Target
Ch. 16- The Oncoming Storm
A/N: Grab some wine and read on!
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and TV Tokyo. Fuck you.
xXx: Beta'd by Miasen xXx
There was something off about Sasuke. Cradling a water bottle in his hands, Naruto watched said raven pour through documents from a folder Iruka had brought. The blond spun lightly on the stool he was slouched on, unable to sit still. His eyes fell to the bandage adorning Sasuke's hand; that hadn't been there yesterday, but it wasn't what Naruto was focused on.
It was a subtle change, but it seemed glaringly obvious to him. Sasuke seemed more…edgy. Angry. Frustrated. The mask that had been present when they first met was back and with a vengeance, but Naruto could see underneath it. He had spent enough time trying to figure the man out and staring at him that he felt he had a pretty good idea what Sasuke was feeling.
Since yesterday, Sasuke had barely talked to him, focusing instead on the papers and other tasks. He was curt with both Iruka and Kakashi, and especially himself. It was now nearly night time and they had yet to have a conversation that consisted of more than a few words and grunts. They hadn't even had practice, something Naruto had been looking forward to.
He was no fool; he knew what they had would go nowhere. He and Sasuke had different goals in mind, and once they were done, they would part ways. Sasuke had said it himself, it was just a release for pent up sexual frustration, nothing else.
Having never been one to engage in one-night stands or have purely sexual relationships, Naruto felt confused. On one level he wanted to show more affection, but since this was Sasuke, he knew it was suicidal. He wanted to be more open, but knew nothing good would come from it. He'd have to settle for whatever Sasuke decided to give him, and that pained him. His relationship with Sasuke was nothing like he'd had before, especially since he had never killed for anyone before. He had never made such a great effort to change for anyone or because of anyone.
He peered down at the bottle, noticing how the long the sleeves of his orange shirt were. The fabric was soft, and comfortable, sticking snugly to his body. It was a gift from Iruka, something to replace all the ones he'd lost in his apartment. Looking up again, he noticed Sasuke staring off into the distance, his eyes slightly glazed over. As if they sensed his stare, they sharpened and met his.
Naruto refused to break the gaze, hoping to convey his slight confusion to Sasuke. Maybe if he pestered him enough, Sasuke would spill. He had learned quite a bit the other day from simply asking; maybe it would work again. Dark eyes simply watched, barely blinking. It was harder trying to decipher what Sasuke's eyes hid. Minutes passed before Sasuke broke the look, returning to the folder.
Gathering courage, Naruto hopped off the stool, set the bottle down on a table and stuck his hands into his pockets. He meandered over to Sasuke, coming to a stop beside him. Silently, he watched Sasuke shift papers around, neatly ordering them in some sequence only he knew.
"Hey Sasuke, can I ask—"
"Hn," Sasuke grunted, cutting him off. "I'm busy, leave me alone," he bit out, stopping to shoot an icy glare at the blond before returning to his task.
"Then maybe I can help," Naruto persisted, dropping down beside Sasuke stubbornly.
Sasuke stiffened. "I don't need any."
"It can help to get a different opinion."
"Then I'd ask for someone who's qualified, not you."
"A new pair of eyes can see more," Naruto quipped, his tone becoming challenging.
"Very well." Sasuke shoved a bunch of photographs at him. "Take these and organize them by their markers, and by what member did it." He knew it was cruel to hand the blond the graphic photos that depicted the murder victims, especially since one was eerily similar to the way Kiba died, but he did it anyway. He wanted Naruto to distance himself, to let Sasuke regain his focus and concentration. He waited, wanting the blond to blow up so he could shut him down quickly.
Following orders, Naruto stacked up the items before beginning to sort them. He did so with a small smile on his face, as he felt he was being useful. Maybe now they could have a decent conversation, even if it was over murders. Naruto's brow furrowed and his smile froze as he noticed what the contents were. Each picture was worse than the last, each more bloody and harsh. The victims caused a twinge of pain to hit him hard. A wave of sorrow and guilt slammed into him as he noticed a certain picture. Replace the red hair with a mop of brown, and he knew why Sasuke had given him this task. Anger swiftly swapped with guilt.
"You know what, fuck you. Fuck you," Naruto bit out bitterly, getting to his feet and throwing the photos down. Storming away, he jogged up the stairs, entered his room and slammed the door behind him.
Sasuke watched Naruto leave from his spot on the floor. The pictures fluttered around him, landing softly. This is what he wanted, right? He was alone, and that was the best for him. He had more room to study the Akatsuki and catch them, to find Itachi. No distractions and no Naruto. So then why did he feel a ball of guilt settling in his gut? Sasuke rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe he had taken things a little too far.
