He gasped at the end of his sentence.

Kurama whipped his head back in shock. "Hey, kid. What's wrong?"

Naruto wheezed. He sensed a faint chakra, but he didn't know where it was. "I think..." He got the clue that it was coming from outside his mind when he was almost completely pulled from the Tri-gram seal. "It's coming from outside...I sense it..."

The Kyuubi turned his head to look up at the ceiling lining the room. "Your right. I haven't felt it until now. You should go back-"

"I'm scared! What...what if they hurt me again...I- I don't want to be..." The blond gripped the fox's fur as a tear fell from his cheek.

"Don't worry. I'll get you out of here no matter what."

Naruto opened his eyes to find that a shadow happened to be standing over him.

The figure moved slightly in front of the blond and soon came into full view as his eyes adjusted into the dim light of the cave.

The emotionless eyes looked down at the teen. "What the hell, Usuratonkachi? Why the hell didn't you wake up?"

Naruto only continued to stare at him, reflecting the same emotionless, black eyes. He didn't answer.

A voice in the distance was heard. "Hurry it up, will you, bastard?"

Sasuke snorted under his breath. "Shut it. It's not like you're going anywhere."

The annoying voice replied. "I may not be, but I have to ask Madara something before he leaves to-"

"Suigetsu."

Naruto's eyes widened in wonder. What about Madara? Where was he going?

Sasuke, noticing this, stared hard at the blond, but didn't bother to say anything. The blond was strapped by the legs to the bed but his arms were free from any restraints. The Uchiha didn't feel like dealing with some annoying idiot.

"Susekkeeee...you're such a freakin' bastaaaard..." The blue-haired teen called out.

Naruto turned from the glaring Uchiha. They had been watching each other for some time. Silent and motionless.

Sasuke finally moved from his state and pulled a small item from his pants pocket which he seemed to have underneath a large, black cloak he wore. Hood off.

The blond twitched when he felt something sharp pierce into his left shoulder. It had been removed from any cast but he favored it for it was still tender. He turned his dull cerulean blue eyes to where he had been punctured and was greeted to the sight of a needle. Damn it... He attempted to pull away from it until he was abruptly stopped by the sound of an unsheathing sword and the glint of a blade laying straight at the base of his neck. He swallowed slightly as sweat began to drop from his forehead.

Sasuke held his sword at the blond, glinting it in the dim candle light from outside of the cell. "Baka. It's just a sleeping draft. Don't start anything stupid."

Naruto closed his eyes and realized that he had soon slipped into unconsciousness.

The Uchiha removed the needle and walked out of the cell's doors, tossing it into a waste basket before locking the door behind him.

Suigetsu leaned closer to him and whispered into his ear. "Oi, Sasuke. Do you think we should leave him unguarded? I mean, we're gonna' be training and Madara and Kabuto are gonna' be out..."

"It's fine. He'll be asleep for a few hours. All I have to do is give him another when the time runs out."

"Aahh...right."

"Go get Karin and Juugo and let's go. I've spent enough time in this cave as it is."

The sounds of the footsteps were left echoing in the cave.

"Hey, kid. You heard that?"

Naruto opened his eyes to find himself still lying along the back of Kurama's neck whom was also now lying down. "What?"

"That 'friend' of yours is sure as hell stupid."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I heard everything he said and supposedly no one will be watching you."

Naruto sighed. "But I can't wake up. He gave me a sleeping draft."

Kurama chuckled and slowly turning that into hysterical laughter. "Khah! Khah! Khah! Sleeping draft? Don't under estimate the nine-tailed fox demon, brat. I've already worked that out of your system."

"H-how?" Naruto was confused.

"I released some of my chakra through that messed seal. Remember? The dragon? Now, wake up."

Naruto's eyes fluttered open to the dark cave again. But-but what do I do?

"I need you to summon one of your damn frog's and remove that chakra rod. Hurry!"

Right! Naruto completed the hand seals in mere seconds before performing the technique. Kuchiyose no jutsu!

A cloud of smoke formed at the boy's bed-side to soon reveal the orange-skinned Gamakichi.

"Yo, Naruto!"

"Shut it." Naruto urgently whispered.

Dropping his greeting the frog finally took in what stood in front of him. As seeing the boy's bloodied body and restraints he leaped back with a yelp. "Naruto..." He whispered. "Where are we?"

"No time for that. I need you to do me a favor."

The boy quickly told the frog what to do and finished with a rough sigh. "Got it?"

"Yosh!" Gamakichi quickly got to working. He rushed off toward the end of the room and stopped in front of the cabinet against the wall before pulling out a pair of scissors and fresh bandages. He hopped back toward Naruto and looked worriedly at him. "Are you sure you can't do it?"

"Positive. It won't work if I did it." He sighed once again. "Okay, I'm ready."

We've only got one shot, and that's final.

Author's note:

How do you like the story so far? I've been working hard just for you guys. Special thanks to: Rosebunse and cutiekitten for staying such loyal fans!

Arigato!