Chapter 32: Back with a Vengeance

"While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself."

~Douglas Horton

"You escaped from prison." said Sasuke quietly.

"Someone give this clever boy a prize." said Orochimaru in a sarcastic tone. He placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder who flinched, but otherwise stayed frozen in place His mouth hung slightly open as if in a silent scream, and his breath came out in short, quiet pants.

Sasuke clenched his knuckles hard.

"How?"

"He had help. Did you think I would just forget who I worked for?" said Kabuto.

The fleeting thought of hurling the mug on the floor at Kabuto's face flitted across Sasuke's mind. Instead, he did his best to remain calm even as his body numbed from the blood rushing in a frenzy round his body.

"How did you find us?" he asked.

Kabuto held up a white phone. A pinpointed map decorated its large screen.

"I placed a tracer under Naruto's skin while he was under at the lab. Easy enough to track." He said. "Of course, Itachi thought he was being smart by removing the one on Naruto's arm."

Kabuto reached across and stroked the nape of Naruto's neck lightly. "But I always have back-ups."

His expression was as blank as ever save for the melted skin that decorated the side of his face, but Sasuke could sense the self-satisfaction radiating from him.

"It's good to see you again, Sasuke." He said as he put the phone into his back pocket and wiped his hands on a white cloth dotted with specks of blood.

"The security is taken care of." He said, turning to Orochimaru.

"How many?" asked Orochimaru, not taking his eyes off Sasuke.

"Two." came the nonchalant reply.

Two. There had been two officers on detail at any one time. That meant one person had not been found.

Sasuke clenched his jaw. Was Iruka still alive?

Sasuke could see the question mirrored in Naruto's horrified eyes, and he shook his head slightly, trying to convey the warning to Naruto.

Don't mention Iruka.

"Oh, look at you. Aren't you both precious with your little, intimate exchanges?" said Orochimaru.

He took his hand off Naruto's shoulder and hooked a friendly arm around his neck pulling him in front of him. The gun remained firmly fixed against the side of his head.

Naruto's eyes screwed shut as Orochimaru brushed the back of his ear with his lips and inhaled, taking in his scent.

"I've missed this." He said with a deep sigh.

Sasuke's teeth were clenched together so hard he was surprised they didn't crack. He started forward.

"Ah ah ah." said Orochimaru, pulling back the hammer of the gun with a click.

"You don't want to make me splatter Naruto's brains around the living room now, do you, Sasuke?"

Sasuke froze, only his hands moved, clenching and unclenching in rapid succession.

"Now, we don't have a lot of time. My guess is my escape has been discovered by now, and I have a feeling that Shikaku will figure out pretty quickly where I headed." said Orochimaru. "So let's make this quick."

"What do you want?" asked Sasuke.

Kabuto picked up a bag from behind the sofa. He dumped it on the sofa cushions and began rummaging through it.

Orochimaru smiled at Sasuke. "What do we want? Why, Sasuke. You're a smart boy. I'm sure you know by now."

He gripped Naruto tighter around the neck making him choke, and Orochimaru's expression suddenly became serious. "I want what I have always wanted. I want Kyuubi."

"Ah, here we are." said Kabuto as he pulled out a small, glass bottle filled with clear liquid. He unscrewed the top and poured a few drops onto the bloody white cloth he'd used earlier.

"Of course," continued Orochimaru as Kabuto approached Sasuke, circling him with cautious steps from behind, the white cloth held in his hand, "Revenge is a nice, little bonus. Now stay still, Sasuke or I might have to shoot Naruto in his other leg, give him a matching scar."

Sasuke fought every instinct in him to struggle when Kabuto grabbed him from behind and pressed the blood-stained cloth to his mouth.

"Don't move and breathe deep, Sasuke-kun." said Kabuto in a soothing tone, the man's breath tickling his ear.

The sickly sweet smell of chloroform flooded his nostrils. He tried to keep his breathing shallow, not really sure how it would help, but hoping, just hoping for something to happen. His eyes met Naruto's who stared stricken from across the room.

"Orochimaru," Naruto's voice cracked. "Please."

Orochimaru responded by twisting the barrel of his gun into Naruto's temple.

"You know how it works, Naruto-kun. Be a good boy." He said, "And we won't have to hurt him."

Sasuke's vision began to swim. If only. If only he could say something, do something – anything that would save them. If only…

There was a sound then, a terrible sound that resounded throughout the house, and Sasuke closed his eyes as it reached his ears hoping with all his heart it wasn't real, that it was just a trick of the mind. But Orochimaru cocked his head at the creaking of footsteps on the stairs, and the voice of Iruka carried from the hallway.