He frowned deeply. What the fuck was up with him? He would have never felt guilty about something as small as this. He had killed people in front of the blond, for God's sake, and had done it inches from him, with the blond fucking chained like a dog. He had basically rubbed Naruto's face in it, and this was what got him? How far he had fallen.
xXx
That fucking prick.
Staring up at the ceiling as he lay sprawled on his mattress, Naruto could feel the vein throbbing in his forehead. He was used to Sasuke being an asshole, but doing shit like that was new. It hurt that he had expected the raven to treat him more like a human. They had been through so much, had reached a new level in how they interacted with each other, but it seems all that was pointless. Sasuke was a heartless, unfeeling, callous man. What did he expect, the man was a mercenary. He was paid to be a murderer; being a compassionate human being wasn't part of the equation.
Their little exchange had happened a while ago, but every time he thought about it, his blood boiled. It went past Sasuke's shit attitude; Naruto didn't deserve to be treated like that! He had done everything in his power to please the man, and there was no way Sasuke could be that cruel for no reason. Had he done something that inadvertently pissed the taller man off? But what? As much as he tried to remember what happened in the last times they talked, he couldn't find anything substantial that would anger him.
Exhaling heavily, Naruto paused his internal rant to ponder what might have spurred the raven into being so sadistic. It would have to have happened either last night or early morning, since they had been fine yesterday. Whatever it was, it would have to have been something really bad since Sasuke hadn't been this nasty in a long time. Naruto immediately dismissed any thoughts of this being his doing; it didn't add up if it was his. Did Sasuke's new injury have anything to do with his sudden change?
The anger seeped away as Naruto remembered what Sasuke had told him about Itachi that day things had turned sexual between them. He had spoken about his older brother so casually, but upon further thought, Naruto suspected it might have actually been really difficult. Could that have triggered more awful memories in him? Sympathy flooded the blond as he thought about how frightening it would have been to experience something so traumatic, and to have lived through it, suffering as it hung over his head all his life. Sasuke probably had nightmares about it. Unlike his own which resulted in him waking up and panicking, Sasuke suffered through his own silently, never relying on anyone.
Naruto closed his eyes, settling comfortably into the mattress. "Okay, if I was Sasuke, what would I be feeling?" He struggled to put himself in the raven's shoes, trying to see things from his perspective and possibly find out what set him off.
After a few long minutes of intense focus, Naruto sighed, opening his eyes. He couldn't do it. As much as he tried, he couldn't feel what it would be like to have lived through something so terrible. His experiences were nothing to laugh at, but holy shit had Sasuke had it rough. His mother and father murdered by his brother. In one swift moment, everything had been taken from him. Having an amputated arm would also cement the change. Naruto's teeth dug into his bottom lip, worrying the tender flesh.
What if he tried to talk to him again? Sasuke would more than likely try to push him away again, but maybe it was worth it to stick to his guns and try. In all likelihood, the cruelness was probably a defensive mechanism that Sasuke relied on. Could he get past it if he worked hard enough?
It was worth a shot. He had nothing to lose, anyways. He could deal with a physically violent Sasuke, if things got to that point.
Rolling off the bed, Naruto landed on his feet, giving himself a once over in the mirror before marching over to his door and leaving his anointed bedroom. Keeping his head held high, he strode to Sasuke's door, briskly knocking. Hearing no response, he knocked again, this time harder. Kakashi and Iruka were downstairs, their voices trailing up to the second floor, meaning he could afford to be a bit louder without it disturbing them.
"Knock again, I'm breaking your hand." Came a muffled reply from the other side.
Naruto grinned. Finally an answer. "You'll have to open the door to do that." To reiterate his point, he rapped his knuckles sharply on the wood once more.
The door opened slightly; a disgruntled raven glared at him through the opening. "What, did you finish sorting the pictures, or are you going to go cry in your room again?"
Naruto swallowed his immediate angry reply, remembering his goal. "We need to talk." He said, keeping his tone light and non-confrontational.
Seemingly surprised at his choice of words, Sasuke's eyes narrowed suspiciously. The crack widened. "You're wasting my time, I suggest you—"
"I'm coming in!" Naruto announced, quickly shoving past the raven. Having memorized most of Sasuke's gut reactions, he ducked the pale fist sailing to sink itself into his gut and stood in the corner of Sasuke's room, on the other side of his bed opposite the taller man.
"Naruto, get out," Sasuke warned, Naruto's actions catching him off guard. Wasn't the blond furious with him? He had been dead sure Naruto was going to be avoiding him like the plague.
"Not until we have a talk," Naruto's lips drew up in a shit-eating grin. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure Sasuke was purposefully shoving him away. But they were partners in this, so Naruto wasn't budging.
"I'm warning you, get the fuck out," Sasuke growled, his tone melding into that deep promise of pain that Naruto was familiar with.
Undeterred, the blond mocked thinking about it as tan hand reached up to rub his slightly stubbly chin. "Hmm, nah. Not gonna."
Seeing his use of threats wasn't working, Sasuke opted for a more physical approach. He stepped over to Naruto, reaching out to grab his arm.
Naruto danced out of the way, rolling over the bed to the other side. Bouncing to his feet, he eyed Sasuke, waiting for his next move. He planned on keeping the bed between them, as a buffer.
"Alright, what the fuck to do you want?" Sasuke asked, exasperated.
"Why are you so angry?" Naruto questioned immediately, seizing the given opportunity.
"What?" Sasuke responded brusquely, crossing his arms.
"Something pissed you off. You weren't like this yesterday," Naruto prodded, mimicking Sasuke as he too crossed his arms across his chest. Picking his own poker face, Naruto met Sasuke's icy glare head on.
Sasuke's lips twisted into a smirk. "What, are you finally remembering who I am?" he replied, his tone scalding with condescendence.
"No, I'm wondering what happened that set you off. You're an asshole, as I'm sure you've been told, but this is different. And I'm nearly a hundred percent it has something to do with your brother." Naruto caught the tiny twitch of Sasuke's hands, isolating it from what he knew about the raven's usual mannerisms. Bingo.
"Shit job, Sherlock. You're wrong."
"Ah, but am I?" Naruto nearly gloated. The happier he seemed to get, the deeper Sasuke's frown grew. "You admit something's wrong!" he pointed out, feeling like a lawyer calling out bullshit on a testimony.
"Clearly you're delusional," Sasuke retorted. "Now get the fuck out before I—"
"Did you have a nightmare?" Naruto asked, his tone softening. He let the grin drop, becoming solemn.
A sharp eyebrow arched up. "I'm not you, I don't—"
"It must have been pretty bad to fuck you up this much," Naruto interrupted, looking away. He wouldn't give Sasuke the chance to end this quickly. "You saw my reaction before, so I know just how much they can affect you."
"Oh please, save me the pity party. I didn't have a nightmare, you idiot. In case you forgot, I'm the one that causes the nightmares. If my mind was as weak as yours, I wouldn't have survived this long."
"If it wasn't a nightmare, the next worse thing is a flashback." Seeing Sasuke's usually pallid face pale further, Naruto knew he hit the nail on the head. But with this revelation came the feeling he was prying too much, opening things Sasuke worked to keep hidden. If they didn't face it now, then when? If he stopped now, Sasuke would take the opportunity to close off even further, erecting more walls between them. "What—"
"Open your mouth again, and I swear you won't live to see another day," Sasuke hissed, his eyes narrowing into slits and his poker mask dropping to hide the anger on his face. His posture was rigid, tense.
Naruto's lips twitched with the need to speak. The waves of hostility pouring off of Sasuke were nearly palpable. While he knew anger was the ticket to force Sasuke to spill, he didn't want the raven to just feel angry. He didn't want Sasuke to keep being pissed at him and the whole world; maybe it was time to back off a bit? Feeling as if he needed to do something, Naruto plopped down on the bed, sprawling out. Sasuke had mentioned he tended to be a bit unpredictable during their sparring sessions; maybe he could use that to knock the raven off whatever mood he was in.
"The fuck are you doing?" Confused and irritated, Sasuke tried to glower a hole through the blond with his eyes.
"I'm tired, and you're not helping," Naruto grunted, letting his head drop back. He shut his eyes, feeling as if he were turning his back to a snake about to strike. Focusing on the sounds of the room, he could tell Sasuke was still there due to his quiet breathing, but the taller man hadn't moved. "You can join me, if you like," he murmured, still keeping his eyes closed. A blush dusted his face as he waited for Sasuke's response.
xXx
Moaning, Iruka threw back his head as Kakashi's warm hands ran all over his body, slipping under his shirt teasingly. Pinned to the sofa underneath the man, the brunette tangled his fingers in silver hair, gripping the strands tightly while pale digits roamed his chest, glancing over his nipples.
"They're gonna hear," the Police Commander whispered, his lips capturing Kakashi for a brief, noisy moment. Brown orbs were at half-mast, drowsy with lust and love. Drawing apart, Iruka smiled at the uncaring look on Kakashi's exposed face, cupping the man's cheeks. His thumb brushed Kakashi's lower lip.
"They've been keeping us up; we might as well repay the favor," Kakashi murmured , pushing himself against Iruka's plump lips, his tongue slipping in for a quick taste. Whenever he saw that smile on Iruka, his could swear his heart stopped. He nuzzled Iruka's palm, nibbling on the skin.