"Boys, are you okay? I heard –"

Iruka stepped into the living room and stopped short at the scene before him. Sasuke was slumped in the arms of a man pressing a cloth to his mouth, his eyes struggling to stay open. And Orochimaru, the man from Naruto's nightmares, the man from their past who had caused so much destruction - he stood there, real and solid by the sofa holding Iruka's adopted son in a tight grip. A gun was pressed to Naruto's head as his boy stared back at Iruka, eyes wide with fear.

Sasuke grabbed at Kabuto's arm, jerking it away.

"Iruka, run." He said in a breathless voice.

Iruka barely had time to turn his head before there was a loud popping sound. Then an odd wet feeling welled up in his chest. Iruka looked down in surprise to see blood blooming onto his shirt. He glanced up again to see Orochimaru dropping his arm – the silencer-fitted gun held in his hand.

"No!"

Naruto yanked himself out of Orochimaru's grip and dashed towards his guardian as Iruka fell to his knees with a look of confusion on his face. Sasuke elbowed Kabuto in the stomach. It was a weak blow, but enough to surprise the man who let him go. Sasuke started forwards, but his legs gave out from under him. He fell to his knees and felt the hardness of a barrel pressed to the back of his head.

"Go ahead, Sasuke." hissed Kabuto, gripping Sauske's hair and whipping his head back. "Just give me an excuse."

His arms shook just from trying to keep upright, and blackness edged at the corner of his eyes. Naruto had reached Iruka. Their two figures swam before his eyes.

"No, no, no." cried Naruto as he caught Iruka, easing him backwards onto the floor.

"Naruto." Iruka spoke in a voice as quiet as a whisper. "I-"

The words were cut off as he coughed. Blood bubbled up from his throat and stained his lips.

"Iruka, don't. Don't try to talk. We'll get an ambulance. We'll get you to a hospital, okay? Just try not to move. Try not to…"

Naruto's hands trembled as they ghosted over Iruka's chest wound. Blood continued to spread in a pool across his shirt.

Orochimaru sighed and walked over.

"Enough with the drama, Naruto."

He grabbed Naruto's arm pulling him up, but Naruto yanked himself away.

"Let me go! Don't fucking touch me!" He snarled, tears streaming down his face. He clung to Iruka again, talking and whispering to him.

"You'll be okay, okay? I'll get you help. We - hey, stay with me, Iruka."

Iruka's eyes fluttered as he tried to focus on his boy. Naruto's eyes were glassy with tears, and his cheeks were red in reaction to the salty tracks trickling down them. He wanted to tell him not to cry, to not worry, but a lump was blocking his throat. His mind was fuzzy as he tried to figure out why he couldn't get up.

"Iruka. No, no, Iruka, you have to keep your eyes open, okay? Iruka." cried Naruto. He pulled at Iruka, shaking him. "Please, Iruka, please."

"Enough!" said Orochimaru, and he grabbed the boy again, hauling him up this time with both hands, and pulling him to him

Naruto struggled and kicked against him.

"You don't get to. No! You don't get to do this. Let me go! I need to call an ambulance. Fucking get your hands off of -!"

There was a thud as Orochimaru hit him hard on the head with the butt of his gun, and Naruto slumped against his attacker unconscious.

Kabuto shifted his gaze for only the briefest moment during the struggle, and Sasuke took his opportunity to strike. Using the last vestiges of his strength, he whipped around, grabbing Kabuto's gun hand. Pushing it to the side, he twisted the man's arm with a swift jerk. The gun dropped to the floor with a heavy thud. Kabuto let out a yell and kicked Sasuke hard in the stomach. It winded, but didn't stop him, and he threw himself towards the gun, stretching his hand out. His fingers touched the wooden handle when a thunderous fire of pain exploded through his hand. He yanked it back with a cry of pain.

Orochimaru's gun clicked as he drew back the hammer again and aimed his still-smoking gun at Sasuke's head. He walked over swiftly, lifted his foot and ground his heel into Sasuke's bleeding hand. Sasuke cried out trying to get it out from under him, but his arm wouldn't cooperate. His whole body felt like it was trying to move underwater.

"Honestly," said Orochimaru looking down contemptuously at the suffering teen below him, "You boys are more trouble than you're worth."

He nodded at Kabuto who picked up the white cloth, panting heavily. He grabbed the bottle, pouring more chloroform onto it and shoved the cloth roughly onto Sasuke's mouth, grinding the material against his lips and nose. He bucked against the man, struggling to pull his hand away but after several more breaths of that sickly sweet smell, Sasuke couldn't fight the darkness that swept through him. The pain in his hand faded and he slumped back unconscious.