Kakashi's left hand slid down, kneading flesh as it landed on Iruka's ass before grabbing his leg and hooking it to his hip. He could feel Iruka's erection pressing into his stomach. The heat was exhilarating, making Kakashi's blood sing and his body ache.
Iruka lightly shoved the man's shoulder, breathing faster. "We should go to bed." He couldn't keep the beam off his face as Kakashi almost pouted at him. Without the mask on, Kakashi's expressions seemed almost exaggerated.
"Hmm, not yet," Kakashi purred, stealing another kiss. He peppered light pecks across Iruka's nose, over his scar and to the corner of his mouth. He grinned as the shorter man leaned into the caresses.
"I'm not having sex on the couch," Iruka insisted, using his authoritative cop voice, usually reserved for miscreants and ne'er-do-wells. Judging by the slight pause and shudder that ran through his lover, he could tell Kakashi loved it. Teeth sank gently onto his shoulder, sending waves of pleasure to his cock. Iruka bucked reflexively, groaning with the friction. God this man drove him insane.
"We'll just get a new one if it gets dirty," Kakashi countered, licking the bite. He drew tan skin into his mouth as he settled onto the brunette, barring him from moving. Having only a pair of sleep pants on, Kakashi tried to shimmy out of them without getting up, refusing to part an inch with his lover.
"N-no, not…couch." Iruka stifled a guttural moan as Kakashi rocked into him, delicious pressure building up in his groin. His mind growing hazy, Iruka fought to stay cognizant, the warmth surrounding him making him dizzy. He felt like he was flying, soaring on a cloud of tender pleasure.
"We haven't tried the kitchen yet," Kakashi offered, struggling not to rip off his clothes and fuck his lover right then and there. He learned the hard way that it wasn't a good idea. He could still hear the echoes on the walls of Iruka reprimanding him. Iruka looked ravishing; his chocolate hair was strewn around the armrest, a deep blush painting his cheeks and his lips red and swollen. He tried to hide the lust in his eyes, but Kakashi knew it was there, threatening to take over. His cock twitched with the need to slam into the other, growing with each second. He imagined himself taking Iruka, throwing dishes to the floor as he cleared space on the counter. A primitive need roared in his chest, heartily approving of the idea.
"Ngh, no," Iruka growled half-heartedly, rocking his hips to meet Kakashi's. "Disgusting."
"The garage, on the car," Kakashi grunted, losing interest in removing his pants. Grabbing the shorter man's hips, he drew Iruka closer to him, his clothed erection leaking. "On all of them."
"Hell no-oh," Iruka gasped, clutching at Kakashi's broad shoulders. His fingers dug into the firm flesh to steady himself.
"Remember that time in Italy, on the balcony? When we visited the vineyards?" Kakashi teased, grinding into the younger man. He loved the way Iruka's back arched in pleasure, pressing harder into him.
"N-no," Iruka mumbled, drawing a hand into his mouth and biting on his crooked pointer finger. Crystal clear images of Kakashi almost kidnapping him to the exotic country poured into his mind. It had been when they first begun to date, with Iruka still harboring a bit of suspicion about Kakashi before realizing he was falling for him. The balcony. That moment they cemented their sexual relationship. "I don't."
"The maid saw us," Kakashi smirked, recalling moment he spotted a young woman watching him fuck his lover in the open, amidst the drapes they had managed to yank off and get tangled in. Of course having an audience meant putting on a performance, and he was never one to disappoint. Iruka had screamed himself hoarse and Kakashi had discovered his exhibitionist kink. "She came in since you were yelling so much and saw everything." The taller man licked his lips as he waited for Iruka's response.
The click of the front door opening cut through the lust filled daze in Kakashi's head. His mind fully aware that only he, Iruka, and Sasuke could open the specially equipped door, the taller man threw his body to the floor, ripping Iruka off the couch as bullets slammed into the upholstery where he had been.
All thoughts of sex gone, Kakashi scooted back and yanked out the gun that was secured under the coffee table. His eyes rapidly flitting back to his lover, he was relieved to see Iruka scrambling to his feet towards the kitchen wall, grabbing the spare weapon hidden in a small compartment. He drew back as holes suddenly appeared where he had been seconds ago.
xXx
Hearing the familiar sounds of gunfire, Sasuke got down instinctively, pulling Naruto with him on the floor, beside the bed.
"Holy shit, was that a gun? Who's shooting?" Naruto cried out, the shots taking him back to his meeting with Hidan.
Cursing, Sasuke grabbed the nearby nightstand and ripped it off the wall. Behind it was screen, with a number pad next to it. Punching in some numbers, he slapped his hand on the surface, waiting it to glow. The screen was unresponsive, still black. He repeated the action but received the same results.
"They shut off the security." Sasuke growled, fisting his hands.
"Wait, Kakashi and Iruka were downstairs!" Naruto shouted, worried for the older men. Had they been caught unaware? What if they were dying right this minute? Swallowing the fear that threatened to take over, Naruto jumped to his feet. "We can't leave them alone!"
Wordlessly, Sasuke ran to the closet, shoving clothes out the way and ripping them off the hangers. Tapping the wall frantically, he found the false wall and punched through the drywall. Throwing pieces of plaster away, he revealed a large built-in wooden section with shelves and sets of heavy looking pistols and matching bullet clips. Bullet-proof vests hung neatly on a hook, the sizes imprinted on the collars for easy identification. Grabbing the weapons, he loaded his own quickly and gave the other to Naruto.
"Stay behind me, shoot anything that moves." He ordered, throwing the blond a vest.
"R-right." Gazing in surprise at the hidden compartment, Naruto nodded dumbly.
Barely managing to fasten it around himself, he watched with bated breath as Sasuke pulled open the door, gun out and cocked. Going to copy the man, Naruto spotted something on the ground by his feet. It was his medallion! Before Sasuke could turn and see him, Naruto stuck it into his pants pocket. It was his good luck charm after all. He closely followed the raven, catching up as he nervously fingered the trigger. He knew he wasn't a good shot, so the gun felt awkward and weighty against his palm.
The shots had died down, leaving the house eerily silent. Chewing on his lips in anxiety, Naruto kept his eyes on Sasuke's back. The raven was ducking down, inching his way to the stairs. He knew the stairs were completely exposed, so heading straight for them was dangerous.
xXx
"Kakashi, get down!"
Iruka raised his weapon, firing straight at the figure closing in on Kakashi. Kakashi, who had been busy firing back at another member, ducked, allowing Iruka more room to fire. Bullets ripped into the wall above his head, raining down bits of wood onto him. Knowing his spot was compromised, Iruka switched spots, throwing himself into the kitchen. He didn't know how many there were, just that they were most certainly outnumbered.
Reloading his gun and grabbing a new one hidden under the kitchen sink, Iruka took a deep breath, launching himself back into the main part of the house. He snuck into the hallway that led to the garage. It was clear. Opening the door carefully and making sure to stay down, he spotted more members moving around the cars.
They're planning to enter from all exits, making sure we can't get out, he realized with horror. Knowing the protection of the others was paramount, Iruka fired off both weapons into the garage, trying to force them into hiding for the moment.
Glass exploded into the air, tinkering as he hit the windshields. The deep thuds of the projectiles sinking into the cars accompanied it. Sparks of light lit the darkened room as he fired shot after shot, determined to stop them. He noted the yells of pain with satisfaction.
Iruka then scooted back, plastering his back against the wall. Bullets instantly whizzed in through the open door, peppering the wall in front of him. He felt more crash into the wall he rested on, but he material was too thick to be penetrated. He could cover this exit easily, but he didn't know for how long. If they were truly immortal, he was fucked. His hands shook.
The shots dying down, Iruka whirled and jumped into the garage. He immediately rolled under one of the cars, hiding. The men were shouting about him getting in, but no one had spotted him getting underneath the car. His chocolate eyes getting accustomed to the dark, he watched a pair of shoes walk by slowly, the owner looking for him.
Fingering a blade he managed to pick up, Iruka's hand moved like lightning and sliced through the man's Achilles tendon like butter. Screaming erupting into the room, Iruka delivered a fatal shot before quickly crawling under another car as the man's accomplices came running to him.
xXx
Kakashi dove into the laundry room, grunting as he landed hard. A line of bullets followed him. Barely making it under over behind the thick machines, Kakashi's mind raced faster than a computer. They were outnumbered and outgunned. He worried for the boys and Iruka, but trusted them enough to take care of themselves for the moment.
Patting the clothes that had been dropped with him, he found his jacket. Quickly searching the pockets, he found his phone and typed in a familiar number. Bringing it to his ear and gripping the gun tightly, he waited to hear the click. His shifted, moving to peek over the dryer. He dropped back down when one of the members shot at him. Peering over from another angle, Kakashi shot the man in the shoulder.
"Hello? Kakashi?
"Juugo… We have a problem."
Adding in an order, Kakashi tossed the phone into another room. Silently, he watched as Juugo's voice on speaker drew out the man who was shooting at him. Leaping up from his hiding spot, Kakashi grabbed the man's head and slammed it into the wall, dazing him. Pressing the muzzle to the man's ear, he felt the body go limp as his finger tugged the trigger.
Startled by a shout behind him, Kakashi curved his back, barely missing the shots sailing over his head. Drawing his own gun up, Kakashi squeezed off two shots, nailing each mark. Standing upright and regaining his balance, he saw more march in from another entry.
Kakashi sprinted to the phone, grabbing it as he plastered his body to the wall. "You got that?"
Getting the confirmation he needed, Kakashi darted out of the room, using the butt of his gun to slam in an intruder's face as they attempted to enter through a window in the hall.
xXx
"I can't see Kakashi or Iruka," Sasuke grunted, sliding on his stomach as he looked through the wooden balusters. Someone had shut off the lights, leaving the house in low light. He pondered firing at the silhouettes he saw, but knew he'd give their location away.
Naruto fidgeted. "So then—"
"We can assume they're safe for now.
"But we need to leave before more show up. They want us to be stuck in here," Sasuke answered brusquely, analyzing the evidence. He heard the shots from the garage. He was more than sure the back door was covered. The entryway on the far right of the house was also compromised.
Getting to his feet, Sasuke motioned to Naruto. "Gun out. We're going down the stairs."
It all happened too fast for Naruto to really comprehend what was going on. Sasuke had gotten up and ran down the stairs, aiming at the Akatsuki members who turned to him. Naruto's own gun whipped up, releasing shot after shot as he followed Sasuke diligently. Marveling at his own skill, Naruto saw the figures absorb the hits, almost brushing them off before crumpling to the floor. The blond was suddenly punched back as retaliating bullets from other members slammed into him, bruising his abdomen deeply. Crying out, he was shoved down by Sasuke who shot back. "You idiot, watch it!"
Throwing the blond down, Sasuke launched himself over the bannister, landing on one of the shooters. Swiftly executing him with a bullet to the brain, he rolled to the side using the body as a shield as more men poured in. Tossing it down after it was riddled with bullets, he shot another in the throat as he caught his buddy's body.
Still in motion, he grabbed an assailant by the arm, snapping it at the elbow and delivering a three shots to the chest. "Naruto move! Get in the gym, the door's reinforced!" Sasuke shouted.
Having to force himself to realize he was still alive, Naruto stumbled to his feet, in awe of Sasuke's actions. Firing off a few shots at more figures running down the hallway to meet them, Naruto opened the door and was promptly yanked in. Sasuke passed through seconds later, his back to the door as he continued to fight back.
The heavy door was slammed shut behind him, with shots thumping into it loudly.
Naruto was astonished to see Kakashi and Iruka inside, rearming themselves and equipped with protective armor. "You're okay!" He exclaimed, the excitement dying as he noticed Kakashi's bleeding arms and Iruka's injured leg. Before he could open his mouth again, Kakashi raised a hand to shut him up.
"I've called Juugo. He's on his way to take you and Sasuke away."
"You're not coming with us," Naruto realized, his stomach dropping to his feet.
Kakashi grinned at him, the normally cheerful mask replaced with a grim one. "This is my home, and they're trespassing. We're going to cover you until you're far enough away. "
"But—"
"Naruto, they're after you. Once they realize you're no longer here, they'll leave," Iruka cut in, his voice booking no argument. Tying a tourniquet around his leg to stanch the blood from a stray bullet, the Police Commander stood up, looking like a warrior. "I've already called for backup, if that's what you're worried about."
"What side should we expect him?" Sasuke asked, nodding.
"The Southern entry." Glancing at the digit clock resting the far corner of the room, Kakashi turned back to the others. "He should be here in less than five."
"Are you ready?" Naruto met Iruka's warm brown eyes and nodded slowly. Fuck no, he wasn't, but this wasn't the time to focus on that. What he feared the most had happened, and now their house had been invaded. "Good. We're going in first to draw attention. We'll fire and you run towards the back of the house. There might be a few still hiding around, so be on your toes." He smiled. "Don't worry, these guys are grunts, we can take them."
Nodding Naruto took a deep breath, ignoring the bites of pain from his newly acquired bruises. He could do this, they all could. Nothing bad was going to happen, no one was going to die. "Okay, let's go."
The door was ripped open. A volley of bullets erupted into the air as Kakashi and Iruka seamlessly marched into the house, squeezing off a storm. As if they were a human meat shield, they flawlessly protected the younger men as they ran out.
"Go go!" Kakashi shouted, expertly shooting the intruders executioner style. He twirled, Iruka moving with him like a shadow as he covered his back.
Hearing nothing but deafening gunshots and his nose burning with the reek of gunpowder, Naruto ran as fast as he could, his heart in his throat as he could swear bullets were barely missing him. Everything was a blur as he hightailed it to the back of the house, bypassing thousands of dollars in damage and stray corpses that blocked his path. Leaping over the bodies like an Olympic athlete, Naruto's eyes zeroed in on the door that would lead them to safety.
Bursting through it, Naruto rushed out into the night, taking in the fresh air with deep gulps. The crack of bullets smacking into the marble steps that lead to the door had him jumping to the side. "Sasuke!" he yelled, searching for the raven as he lost sight of him. As if he were magic, Sasuke suddenly appeared beside him, taking out another assailant.
"Keep going!" Sasuke yelled back, pistol whipping an intruder reaching for his gun. Kicking the man viciously, he turned around and was pleasantly surprised to see Naruto fighting back. The blond was attacking a man who presumably was about to shoot him. Knowing Naruto didn't have the stomach for killing, Sasuke darted over and snapped the man's neck while he was distracted.
He had almost shot Sasuke in the back, Naruto thought, staring down at the corpse in his hands. Backing away, he grimaced. If he and Sasuke were partners, he would need to be more decisive and hard. Hearing a loud roaring noise exploding into the air, Naruto was surprised to see a black SUV suddenly tearing its way up the lawn.
It slammed to a stop, digging up dirt around the tires and almost tipping over with the momentum. The passenger door flew open, Juugo rapidly signaling him. "Get in, hurry!"
Naruto sprinted to the car, diving in and crying out in pain as Sasuke jumped in on top of him, yanking the door behind him.
The car peeled out, followed by stray bullets to far to do damage.
xXx
Hands tight on the wheel, Juugo turned onto a small street, driving quietly down the dark street before coasting to a stop in front of a house that had seen better days. The large black SUV blended in with the night, effectively hiding them.
"This is one of the only places that might still be safe. It's been in disrepair for years since it was set to be renovated, but as you can see, nothing happened. It's not on the grid, so I don't think they can find you here." He sighed, shutting off the engine. Shoving open his door, he pressed a button on the key fob; the vehicle's trunk popped open, slowly sliding up with a hiss.
"I take it the others have been found then?" Sasuke inquired, exiting the car and reaching into the back to pull out a heavy duffle bag. He tossed it to Naruto, moving back to grab another. Slamming the door down, he hefted the duffle to his shoulder, striding up the small walkway to the front door of the dilapidated house. Naruto was right behind him, followed by Juugo.
The red-haired man nodded solemnly, pulling out a small key from his pocket. He passed Sasuke, reaching the door first and sliding in the key. "I've had reports of others being broken into, and the ones in use destroyed. You guys really stirred up the hornet's nest."
A stench of mold and mildew wafted out as soon as it opened. Naruto crinkled his nose in disgust. Hell if this is all they had to put up with to hide, he'd take it gladly. He followed the two other men in, squinting as he tried to see. Barely making out their silhouettes, he blindly trailed the sound of footsteps. Hearing the thud of a duffle bag dropping, Naruto let go of his own. He winced as his hand slammed into what felt like a counter.
"I can get you water and maybe gas by morning, but I can't promise you electricity. Actually, it's better if you avoid drawing attention to this house as well," Juugo apologized as the sound of light switches being flipped filled the stale air. The house remained dark. "For now I suggest using the bathroom in the backyard should the need come."
"Hn. It's fine, we'll deal," Sasuke called out, making his way to what he assumed was the living room. With his hands held out, he patted the nearby objects, trying to decipher what they were.
Juugo popped open the button on his jacket, reaching into the small inner pocket resting on the lining. He brought out a lighter, flicking it a few times before he was rewarded with a small spurt of fire. With the meager light, he rooted around in the kitchen's cupboards.
As Juugo searched, Naruto gazed around their new accommodation. Spider webs and dead insects covered the cracks and corners of the checkerboard floor, seemingly warping under the light of the flickering flame. From what he could tell, this house was really fucking old. The color scheme, or what it looked like, was reminiscent to a fifties style suburb home, complete with ugly pink wallpaper peeling from the walls and fire hazardous kitchen appliances.
Finding some emergency candles under the sink, Juugo lit them quickly. The wick of the long candle caught immediately, sending up a small poof of smoke as it burned. He handed a few to Naruto before bringing out the candle holders and sticking them on. "This will have to do in the meantime." He sent the blond a wry smile. "Be careful not to light the house on fire."
Grateful for the light, Naruto grinned. "I'll try not to." Place a few strategically around the kitchen, Naruto took another as he searched for Sasuke. Spying the raven staring out the window, Naruto approached him. "Hey, we have to use these."
Sasuke turned to him, an indecipherable look on his face. The man's eyes looked eerily vacant in the low light. Wordlessly, he took the offered item.
"I'm heading out to get you guys a few more things, food being one of them. Anything in particular you want?" Juugo called out, rattling the keys in his hand. He walked into the living room, addressing his companions. "I don't know how long you'll be here, so choose carefully. I don't know when I'll be back."
"Juugo, did something happen to Suigetsu and Temari?" Sasuke suddenly questioned, eyeing the red head.
Juugo hesitated before looking away. "Something almost happened. Another base they were at was attacked, but it they made it out. It was a close call."
"Do yo— ah, do you know who did it?" Naruto asked softly, clearing his throat mid-sentence.
"Temari told me someone who had puppets with them. He nearly took Sui's head off before Temari stopped shot a round into him. It didn't do anything but buy them time to escape."
"Sasori." Sasuke uttered flatly, his lip curling into a frown.
Juugo nodded. "They're somewhere else now, but I'm not privy to that information. Not until this settles down and it's safe again."
"They probably attacked each house consecutively, searching for us. I'm surprised they didn't know which one it was instantly."
"I'm sure that was Kakashi's doing."
"Are Kakashi and Iruka alright?" Naruto turned to the red head, his hands fisting. "We left them to deal with all that shit…"
A smile graced Juugo's lips. "They're fine. I can't tell you more, but they're completely safe in a new location, one that no one but Iruka and Kakashi now about." Pulling out a disposable phone, Juugo touched the screen a few times before showing them a cryptic message sent from an unknown number. "You can keep this phone, but they're not going to send another reply."
Naruto took the device, cradling it in his palm. He nodded, understanding.
"Back to my original question: what do you guys want me to bring? I can run down to the supermarket to get a few things, but without a working refrigerator, your options are limited."
"Ask him, he's the chef." Sasuke tilted his head in Naruto's direction, watching the blond almost preen at the appraisal.
"Can I write a list?" Naruto asked, searching around him for some pen and paper. Juugo quickly produced the desired items and handed them to him. Scrawling down a bulleted list, Naruto ripped off the paper, handing it to the man. "Just these will be good."
Juugo scanned the list and nodded, tucking it away securely. "If that's it then, I'll be going now."
Naruto nodded a goodbye and watched his friend leave. He heard the other male get into his car and drive away, the engine noise slowly puttering out. "So what happens now?" Naruto asked, poking at a plastic-covered love seat. He drew the plastic back, sinking into the musty seat. It was fairly comfortable. He watched Sasuke turn to look at him, his face half in the shadows.
Leaning on the oak mantelpiece, Sasuke shrugged. "We're out of options to do anything. We've been cut off. Any move we make right now would jeopardize everyone involved, even Iruka and Kakashi."
"But how the fuck did they find us? I thought what you guys did was under the radar, illegal and never getting caught."
"Hell if I know. Either we've got a rat, or somebody slipped up and spilled. They probably orchestrated this while we were sitting on our asses, doing nothing."
"But Kakashi had told us to wait."
"And look what happened," Sasuke deadpanned. "We're at the end of the rope, barely hanging on. We've been waiting for them to do something, and so they did."
"Who attacked us?" Naruto inquired. "And why now, if we had been waiting for a while?"
"Those were the stupid people who clamor to get accepted into the Akatsuki, thinking they deserve to get in."
"They want to get in? Willingly?" Naruto was astonished, his face contorted in disgust at the idea.
"You'd be surprised at how many die trying. Rather than being a deterrent, they see it as a challenge. The Akatsuki actually just use them as disposables, easily replaced and serve enough to do the dirty work they can't or won't do. This was the first time I've seen that many. They were desperate."
"And it was all to get to me," Naruto said sadly, rubbing the back of his neck. Feeling the urge to touch his medallion, he slipped his hand into this pocket and palmed the cool metal, running his finger over the etchings. It brought him a sense of peace.
"Go to sleep, I'll keep watch." Sasuke ordered, pushing off the mantelpiece.
"But wait, what are we supposed to do now?" Naruto interjected. "You said it yourself, we're at the end of the rope. Juugo said the other houses were attacked as well. How safe are we now? How safe are Kakashi and Iruka? Are we just waiting again?"
"What the fuck makes you think I know?" Sasuke bit out, his voice sounding irritated. "We'll figure out something in the morning, and no, no more waiting."
Naruto sighed heavily, the day taking its toll. Going to go find a place to sleep, he paused, turning slightly back to Sasuke. "We still have to continue our conversation from earlier. See you in the morning."
A/N: Pretty please review. I rely on you guys to tell me if I suck, so if no one says anything, I'm writing in the dark. I crave criticism, so let me have it ;) I promise I can take it